Trying to update from an old ubuntu installation to 14.04 LTS

[braydon2]

Ok this might be in the wrong section but oh well.

So I had a disk of Ubuntu it had an old installation of it I that is what I installed. The layout from the new Ubuntu and this one look completely different does Ubuntu update everything so I get to the version of 14.04?!?!

[slickymaster]

Ok this might be in the wrong section but oh well.

So I had a disk of Ubuntu it had an old installation of it I that is what I installed. The layout from the new Ubuntu and this one look completely different does Ubuntu update everything so I get to the version of 14.04?!?!

What version of Ubuntu is installed in that disk?

Upgrade is the process of going from an earlier version of Ubuntu to a newer version of Ubuntu with an installed system. To avoid damaging your running system, upgrading should only be done from one release to the next release (e.g. Ubuntu 13.10 to Ubuntu 14.04) or from one LTS release to the next (e.g. Ubuntu 12.04 LTS to Ubuntu 14.04 LTS).
If you wish to 'skip' a version, you can backup your data and do a fresh installation, or progressively upgrade to each successive version. For example, to upgrade from Ubuntu 13.04 to Ubuntu 14.04, first upgrade to 13.10, then upgrade 13.10 to 14.04

[braydon2]

I don't know what version it is I cant remember how would I find out?

[slickymaster]

Just run the following command in a terminal window and it will tell you:

lsb_release -a

[LastDino]

Seeing as this is fresh install, irrespective of what version it is, just download 14.4LTS and do fresh install.

[braydon2]

Seeing as this is fresh install, irrespective of what version it is, just download 14.4LTS and do fresh install.

So your saying just download it and replace my current Ubuntu Installation?

[LastDino]

So your saying just download it and replace my current Ubuntu Installation?

Yes, take backup of whatever data you want to preserve though. And don't select ''replace'' option in installation when it asks for ot, that seems to erase everything. Use ''do something else''.

Less hassle, less time and higher probability of stability.

[braydon2]

Yes, take backup of whatever data you want to preserve though. And don't select ''replace'' option in installation when it asks for ot, that seems to erase everything. Use ''do something else''.

Less hassle, less time and higher probability of stability.

I have nothing on there that I want to preserve right now.

[grahammechanical]

If it is ubuntu Precise Pangolin (12.04) then you can upgrade directly to Trusty Tahr (14.04) but I would wait a few weeks or even until after 24th July as 14.04 will itself receive an upgrade from 14.04 to 14.04.1.

If it is Ubuntu Saucy Salamander (13.10) then you can upgrade directly to Trusty Tahr (14.04) but I would wait a few weeks or even until after 24th July as 14.04 will itself receive an upgrade from 14.04 to 14.04.1.

Any other version of Ubuntu will have reached End of Life. It is more complicated to upgrade from an End of Life release. And this is why it is being suggested that you download the ISO image of the latest Ubuntu (14.04) and test it out and then install. If you look at the login screen you will see a label telling you what version it is that you have already installed.

Regards.

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

[deadflowr]

I have nothing on there that I want to preserve right now.

If the computer has only Ubuntu on it, then just use the replace option.

If however it has another system on it (Windows, or another linux system) then "something else" would be preferable.
This is because sometimes the installer misreads the users intent and simply replaces the whole disk when using the replace option.
Whether this is user error or not is something to be debated.