wolfiton

Posted on Feb 27, 2020

When KDE meets Ubuntu it becomes Kubuntu(try without installing- live mode)

#webdev #linux #showdev

Hi everyone,

Article section navigation

Windows
Mac
Linux
Boot in live mode using USB or DVD

Head to Section 4 after having a bootable USB or DVD from the previous sections.

Kubuntu?

Today I want to write about my current Operating System that is Kubuntu and how to try it in Live mode(without modifying your actual OS).

Before we start working on how Kubuntu can be tried without installing it on our HDD(hard drives), let's see first how it can look after some minor customizations.

If you like what you see Dear Reader, then continue reading.

Also if you have a different taste there is no problem, Kubuntu is very flexible and can surely be made to suit your liking.

Note: That 64 bit systems can use 32 bit systems but not the other way around. So if you have a 32-bit system you can't use 64-bit system apps programs and Operating Systems. In that case, use Kubuntu 18.04 for a 32-bit system.

Note: That for VM to work you will need to have hardware capable of virtualization.

Section 1

Windows Users

If you are on Windows you will have three choices to try Kubuntu before actually installing it:

DVD
USB
VM(virtual machine)

To be able to try and later on install Kubuntu we will need to first download the actual image.

So head down to https://kubuntu.org/getkubuntu/

I recommend using 19.10 if you are after the latest improvements, that is what I am using.

Save the image somewhere you can find it, we will need it.

Windows subsection navigation
Windows DVD Burning
Windows 10 DVD Burning
Creating a bootable USB
Virtualize Kubuntu

Subsection Windows 1

Windows DVD Burning

Now if you have Windows there are a lot of options for DVD Burning Images(creating DVD's using images)

So it can be hard to decide what to choose.

Thankfully Ubuntu has documentation to help us out and it can be found here
https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/tutorial-burn-a-dvd-on-windows#1-overview

So for our case let's use InfraRecorder so that everybody can follow along:

Download and Install InfraRecorder
Insert a blank DVD, do not open any action recommended by Windows's autorun
Open Infrarecorder
Choose Write Image option from the main screen or go to Actions and Choose Burn Image
Select the Kubuntu ISO image file you want to burn, then click ‘Open’
In the dialog box, click ‘OK

The above guide is copied and modified from the Ubuntu Guide on InfraRecorder

Note that if you are on Windows 10 and can't follow along I have a special subsection, where I will show a method that works. The section can be found here
Windows 10 DVD Burning

Subsection Windows 2

Windows 10 DVD Burning

For Windows 10 users the process becomes simpler:

Insert an empty DVD, do not take any of recommended actions by Windows autorun
Find the Kubuntu image
Right-click on it
Select burn Disc Image
Select a Disc burner (drive) and choose ‘Burn’.
If you check ‘Verify disc after burning’, it will confirm that the ISO image has been burned correctly(has been created correctly and has no problems or errors)

Subsection Windows 3

Creating a bootable USB

There are a lot of options for this as well

But I recommend Rufus Bootable USB Creator

Also as before, we are going to follow this guide provided by Ubuntu

https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/tutorial-create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#1-overview

Rufus can be found here https://rufus.ie/

Download and Install Rufus or choose the portable version
Plug-in the USB
Open Rufus
Select the USB drive
Now select in the Boot selection FreeDOS from the dropdown menu
Select the SELECT option and find the Kubuntu image and click on Open
The partition scheme should be MBR by default make sure to be that option that is selected
The target system can remain as it is BIOS or UEFI-CSM
Press start when it finishes it should be a bootable USB

Subsection Windows 4

Virtualize Kubuntu

For virtualization, there is Virtual Box that works pretty well.

Virtual Box can be found here https://www.virtualbox.org/

Download and Install https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads, download from the windows hosts.

Select New
In the window name the VM however, you want, ex Kubuntu
Type choose Linux
Version Ubuntu here we have 2 options if you are using a 32-bit image choose Ubuntu 32 bit if not Ubuntu 64 bit
Press Next
Memory size choose the recommended value and press Next
Hard disks choose to create a new one, select the option Create a virtual hard disk now, press Create
Hard disk file type choose VDI(because it is more portable), click Next
Storage on physical device choose Dynamically allocated (it's much more flexible), click Next
File Location and Size choose 15-25 GB size, the minimum is 10 GB and press Create.

Good now the virtual image where our Kubuntu will be is created but we can't try Kubuntu yet. so let's work on that.

Select the new Image in VirtualBox and press start, after some time a dialog will appear requesting(asking), you to provide an image now it is the time to choose the Kubuntu image you downloaded earlier.

At the new screen choose to try Kubuntu.

To exit Kubuntu open a terminal or Konsole and type shutdown. Also, Kubuntu is not yet installed, we are going to see how to do this in a later article.

Section 2

Mac Users

For Mac users, there are some reports that Linux would be possible to get installed, but it still needs more confirmations and I don't use Mac so I can't try them.

There are a lot of articles online if you search on google for Install Kubuntu on Mac

But I can't guarantee that they will work!

If someone else wants to coauthor this part with me and has a Mac to help with this part that would be great.

Section 3

Linux Users

Linux Subsection navigation

DVD Burning in Linux
Create a bootable USB using Balena Etcher
Virtualize Kubuntu on Ubuntu or any other distro

Also if you are running another Linux distro then Kubuntu, you can also use the three methods above:

DVD
USB
VM(virtual machine)

I assume if you are already running a Linux distro that you know a lot about how to try a new Linux distro using Live mode from a USB and DVD.

If not follow along Dear Reader

We will follow Ubuntu's guide for this

https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/tutorial-burn-a-dvd-on-ubuntu#1-overview

Download the Kubuntu image for your system from here

https://kubuntu.org/getkubuntu/

for 32 bit Kubuntu 18.04
for 64 bit Kubuntu 19.10

Subsection Kubuntu 1

DVD Burning using Ubuntu

Install Brasero or what DVD burning software you like Dear Reader

So in Brasero:

Select the Burn Image option
In the new windows that opens up
Select disc image to write and locate the Kubuntu image and press Ok
Insert a blank DVD
Press Burn

Subsection Kubuntu 2

Create a bootable USB using Balena Etcher(this should work on any Linux distro)

Download Balena Etcher from here https://www.balena.io/etcher/
Unzip the archive using ark or any other program
You should have something like this balenaEtcher-1.5.79-x64.AppImage(electron app)
Double click
Select image option from the window
Find the Kubuntu image, press Open
Plug-in USB Stick(make sure that the selected device is the new USB you plugged just now)
Press Flash

Subsection Kubuntu 3

Virtualize Kubuntu on Ubuntu or any other distro

Download and Install Virtual Box
Select New
In the window name the VM however, you want, ex Kubuntu
Type choose Linux
Version Ubuntu here we have 2 options if you are using a 32-bit image choose Ubuntu 32 bit if not Ubuntu 64 bit
Press Next
Memory size choose the recommended value and press Next
Hard disks choose to create a new one, select the option Create a virtual hard disk now, press Create
Hard disk file type choose VDI(because it is more portable), click Next
Storage on physical device choose Dynamically allocated (it's much more flexible), click Next
File Location and Size choose 15-25 GB size, the minimum is 10 GB and press Create.

Good now the virtual image where our Kubuntu will be is created but we can't try Kubuntu yet. so let's work on that.

At the new screen choose to try Kubuntu.

To exit Kubuntu open a terminal or Konsole and type shutdown. Also, Kubuntu is not yet installed, we are going to see how to do this in a later article.

Section 4

Boot in live mode using USB or DVD

Dear readers if you have an UEFI Bios and use a USB keyboard, you will have to enable IOMMU Controller in BIOS(this will disable your network card if it is an integrated one).

The only way to solve all this is to install Kubuntu, enter bios and disable IOMMU Controller again.

But the best solution is to use a ps2 keyboard or adapter for your keyboard.

Also at boot select to boot from USB or DVD.

Usually, the option is f8 or f12 to enter the boot selection mode when you first open the pc.

If not select the order in Bios.

If you have problems with this step write in the comments.

Some USB ports will not work when you will boot from the Kubuntu DVD or USB stick. Don't panic just switch the mouse and keyboard until they work for me the USB 3.0 ports worked.

After the system boots from the USB or mouse select the TRY KUBUNTU option or else you will enter the installation mode and I can't guarantee the safety of your data.

If you entered by mistake the installation mode don't panic there are not changes made to your system yet. Reset your system and try again. This time choose the TRY KUBUNTU option

Kubuntu in live mode will the full version with office and all the other apps that come with the full version.

After you are done trying it.

You can close it by typing in a terminal or Konsole shutdown or selecting from the menu the shutdown option.

Section 5

Why didn't you show us how to install Kubuntu?

Because I want to create a unified way for everybody to follow along and no matter what OS are you using or if you virtualized Kubuntu. The steps will be the same.

So a new article seems like a good choice here.

I hope you liked this article Dear Reader and if you also find it useful, share it on social.

Also, I think this article is best read with a cup of coffee or tea, because it is a long one.

Credits:

https://kubuntu.org/getkubuntu/

https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/tutorial-burn-a-dvd-on-windows#1-overview

https://rufus.ie/

https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/tutorial-create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#1-overview

https://www.balena.io/etcher/