Like it has been mentioned in an earlier post that Ubuntu releases a new version every six months and every two year a Long Term Support [LTS] is released. LTS is supported for 5 years while regular release is supported for 9 months. The current LTS is 12.04 (the version number is actually a date 2012, April or 4th month) and the current regular release is 13.04 released in 2013, April. Both are current and will support most of the new hardware. You can download either.
Here's how to go about installing Ubuntu:
1. Enter your BIOS set up and disable "Secure Boot". Also check in BIOS your SATA mode, there will be three options, IDE, RAID, AHCI. Ideally it should be AHCI. If its RAID then get back here and tell us you have RAID.
2. Check if you have UEFI enabled. It will be. We are just making sure.
3. Disable FAST BOOT/Quick Boot.
If you Want to dual boot then use Windows disk management to shrink your partition to make space for ubuntu, about 50GB should do. Do NOT create any partition just leave the space as 'unallocated'.
4. This assumes you have UEFI. Boot with Ubuntu install Disk -> "Try Ubuntu". If you run into "Black Screen" kind a situation then you must use 'NOMODESET":
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132
5. From "Try ubuntu" will be greeted by a working ubuntu desktop. Establish connection and check if other hardware is working. IF all is good then Open disk management utility, GPARTED.
6. Using Gparted delete all partitions (Before you do this Back up all your data). If you want to dual boot then skip this step.
** When installing as Dual-Boot just select "install alongside Windows" during installation at the " Installation Type" dialog and that should do.
7. Create New partitions with GPARTED:
# 250-300 MiB FAT32 , put a "boot" flag on this partition. This for EFI.
# 25-30GB Ext4
# 25-30GB Ext4
# all the remaining GB Ext4 (this is to store your DATA, you can create more partitions if you need but formatted as ext4)
# 2-4GB SWAP (If you want 'hibernate' function then SWAP should be equal to or more than your RAM in GiB not GB.)
Apply all changes in Gparted. Close Gparted.
8. From desktop "Install Ubuntu".
9. At the dialog which says 'Installation Type" choose 'SOMETHING ELSE' to manually direct your installation.
10. Select you first 25-30GB ext4 partition and click 'Change'... and use "/" as mountpoint.
11. Continue with your installation. When finisthed Reboot as instructed.
If you run into any problems when booting, ie if Uubntu does not boot then you may have to use
BOOT REPAIR... Boot repair when run scans your partitions for any errors and offers "Recommended Repair". That sure should take care of any boot issues.
Good Luck.
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