Should I select 'Install Ubuntu' or 'Try Ubuntu before installing' when using a live USB? [duplicate]

Does it affect the main hard drive or runs separately like a virtual machine?

Solution 1:

If you want to just try Ubuntu without making any changes to your existing system, go for Try Ubuntu (It does not run like a virtual machine, but will not change anything on your disks unless you manually do that), but if you want to install Ubuntu for permanently using it as one of your operating systems, then go for Install Ubuntu.

• If you Try Ubuntu, then no changes are made to disk (except if you make manual changes after ubuntu boots up from the live USB.
• If you choose Install Ubuntu, it will start up a sequence of steps with customizations where you can choose which partition of your disks will be modified/formatted and for what purpose.

Solution 2:

Try Ubuntu without installing

This not a virtual installation. It works completely from within the Live USB. Instead of booting Windows from the hard disk, this will boot Ubuntu directly from the Live USB. When Ubuntu is running from the Live USB, Windows will not be running.

The keyword is Try. The purpose of this option is trying and finding out:

Does Ubuntu work with your computer?

• Does the keyboard and mouse work?
• Does the screen display the desktop as expected?
• Does sound work?
• Does WiFi or Ethernet wired connection work? & Can you get on the Internet?

Can you figure out how to use Ubuntu?

• How do I open an app?
• How do I see a list of installed apps?
• How do I find a document?
• How do I get on the Internet?
• How do I install an app?
• Is it easy or hard for me?
• Do you like this user interface?

Without installing

This means that this option will not make any changes in your hard drive. Ubuntu will work from the USB.

This also means nothing will be saved.

• Any file you create, song you download will be lost when you turn the PC off or reboot.
• Any apps you install while trying will be gone when you turn the PC off or reboot.
• Any changes in settings, like WiFi settings will be gone when you turn the PC off or reboot.

Note 1: There is an exception. There is a way to create the Live USB with "persistence" which will allow you to save somethings. But this is not the default.

Note 2: It is possible to access the files (including Windows system files) and documents in your hard disk when you are trying Ubuntu without installing from the Live USB. If you choose to do it: Fiddling with Windows system files this way may break Windows completely. Getting access to your documents, music, photos, and videos this way may help if the Windows does not boot and you want to copy these files into an external hard drive.

Install Ubuntu

This option will take you straight to the installation process. It will modify your hard drive and either delete everything in it, or let you keep Windows and create new partitions in your hard drive to Install Ubuntu.

This will not be a virtual installation. You may need to take some steps from inside Windows to prepare your system before you boot from the Live USB and choose "Install Ubuntu"

Solution 3:

"Install Ubuntu" starts the installer immediately. "Try Ubuntu" boots the system from the USB stick, and then offers you again the option to install it.

I recommend always trying it before installing, so you can check immediately if there are any driver issues (for instance, the wi-fi card doesn't work, sound cannot be heard...), before making major changes to your disk. Linux these days is quite reliable, but better safe than sorry.

Solution 4:

Try Ubuntu or Install Ubuntu

Makes no difference, I use them interchangeably.

Try Ubuntu gives a chance to prepare the target disk in GParted, but it can be prepared in "Something else" just as easy.

Choosing Install Ubuntu is slightly more direct.

Both have all the same options, the end results are the same.