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Step 1: Get the Xubuntu development version up and running

Whatever you do next, first of all you will need to get the Xubuntu development version. This is available as an ISO image file, and the latest ('daily') version can always be found here.

There are then four main options for installing the OS, depending on what you have available. Two extra virtual machine options are discussed on this page.

  1. You have a computer that you don’t depend on for work, school, or everyday life - Install Xubuntu as the main Operating System
  2. You have a computer that you do depend on, but can spare 15Gb of space - Install Xubuntu alongside another OS (Dual Boot)
  3. You have a computer that you do depend on, but can spare 15Gb of space - Install Xubuntu inside a Virtual Machine
  4. You have a computer you can use, but either can't or don't want to install another OS - Use Live Media to run Xubuntu

Once you've done one of these installation methods you will have already made a start - and you've been testing. Now comes the important part from the Xubuntu Team - you need to tell us or we'll have no idea that you have tested for us.

In this case the way to tell us is to report your install on the Iso Tracker - this very important webpage tells people from all of the flavours who's installed using the Daily ISO.

1 - You have a computer that you don’t depend on for work, school, or everyday life - Install Xubuntu as the main Operating System

One of the ways to test Xubuntu is just to install it on a computer or laptop and start using it.

Be aware though: you may experience problems or instability with a development version of Xubuntu, and may not be able to be as productive as you want. So you really should use a computer that you don’t depend on. Strange as it may seem: those problems, that instability may be annoying to you but it is what the Xubuntu Development Team wants to know about: it shows where there are things that still need to be worked on.

By simply being online, writing a letter, printing a document, sending an e-mail you discover the problems, that Xubuntu gets to solve. If this seems a fair deal to you, then please get testing.

If you don't already know how to do install Xubuntu, then please read this great tutorial, which applies as much to Xubuntu as to Ubuntu.

Once you've got Xubuntu running, you are ready to start testing.

2 - You have a computer that you do depend on, but have 15 GB or so free hard disk space - Install Xubuntu alongside another OS - 'Dual-boot'

This should give you enough space to install, update (you'll find updates more frequent during the 6 month cycle) and not feel constrained by free space issues.

  • Setting up dual boot can be as simple as choosing the 'Install Alongside'' option during the installation where that option exists on the installer.
  • If however, the Install Alongside isn't available you need to manually create a partition by resizing an existing one and then installing. We have a section on the [yet to be named wiki page for sundries and notes|page] that works through this issue.

It’s quite common nowadays for computers to have more than one operating system (Windows, Xubuntu, BSD to name a few) on its hard disk. In that case an extra menu (GRUB) will show up at each boot. Every time you start up your computer GRUB lets you choose which operating system you want to use for that session.

Then the operating system you chose will simply start up and be no different from what you are used to - there is no interference between the operating systems. It's like having two or more computers in one.

Once you've got Xubuntu running, you are ready to start testing.

3 - You have a computer that you do depend on, but have 15 GB or so free hard disk space - Install Xubuntu inside a 'Virtual Machine' ('VM')

You can simply install the development version of Xubuntu inside your current operating system, using a Virtual Machine, or 'VM' (an 'emulator'). This virtual computer will not interfere with your main operating system, apart from taking up some space on your hard disk, but it will allow you to do some invaluable testing.

Some simple ways to set up a VM are to use Boxes, VirtualBox, VMWare or KVM. Xubuntu testers have some experience with using these for testing and can help you. Midlle-click here if you want to talk to people in the Xubuntu Development Channel now in a new window. There people are often available in real time.

Xubuntu Testers regularly use VM's to test things - so it's a perfectly acceptable method of testing.

Once you've got Xubuntu running, you are ready to start testing.

4 - You have a computer that you could use, but can’t or don’t want to install another operating system - Use a live media version (on a USB stick, DVD or in a VM)

You can indeed still help us. In several ways in fact. If your computer has a CD or DVD drive, or a USB connection and you have a USB disk or stick that you can use, you can do some valuable testing by using the development version of Xubuntu in a live-session.

If you don't already know how to do this, here is a great tutorial.

To do this with a VM you simply need to give the machine a small amount of space and boot the iso on that. No need to actually install unless you wish to do so.

Start Testing

Once you've got Xubuntu running, you are ready to move on to Step 2 and start testing.