Upgrade from Ubuntu 14.04 to Ubuntu Studio 18.04

Ubuntu is a free operating system for your computer which you can run instead of Windows (or OSX). A LOT of software is available as well for FREE. which saves a lot of money.

Ubuntu Studio is a community effort, created by volunteers, targeted towards all skill levels, from beginner to pro, and aims to be easy to install and easy to use, as well as provide all the tools necessary for any type of media content creation.

I selected Ubuntu Studio for two primary reasons:

•    I needed software for graphics, video and audio recording/editing. Unbuntu Studio is intended to have all of the things you need to create and edit media installed by default.
•    The second thing I liked about Unbuntu Studio is that by default a low-latency kernel is installed. What this means is that audio will be less likely to have little glitches in it. Important for recording podcasts, etc.

My laptop software installation was Ubuntu 14.04, was installed as soon as it came out in 2014. I had moved the hard-drive across several laptops. They were all used laptops. The first two developed hardware issues, the third I killed by spilling a full Starbucks cup of coffee on the keyboard which quickly fried the motherboard. I'm now on my fourth laptop, again used.

I did not want to do an upgrade, I wanted a clean install.

Partially because I had installed and tested all kinds of different things on this installation. I had configured services for web development locally. I had broken the windowing system, and replaced it with another - but it still would require me to log in twice after it timed out and I had to log back in. And most critically, it was sometimes appearing to hang up for 3 to 10 seconds while performing tasks. This was significantly an issue when editing video.

I didn't have any drives large enough to back up all my existing data to one place. This resulted in my data being backed up to a number of smaller hard-drives.

I'd already downloaded Ubuntu Studio 18.04 and created a bootable USB.

So, booted off the USB drive. I choose to completely wipe the hard-drive and install. I also did a full disk encryption. This means that if my laptop is stolen or misplaced, the data on it cannot be accessed. Not that I have anything of extreme importance, but it is mine, and I'd like it to stay that way.

I had created this as a dual boot - meaning I could choose to load Windows 7, or Linux.

Windows 7 is rarely needed, and it got the boot. I can do anything I need to do in Linux. This installation is only Ubuntu 18.04.

After installation was complete, logged in and tested.

So far, not hanging up, and the software that is installed is working well.

I preferred a different Window Manager, Cinnamon. Installed this, tweaked, and all is good.

Not a big deal, but had been needing to do this for some time - but stalling this whole process as it is an inconvenience.

If you are looking for software to run on your computer, and you don't want to buy Windows, Ubuntu *MIGHT* be a good choice for you.

Any questions, feel free to ask.