This is taken from the sticky post on Absolute Beginner Talk posted by ubuntu_deamon.

This is all on your own risk. Don't forget to make backups of important personal data. Please be careful.
Here are a couple of important and/or interesting links.

1 : READ THIS FIRST
2 : HOWTO INSTALL UBUNTU
3 : COMMON CUSTOMIZATIONS
4 : HOW TO INSTALL SOFTWARE
5 : GENERAL DOCUMENTATION
6 : DUAL BOOT PROBLEMS
7 : NETWORKING/INTERNET
8 : SECURITY
9 : PROBLEM SOLVING

1 : READ THIS FIRST

Is Ubuntu for You?
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=63315

***Beginner Talk Rules***
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=65842

Welcome! Read this before posting.
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=35457

To all those with zero-reply threads...
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=82471

To New Users and those thinking about using Linux: the Rude Fisherman
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showpost...21&postcount=1
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showpost...13&postcount=2

New to Linux? Need a program?
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=33183

Feel free to ask as many questions as you have on ubuntuforums. But please :
* Be respectful. We are all volunteers.
* Behave in the spirit of Ubuntu. Here's a bit more information :
http://www.ubuntu.com/community/conduct
https://ubuntudemon.wordpress.com/20...ntu-philosophy
* follow our guidelines http://ubuntuforums.org/index.php?page=policy

2 : HOWTO INSTALL UBUNTU
If you are new to Ubuntu then I recommend the Graphical Installation using the 6.06.1 live cd. (you probably need the 386 one)

System Requirements for Ubuntu (gnome) :
2 GB of free disk space (although 5-10 GB for the system and additional room for your data would be nice)
256 MB of RAM

How to obtain the Install CD
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GettingUbuntu

Once you've obtained the CD image, burn it to CD with this guide
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto

HOWTO Graphical Installation
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall

More help on installation (also advanced ways of installing) :
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation

Ubuntu uses Gnome on default.

Kubuntu (uses KDE instead of Gnome. Looks more blue than Gnome )
http://kubuntu.org/

Xubuntu (uses XFCE4 instead of Gnome. Is lighter than Gnome)
http://xubuntu.org/

Edubuntu (educational)
http://edubuntu.org

Ubuntu Server (if you want to run a dedicated server)
https://help.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/serverguide/C/index.html

3 : COMMON CUSTOMIZATIONS

There is a good reason why Ubuntu doesn't include better multimedia support on default.

Some file formats are proprietary, which means that they are owned by a company or other organisation. Sometimes, the owners of such formats charge licensing fees or impose legal restrictions on the use of their formats. This means that people may be unable to use or distribute these formats without first paying a fee or applying for a license.

A Free or open format is one which can be used by anyone, free of legal restrictions on how they use the format. Free formats are very popular - the World Wide Web is based on the open HTML standard. Ubuntu supports many free formats and the open-source community as a whole encorages their wider use.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FreeFormats

You can choose one of the following methods to install and configure the most common wanted things.

Ubuntu Customization Guide
This HOWTO focuses on the most common customizations suitable for average users.[(currently only for Dapper)
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=159

Enabling Multimedia in Feisty (HOW-TO)
this guide helps you get multimedia working for Feisty
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=413624

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats
this guide helps you get multimedia working

4 : HOW TO INSTALL SOFTWARE

Add/Remove - the basic method

The easiest way of installing a package is to use the 'Add/Remove' tool. Click Applications --> Add/Remove... to start it. First, find the package or packages you want to install. You can search for a keyword, such as 'email', or look through the categories shown on the left hand side of the window. Once you've found a package you want to install, tick the box next to its icon. You can do this for as many packages as you like.

Once you've finished choosing, click the Apply button at the bottom of the window. Another window will pop up, showing all of the packages you've selected and asking if you'd like to apply the changes. To install the packages, click Apply. You'll then be asked to type in your super-user/administrator password. Once you've entered it, another window will appear informing you of the installation progress. Once this has finished, click Close. Your new programs are installed, ready to use!

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SoftwareManagement
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingSoftware
http://monkeyblog.org/ubuntu/installing/
http://psychocats.net/ubuntu/installingsoftware
http://www.beginningubuntu.com/software_1.html

5 : GENERAL DOCUMENTATION
Official Documentation for Ubuntu
https://help.ubuntu.com

UDSF (documentation originating from the forums)
http://doc.gwos.org/

Ubuntu Community Documentation
https://help.ubuntu.com/community

A selection of common questions with answers that may help you if you are new to Ubuntu.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CommonQuestions

official FAQ at ubuntu.com
http://www.ubuntu.com/support/faq?ac...w&redirect=FAQ

Some Ubuntu Linux Resources
http://psychocats.net/ubuntu/index.php

The Official Ubuntu Book
http://www.phptr.com/bookstore/produ...132435942&rl=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/013...lance&n=283155

6 : DUAL BOOT PROBLEMS
When you install Ubuntu from the live cd there will be a boot menu installed on your harddrive called grub. In most cases this will work fine.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot
http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/
http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/p3.htm

7 : NETWORKING/INTERNET

HOWTO setting up an Internet connection
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InternetHowto

This page aims to collect and organize the documentation on wireless
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs

Ubuntu Server Guide
https://help.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/serverguide/C/index.html

Samba
Samba is a fileserver you can install in Ubuntu. It's quite hard to install and configure it properly. Once it's working it's an easy way to share files between computers in a trusted network (such as your house).

The Samba part of the official server guide
https://help.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/serve...etworking.html

Ubuntu Documentation: Setting up Samba
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SettingUpSamba

HOWTO: Setup Samba peer-to-peer with Windows
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=202605

Samba Homepage
http://samba.org/

Samba documentation on the samba website
http://us3.samba.org/samba/docs/

The Official Samba-3 HOWTO and Reference Guide
http://us3.samba.org/samba/docs/man/...TO-Collection/

Practical Exercises in Successful Samba Deployment
http://us3.samba.org/samba/docs/man/Samba-Guide/

Using Samba, 2nd Edition
http://us3.samba.org/samba/docs/using_samba/toc.html

8 : SECURITY

Ideally, you run as a user that has only the privileges needed for the task at hand. In some cases, this is necessarily root, but most of the time it is a regular user.

Ubuntu is quite secure. Average users don't need to install a firewall or a virusscanner. But remember security is a process instead of a product so you still have to be careful with what you do. For example don't give root privileges to programs which don't need them and don't install server stuff (which might open ports) if you don't need it.

About root and sudo :
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo

If you have questions regarding security then you should go here :
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=7

9 : PROBLEM SOLVING

How to Help Yourself
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=142716

Import links regarding installing/upgrading to Dapper
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=232037

Having problems with installing or upgrading to Dapper? Here are some fixes
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=187656

Dealing with problems with the Xserver
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=187177
http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/p7.html

Comprehensive Sound Problem Solutions Guide
Luckily for most people sound support is pretty good. If you don't hear the drums when you your computer shows the login screen then you are probably having some sound issue (please check the cables first). If your soundcard doesn't work at all then you have to fix that first. If you are new to Ubuntu and you know someone who's good with Linux then this is a good moment to ask for his/her help. This is the place to start :
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205449

If you have suggestions for links to add to the sticky please post them here :

READ THIS FIRST prior to posting (discussion)
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=232065
__________________
my blog : http://ubuntudemon.wordpress.com

Ubuntu Customization Guide
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=159

nominate yourself for Forum Ambassador
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=366253