Running the Live CD

These notes apply to Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, 8.10 and 9.04 (the screenshots show the 8.04 version).  Older versions are slightly different and the equivalent page is HERE

Firstly the computer BIOS needs setting to enable booting from the CD/DVD drive.  To do this reboot and press DEL (or F1) or whatever key enters the BIOS Setup - the screen will tell you.  Once in the BIOS Setup find the Boot Sequence and set it to boot from CDROM first.  Then Save and Exit the BIOS Setup (usually F10 but the screen will say). Some computers have a different system for choosing the boot device - this will be apparent on startup.

Reboot the computer with the Ubuntu CD in the CDROM/DVD drive and it should now boot from the CD rather than HD.  
A list of languages is presented first from which you choose you language - this will usually be already highlighted - see screenshot.  (This is a change from earlier versions)

You will then be presented with a menu of start options and a list of function key setup options.  See Screenshot
A countdown timer will timeout and use the top option unless the highlight is moved to another option with the up/down keys.

Along the bottom of the screen there's a list of function key options :-
F1 Help  F2 Language  F3 Keymap F4 VGA  F5 Accessibility  F6 Other options

Defaults :-
F2 - Language is English
F3 - Keymap is US - so UK users may want to change this to UK
F4 - Modes
F5 - Accessibility - for users with disabilities

F1 gives help - particularly if problems are encountered starting Ubuntu.  Various boot options are listed.
F6 enables these boot options to be applied.

The first menu option (default) - Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer - is the normal startup to run Ubuntu from CD in memory.  However, before doing this it is recommended to run the Check CD for defects option to ensure that no files are corrupted possibility causing strange problems later.  Also, if the computer memory hasn't been checked recently, the Memory test is recommended.  This will take half an hour or more depending on computer speed and amount of memory.  After completing one pass it will start over and do it all again - this will repeat until stopped by the user.  

If you change your mind or left the CD in the drive by mistake then the last option - Boot from first hard disk - will boot from the HD as if there were no CD present.   ie. normal HD bootup.

Install Ubuntu Goes directly to the Install process.  See Installing Ubuntu.

If all goes well starting Ubuntu from the first option a working desktop will be displayed with menu and several quick run icons and info.  See Screenshot

The Ubuntu Live CD Desktop

Along the top panel are the main menu in 3 groups, then icons to run Firefox browser, Evolution email client, and Ubuntu Help.  At the right-hand side, from the right are :- shutdown/restart/logout button, date and time, volume control, network and Bluetooth icons and user-name (Live session user in this case).  The bottom panel contains a button to minimise all windows and show the desktop in LH corner and trashcan in RH corner.  Next to the show desktop button is the main space showing open windows on the desktop (similar to Windows). Unlike standard Windows XP, Ubuntu has multiple desktops (also called workspaces) allowing different tasks to be kept separate.  The two grey little square boxes next to the trashcan are buttons to display different desktops.  Miniature icons appear within these representing the desktop contents.  Click on one of these to display a different desktop.  The default number of desktops is two but this number may be increased by right-clicking in this area and choosing Preferences > Workspaces.

One icon appears on the Live CD desktop that isn't present on the installed version - the Install icon.  This allows installation to HD from wiithin the Live CD system.  This is described in the section on Installing Ubuntu.

Using the Live CD system

Most actions are available with the Live CD system as with an installed system including running applications and installing new software - but installation is to memory, so space is limited and anything set up with Live CD will be lost on reboot except for files saved to external drives.  It is possible to open the hard disk partitions for read/write so you have access to your data.  However, writing to NTFS (Windows) drives requires enabling NTFS write support.  Writing to FAT formatted drives is fine.

Persistence (pre-8.04 versions only)

To overcome some of the disadvantages of the Live CD there is a system called Persistence whereby setup info and other data can be saved to a USB memory stick (or a hard drive partition).  This is rather complicated to set up but for anyone a bit computer literate but not happy to install Ubuntu properly to HD, the information can be found HERE.  Persistence is no longer available in v8.04 LTS (Hardy Heron) and, in any case, a better option is to use Wubi to install Ubuntu within Windows (if running Windows) - this is covered in the Installing Ubuntu page.

Using the Live CD system from USB memory stick.

A feature present in the most recent versions of Ubuntu is to make a bootable USB memory stick from a downloaded ISO image file.  This means that those upgrading from Ubuntu (or installing Ubuntu on another PC) can run the Live CD system from a USB stick if their computer allows booting from USB.  The process to make a USB image wil be covered in the Upgrading from Ubuntu page (when I get round to writing it).

To boot from USB drive you will need to set your computer to do this in the BIOS settings.  In some cases this is Boot from USB but many computers will class the USB drive as another hard drive and you set booting from your USB stick withing the HD selection dialog.  You need the USB stick plugged in for the BIOS to find it and provide the option.  

Once set up the USB stick loads the same as from CD but with one difference :-  If the USB stick has the space you can use it to save your configuration and settings - unlike CDs which can't.

Updated 24 April 2009