Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Installation Guide for Any PC – From BIOS to Developer Setup

🐧 Introduction

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is one of the most stable and widely-used Linux distributions. Whether you're a developer, student, or regular user, installing it on any PC is a great choice. This guide will walk you through every step — from BIOS setup, disk partitioning, swap space sizing, to post-install commands.

🔗 Download Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO

1. Visit the official Ubuntu download page:
   👉 https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

2. Choose Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Long Term Support).

3. Download the ISO (~5GB).

💽 Create a Bootable USB

Tools you can use:

• Rufus (Windows): https://rufus.ie

• balenaEtcher (Linux/macOS/Windows): https://etcher.io

Steps:

1. Insert a USB drive (min 8GB).

2. Open Rufus or Etcher.

3. Select the ISO and USB.

4. Start the flashing process.

🔧 BIOS/UEFI Setup (Before Installation)

1. Reboot your PC and enter BIOS/UEFI:

   • Usually F2, DEL, F10, or ESC.

2. Enable UEFI Boot Mode (Recommended).

3. Disable Secure Boot (important for most drivers).

4. Set USB device as first boot priority.

Save and exit.

🖥️ Start Ubuntu Installation

1. Boot from USB.

2. Choose Try or Install Ubuntu.

3. Select Install Ubuntu on the desktop.

🌍 Basic Installation Steps

1. Keyboard Layout:

Choose your preferred layout.

2. Updates and Software:

• Choose Normal Installation.

• Tick both options to download updates and third-party drivers.

3. Installation Type:

• Choose Erase disk and install Ubuntu (for fresh install).

• Or choose Something else to create custom partitions.

📁 Custom Partitioning (Recommended for Developers)

Suggested Layout:

Mount PointFormatSizeDescription/ext425-50 GBRoot filesystem/homeext4RemainingPersonal files and configsswapswapDepends on RAMVirtual memory backup

💡 Swap Recommendations:

• If you have ≤ 8 GB RAM (developer):
  Set swap = 12 GB (for smooth multitasking, hibernation support).

• If you have ≥ 16 GB RAM:
  Set swap = 4 to 6 GB.

Swap helps with memory overflow. Developers often run heavy IDEs and Docker, so more swap = more stability.

▶️ Continue Installation

1. Select your time zone.

2. Create user account.

3. Click Install Now → Confirm partition changes.

4. Wait for 10–20 minutes.

✅ First Boot and Setup

After installation completes:

• Remove USB drive.

• Reboot into your new Ubuntu setup.

🧰 Essential Post-Installation Commands

🔄 Update System:

bash
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y 

📦 Install Common Developer Tools:

bash
sudo apt install git curl vim build-essential gnome-tweaks -y 

🐍 Install Python & Pip:

bash
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip -y 

💻 Install VS Code:

bash
sudo snap install code --classic 

🐳 Optional: Install Docker

bash
sudo apt install docker.io -y sudo systemctl enable docker sudo usermod -aG docker $USER 

🎯 Final Tips for Developers

• Use Gnome Tweaks to customize appearance and behavior.

• Enable Firewall:

  bash
  sudo ufw enable 

• Backup your system with Timeshift.

🧩 Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Wi-Fi not detected:
  Use sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall to install missing drivers.

• Boot issues:
  Double-check BIOS boot mode and secure boot status.

🔚 Conclusion

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS provides a rock-solid Linux experience for both casual users and developers. With proper setup, including swap memory optimization, it's lightweight, powerful, and highly customizable. Whether you're working with low RAM or a high-performance machine, this guide ensures you start right.