If you want to use Ubuntu on a computer for a few weeks or months, Wubi lets you install Ubuntu inside Windows. If you want to carry a LiveCD around with you, a persistent image lets you customise your live session. LiveCDs are designed for people that want to use Ubuntu on a computer for a few hours. This is particularly good if you have a Usb stick or something to save your data and settings on (see ' persistent image') Safely using a computer which seems to have poor security or lacks privacy. a familiar desktop environment on an unfamiliar machine.using on a random computer where access is limited.'showing off' Ubuntu to people on their own machine.preparing a machine for installing Ubuntu, if you are shy of using default or automatic settings or if the hardware is too unique or awkward.
Resizing partitions to give Ubuntu more (or less) roomĪdding a new partition(s) to your hard-drive for other distros or for a new Windows Repair/replace/install grub perhaps after (re)installing Windowsįix Windows problems on a machine that doesn't have a dual-boot repair or preparation for awkward installations.give a 'demo' session on a machine before installing or upgrading.This does go against many reasons for using a LiveCd session (rather than an installation) but it can be useful for multi-user machines, such as offices or in third world education projects. You can use a persistent image to keep data & settings safe after shut-down. Cd-drives & Dvd-drives are physically slower than hard drives.
Although a LiveCD session is a good way to demo Ubuntu without making changes to a machine, a LiveCD will always be slower than a proper installation to the hard-drive. Ubuntu tries to make their LiveCD the easiest to use. It is rare to find a distro that has no LiveCd session at all. Most distributions (versions or "distros" of Linux) have this LiveCd functionality on their installer CD, a few have a separate Cd to download. However, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, Kubuntu and even unofficial Ubuntu-based distros as well as other versions all tend to have similar screens & menus. This guide has screen-shots of the 8.04 and 10.04 Desktop Edition of Ubuntu. A LiveCD usually finds your wired internet connection and Firefox should be able to surf the internet into here. A "LiveCD" is more than that because it gives the option of running a normal desktop environment with all the normal programs and some extras. Windows users might be familiar with the term 'boot CD' or 'bootable CD' or 'Recovery/Restore Media'.
Only some of the non-standard downloads (such as the "Alternate Cd") lack this functionality. Live mode is the default option when booting from CD. The standard Ubuntu Cd can be used as a LiveCd as well as an installer. Try Ubuntu without any changes to your machine! Windows or whatever you use normally is unaffected after trying this and then rebooting. A live CD can be used for a quick demo or test of Ubuntu.