How to install ubuntu from ubuntu

How to install Ubuntu from a Ubuntu installation? [duplicate]

I have installed Ubuntu onto a laptop. I know that I can boot into a liveUSB of Ubuntu and install Ubuntu onto my external hard drive but I was wondering if there is a way to install Ubuntu onto the from within the full installation of Ubuntu. A program like the one that is installed on the liveUSB. This is due to the track pad on the laptop being broken I have to use a USB mouse receiver to control the mouse. The laptop I’m using only has two USB’s so I can’t have the mouse plugged in, have the liveUSB and plug in the external harddrive at the same time. Hope there is a solution to this.

2 Answers 2

If you have an sd slot or a dvd, both of those can be made bootable pretty easily. Assuming you don’t have either of these the best way would be to ssh into your computer from another and install it on a system that does have a mouse. While I’m sure what you are asking does have a solution, installing from another computer is probably easier.

grml-rescueboot

This package provides a script for update-grub which looks for Grml ISO images in /boot/grml and automatically adds an entry for each image. The purpose is to use one of those images to boot a Grml rescue system without using a CD or USB stick.

Download the ISO. Ubuntu CD/DVDs can be downloaded from the official Ubuntu site: Ubuntu Download

Once the menuentry has been created and GRUB 2 updated, the ISO entry will appear on the GRUB menu during boot

To boot the ISO, highlight the entry, once the ISO is selected from the menuentry additional options such as Try Me or Install will be presented before booting.

Ubuntu Documentation

Sometimes reinstalling is the quickest way to solve a problem, for example if an upgrade failed or if your graphics driver is broken. When reinstalling, you’re most likely want to preserve two things:

How To Reinstall Ubuntu

Before doing anything

This operation should not damage your documents but, for security, backup your documents and settings (including /home hidden files) on external disk or DVDs. (eg via CloneZilla) Note: Some special applications settings may be in system folders, eg LAMP, see below in the thread.

Run the Ubuntu installer

Choose the right option

— If an «Upgrade 1X.XX to 1Y.YY» option is available (like in the screenshot below), choose it.

— Or, if the above option is not available, choose manual partitioning («Something-else» option), then select Ubuntu system partition, set its mount point as «/». Be sure to keep the same format type, the same size, and untick the «Format» checkbox or all data on «/» will be deleted!. Also set other partitions (/boot, /home. see DiskSpace) if needed.

Then finish the installation process. (this may take several hours, like a normal install)

After reinstalling

After reinstalling, user accounts must be re-created with the same login and password.

See also

UbuntuReinstallation (последним исправлял пользователь techtonik 2015-08-11 06:33:43)

The material on this wiki is available under a free license, see Copyright / License for details
You can contribute to this wiki, see Wiki Guide for details

How to install ubuntu from ubuntu

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps required to install Ubuntu Desktop on your laptop or PC.

What you’ll need

Whilst Ubuntu works on a wide range of devices, it is recommended that you use a device listed on the Ubuntu certified hardware page. These devices have been tested and confirmed to work well with Ubuntu.

If you are installing Ubuntu on a PC or laptop you have used previously, it is always recommended to back up your data prior to installation.

2. Download an Ubuntu Image

You can download an Ubuntu image here. Make sure to save it to a memorable location on your PC! For this tutorial, we will use the Ubuntu 20.04 LTS release.

3. Create a Bootable USB stick

To install Ubuntu Desktop, you need to write your downloaded ISO to a USB stick to create the installation media. This is not the same as copying the ISO, and requires some bespoke software.

For this tutorial, we’ll use balenaEtcher, as it runs on Linux, Windows and Mac OS. Choose the version that corresponds to your current operating system, download and install the tool.

If you prefer to use a different tool to create your USB, we also have tutorials for Rufus on Windows, Etcher on Mac OS and Startup Disk Creator on Ubuntu.

Select your downloaded ISO, choose your USB flash drive, and then click Flash! to install your image.

Installing Ubuntu from a DVD
It’s also possible to install Ubuntu from a DVD instead of USB. Follow these guides to burn an Ubuntu installation DVD on Windows, MacOS or Ubuntu, then select the CD drive instead of USB device on the boot options screen in the following step.

4. Boot from USB flash drive

Insert the USB flash drive into the laptop or PC you want to use to install Ubuntu and boot or restart the device. It should recognise the installation media automatically. If not, try holding F12 during startup and selecting the USB device from the system-specific boot menu.

F12 is the most common key for bringing up your system’s boot menu, but Escape, F2 and F10 are common alternatives. If you’re unsure, look for a brief message when your system starts – this will often inform you of which key to press to bring up the boot menu.

You should now see the welcome screen inviting you to either try or install Ubuntu.

If you click Try Ubuntu, you can preview Ubuntu without making any changes to your PC. You can return to the installer menu at any time by clicking the Install Ubuntu shortcut on the desktop.

To proceed, click Install Ubuntu.

You will be asked to select your keyboard layout. Once you’ve chosen one, click Continue.

5. Installation Setup

Next, you will be prompted to choose between the Normal installation and Minimal installation options. The minimal installation is useful for those with smaller hard drives or who don’t require as many pre-installed applications.

In Other options, you will be prompted to download updates as well as third-party software that may improve device support and performance (for example, Nvidia graphics drivers) during the installation. It is recommended to check both of these boxes.

If you are not currently connected to the internet, you will be prompted to do so at this point. Ensure you are able to remain connected throughout the installation.

6. Drive Management

This screen allows you to configure your installation. If you would like Ubuntu to be the only operating system on your device, select Erase disk and install Ubuntu.

If your device currently has another operating system installed, you will receive additional options to install Ubuntu alongside that OS rather than replacing it. This requires some additional steps not covered in this tutorial. However, you can read more about setting up dual-booting in this useful tutorial on Dave’s RoboShack.

If you are happy to continue the installation without enabling encryption, click Install Now and confirm the changes with Continue. Otherwise keep reading.

7. (Optional) Enable Encryption

If you would like to encrypt your device, select Advanced features… > Use LVM with the new Ubuntu installation > Encrypt the new Ubuntu installation for security.

LVM stands for Logical Volume Management. By using LVM during the setup, it makes it easier to create and manage partitions post installation.

You will be prompted to create a security key once you click Install Now.

If you select encryption, it is important that you do not lose your security key! Write it down and store it in a safe place outside of your local system. You will not be able to recover your data without it!

Click Install Now and confirm the changes with Continue.

8. Choose your Location

Select your location and timezone from the map screen and click Continue. This information will be detected automatically if you are connected to the internet.

9. Create Your Login Details

On this screen, you will be prompted to enter your name and the name of your computer as it will appear on the network. Finally, you will create a username and a strong password.

You can choose to log in automatically or require a password. If you are using your device whilst travelling, it’s recommended to keep automatic login disabled.

10. Complete the Installation

Now sit back and enjoy the slideshow as Ubuntu installs in the background!

Once the installation has completed, you will be prompted to restart your machine.

Click Restart Now.

When you restart, you will be prompted to remove your USB flash drive from the device. Once you’ve done this, press ENTER.

Enter your password on the login screen (assuming you selected that option when creating your login details).

And that’s it, welcome to your new Ubuntu Desktop!

The welcome widget will help you with some additional setup options, including:

11. Don’t forget to Update!

It’s always good practice to ensure your system is up to date, especially after a fresh install.

The easiest way to do this is via the Software Updater app. Search for Software Updater via the app menu (the icon with 9 squares in the bottom corner of your window) and it will check for updates and apply them.

You can also update Ubuntu using the terminal.

Press CTRL+ALT+T to bring up a Terminal window (or click the terminal icon in the sidebar).

sudo apt update

You will be prompted to enter your login password.

This will check for updates and tell you if there are any that need applying. To apply any updates, type:

sudo apt upgrade

Type Y, then press ENTER to confirm to finish the update process.

12. You’ve installed Ubuntu!

Thank you for completing this tutorial. We hope you enjoy your new desktop.

If you have any issues, please contact us via the Ubuntu Discourse, or visit Ask Ubuntu.

You can also read the latest news about Ubuntu Desktop on the Ubuntu Blog.

As a next step, why not try:

For users who need to run both Ubuntu and Windows you can also install Ubuntu via Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

To help us improve our tutorials, please let us know how you got on!

If I can, how do I install Ubuntu from Ubuntu?

Here’s what I mean:

I normally install by running a Ubuntu Live USB, clicking «try» Ubuntu, and when I’m ready, I double-click the «Install Ubuntu» icon on the desktop.

Now, I have an eSATAp port and what I’d like to do is connect my hard drive directly to my laptop/desktop which already has Ubuntu running on it and simply run that same application that’s available on the Live CD/USB to install it on the external drive.

I’m open to other methods as well, as long as I don’t have to «burn» an ISO to a USB, then reboot from the USB, then install it to the external drive.

A million thanks!

4 Answers 4

You are asking an interesting questions. I’ll rephrase it my own words: Is it possible to run Ubuntu’s installer, which is present at Ubuntu’s LiveCD, from a regular Ubuntu system (installed to HDD)?

The GUI installer you found on the LiveCD is packaged as ubiquity. It’s not clear, what will happen if you try to install and run this from your your HD install. While it might work, this does not seem supported or tested.

It’s well known, that Debian-based systems such as Ubuntu can be installed in a chroot environment. Chroot is a tool, which can treat any directory as the root directory «/». You can easily create a chroot environment on your external HDD. If you want to boot this chroot Ubuntu, you have to install a kernel and a boot loader. While this is a known and tested method for Debian (and I have personally done this with Ubuntu), the tutorials on the web are outdated. Hence, this is only an option if you are familiar with grub and the Linux boot process.

Actual Answer: While your question is reasonable, it does not seem supported by Ubuntu or any other modern operating system. We have become so used to install OSs from a boot CD or USB, that other methods were neglected.

You didn’t specify what the purpose of installing Ubuntu onto the external HDD is. If you leave this external HDD connected as it is, your computer will probably never boot it, because it prefers your internal HDD. If you change the BIOS settings, connect the external HDD to a different computer, or anything the like, then this (currently) external HDD can become the role of the boot HDD. Now, here comes the catch: It takes some guesswork to know now, whether and how this HDD will ever become bootable. The PC BIOS is a horrible bootloader, not designed for such things. That’s probably why your idea is not supported through easy installation vectors such as Ubuntu’s GUI installer.

How to install ubuntu from another version of ubuntu?

Sorry, this is probably a duplicate but i cant seem to find exactly what im looking for. I have lubuntu installed on my computer right now, and would like to switch it to just regular ubuntu. I made a bootable usb of ubuntu 14.0.4 using startup disk creator, and assumed i would install it by launching grub during the boot process, although when i do that i don’t see an option to boot from the usb.. The options i get are

«*Ubuntu (which just launches my desktop)

Advanced options for Ubuntu

Memory test (memtest86+)

Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200″

Am i doing something wrong? Missing a step? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

1 Answer 1

To boot from a USB and then launch a live session of Ubuntu from your USB, you have to go into your BIOS and change your settings to first boot from USB (Or you can select USB to boot from by entering the one-time boot selection). This will boot from a USB if there are any mounted, and then switch to booting from your hard drive into Grub. Grub will not show the USB as an option to boot from. Booting into BIOS or into the One-Time Boot Menu is typically some key like F2, F12, ESC, or anywhere in between. You can search in the manual for your computer to find the key, or you can look online for your model. If you want, you can post information on your computer model here and I can do the research for you.