Ubuntu comes with many pre-installed applications, but if you require more, the Ubuntu Software Centre provides an excellent way to browse the additional applications which are available in the software repositories.

You can read more about managing applications in the Official Ubuntu Documentation (see the section on Adding and Removing Software) and the SoftwareManagement page.

Software repositories

To search for applications in the software repositories, either use

• Ubuntu Software Centre (or another package manager of your choice)

• the online package search at packages.ubuntu.com, or

• the Ubuntu Apps Directory at apps.ubuntu.com.

To read more about repositories, what they are and what the different repositories in Ubuntu are used for, see the Repositories page.

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Introduction

Switching to Ubuntu can be a slow process. The whole process – from the day you start thinking about Ubuntu to the day you get rid of your old operating system – can take two or four years. This guide will discuss some of the issues you will face along the way. Other pages discuss issues faced specifically when migrating from Windows, Mac OS X, or another Linux distribution.

Switching to Ubuntu can be hard work at times, and not everyone makes it. But even if you don’t complete your switch, you’ll learn a lot from the attempt.

Strategies for approaching Ubuntu

The process of switching to Ubuntu pivots around install day – the day you put Ubuntu on your hard drive. The days and weeks following install day can be quite overwhelming, because everything’s new, nothing works how you expect, and all your instincts are telling you “I can do this in 3 clicks if you just give up and go back!” The trick to a successful switch is to push as much work as possible as far as possible away from install day. This section will discuss some popular strategies during the months and years before install day.

The apps-then-OS strategy

Switching to Ubuntu is best done in two stages. First, keep your old operating system and switch to applications that have Ubuntu equivalents. Then, switch your operating system and keep your new applications.

Most major Ubuntu programs are available for other operating systems, and learning them ahead of time will let you settle in much quicker after you switch. The official list of Ubuntu programs is available at packages.ubuntu.com, but it’s usually easier to search on the Internet.

The purchasing strategy

Ubuntu supports the vast majority of hardware available today, but Linux drivers still aren’t available for some uncommon hardware. When you buy new hardware, you should look online and in Ubuntu’s official list of supported hardware. Although Linux support might be added by the time you switch, it’s best not to rely on it.

The Ubuntu away-day strategy

It’s possible to run Ubuntu directly from a “live” CD, without installing it on your computer at all. It’s very useful to make yourself use this for a whole day before installing Ubuntu.

During your Ubuntu away-day, you should try customising your desktop, installing programs, surfing the web, and using all the hardware you have (like printers and scanners). Your live environment gets reset when you reset the computer, so this is a safe way to get you past the most immediate issues you’ll have when you switch.

Continue reading SwitchingToUbuntu →

Sometimes reinstalling is the quickest way to solve a problem, for example if an upgrade failed or if your graphics driver is broken. When reinstalling, you’re most likely want to preserve two things:

1. /home folder with your files and settings

2. Entries in boot menu (if you have multiple OS installed)

How To Reinstall Ubuntu

Since Hardy it is possible to reinstall Ubuntu without losing the content of the /home folder (the folder that contains program settings, internet bookmarks, emails and all your documents, music, videos and other user files). This can be done even if /home is not on a separate partition (which is the case by default if you did not manually separate it when installing Ubuntu originally). This tutorial can also be used to upgrade Ubuntu (eg 11.04 -> 12.04 from a 12.04 live-CD).

Before doing anything

This operation should not damage your documents but, for security, backup your documents and settings (including /home hidden files) on external disk or DVDs. (eg via CloneZilla) Note: Some special applications settings may be in system folders, eg LAMP, see below in the thread.

Run the Ubuntu installer

1. Run the UbuntuInstaller

2. Follow the prompts until the “Installation type” (or “Allocate disk space”) menu
3. Choose the right option as described below:

Choose the right option

There are two possibilities – choose the one that fits what the installer is showing:

– If an “Upgrade 1X.XX to 1Y.YY” option is available (like in the screenshot below), choose it.

– Or, if the above option is not available, choose manual partitioning (“Something-else” option), then select Ubuntu system partition, set its mount point as “/”. Be sure to keep the same format type, the same size, and untick the “Format” checkbox or all data on “/” will be deleted!. Also set other partitions (/boot, /home… see DiskSpace) if needed.

Then finish the installation process. (this may take several hours, like a normal install)

After reinstalling

After reinstalling, user accounts must be re-created with the same login and password.

Sumber: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuReinstallation