There’s a kind of two-step process to installing Ubuntu Linux on a system: running through the actual installation, then booting into the desktop and waiting for a huge load of updates to download. Use a Minimal image instead, and you’ll install directly from up-to-date repositories.
The catch is that you’ll likely need a hard-wired internet connection, because the minimal CD doesn’t load a set of Wi-Fi drivers. But if you can spare the cable, it’s a quicker, less click-y process.
After running through the (text-only) installation process, run these two commands, as suggested by reader Cinnamonster:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
After that, you might have to restart, or enter the command gdm to get into your desktop. But now you’ve got a fully functional Ubuntu system, with everything up to date from the get-go. And now that you’re running Ubuntu, might we suggest our complete Getting Started with Linux series? Thanks Cinnamonster!
Minimal CD Image [Ubuntu Documentation]
Nodeity
Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 10:26 AMFinally, a true minimal Ubuntu install.. :]
Richard
Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 11:05 AMIf you prefer Kubuntu, Xubuntu, ect…..
replace: sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
with: sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
or: sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop
Ha
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 5:32 PMIn the newest release of Ubuntu, 10.10, there is an option during install to install the latest updates. And also the option to install flash and other things like mp3 playback is there in the installer as well.