Am moving happily to UBUNTU from win11 (finally had enough)

Support and Help
1

Ubuntu Support Template

Ubuntu Version:
25.10 and expecting the 26.10 in April 26

Desktop Environment:
Create new Ubuntu partition etc

Description:
New install on new partition for Ubuntu of my existing drive. At present on my 500 GB ssd NVME remaining capacity 477 GB I have Win 11 pro and am going to partition this drive to give 50 g to it for Ubuntu. (IS this sufficient)

I want to have two users on it .My self and my wife.

In Win11 I have 2 users ….myself as User 1 and login as Administrator also I created a second User my wife as a local acc.

I want to create account one in my name and also act as “Admin” so I can do the updates etc and installs as well. I then want to create a second user on same drive so I can load / install things such as a Trading Desktop application etc for her.

I have experimented for past 6 months on Ubuntu installing things such a Canon printer, and various other programmes such as Hamrick VueScan….as Admin as I have been to only one using it to test

Does Ubuntu install User one as admin (as I have done on my test laptop) and second user with same rights or should one allow admin rights for both. ?

What is the choice and what is the best option bearing in mind If I am incapacitated and cant admin the PC has she the rights on here side?

What are the options to create a good dual working environment new to Ubuntu.

I do intend of course to have dual boot. (grub)

Also I do like the GUI of Ubuntu 25.10 but I see “Lubuntu”…..what exactly is the difference between the two and /or to whom is Lubuntu aimed at?

Relevant System Information:
Device name ASROCK-PC
Processor Intel(R) Core™ i5-10400 CPU @ 2.90GHz (2.90 GHz) 2x1TB Samsung Evo 870 SSD HD

500 GB SSD NVME
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.7 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Many thanks,

MW.

What are your recommendations:

Before Posting:

2

I’ll reply here only to parts, partially as others will [I bet] be able to do better where I’ll skip

Ubuntu 25.10 is the 2025-October release, next month in April we’ll release 26.04 (2026-April release), with 26.10 not scheduled until 2026-October (what 26.10 represents).

The year.month format is helpful to know what software is in your system (ie. software is usually the latest prior to the freeze date prior to actual release; the 25.10 telling you when release was). It’s also helpful in calculating end of support; ie. 25.10 has 9 months of support; so 10+9=19 but as only 12 months in a year that’s 19-12 or July for the end-of-life; so you have from April until July to release-upgrade to the next release.

I’m using a LXQt desktop created by the Lubuntu team right now in reply, am a member of the Lubuntu team too, but to me this system is still a Ubuntu system!

Quoting from Ubuntu flavors

Ubuntu flavors offer a unique way to experience Ubuntu, each with their own choice of default applications and settings. Ubuntu flavors are owned and developed by members of our global community and backed by the full Ubuntu archive for packages and updates.

Lubuntu provide the LXQt desktop, and apps appropriate for that desktop (where GNOME Desktop is GTK4; LXQt is Qt6 for my current release or 25.10 you mention, thus Qt6 apps are provided). That creates a lighter system which can be beneficial if your machine is resource limited (ie. older device; slower CPU & especially lower RAM), however few of us these days will fit that bill. My current device is near eight years old, has 16GB of RAM and I can ignore the resource argument here. I have another device with only 4GB of RAM but touch screen; but usually still use GNOME or Ubuntu Desktop on it; as on that device I prefer the operation of touch with GNOME there due to touchscreen on that device.

If you go to Lubuntu’s web site; https://lubuntu.me/ you may learn more.

The lightest flavors of Ubuntu when used out of the box (ie. no changes) are Lubuntu (lightest), then Xubuntu; but to me that creates a “so what?” reaction; as how many of us actually use the systems out of the box without addding additional software. Xubuntu is GTK3 so will quickly catch up if you’re using GTK3 apps; Lubuntu is Qt6 (depending on release) so will be lightest if using Qt6 apps; ie. an installed system that starts as light may not end up being lightest choice after user choices… but few users are actually using ~20 year old devices with limited RAM (the oldest machine I use in Quality Assurance testing currently is from 2007). Your specs sure indicate you’re not needing to worry about resources much!

The flavors allow us to interact with our Ubuntu system in a way that pleases us.. Sure we can choose one as it’s lighter than others, but for almost all of us it’s like choosing a flavor of ice-cream - ie. our tastes dictate what we’ll enjoy the most.

My own install here has Ubuntu Desktop (GNOME), and Xubuntu’s Xfce installed too; so I can select which I’ll use when I login.. We’re not limited to even a single choice either! though as a newbie I will suggest you install only a single desktop (single desktop is easier; you want to avoid added complexity when on a new system)

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@gozitan

Hi and welcome.

You have asked several questions. A topic can get very confusing if several questions are being answered in the same topic. I suggest that you make a note of each question and open a separate topic for each question.

Some information regarding dual booting. Use Windows tools to work with Windows partitions/file systems. Defrag before and after and confirm that Windows still loads. Use Ubuntu tools from the Ubuntu TRY/LIVE session to work with Ubuntu/Linux partitions.

Regards

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Any user in the ‘adm’ group can administer the system.
The first user is automatically in that group. Subsequent users, if desired to have admin permissions, must be added manually.

Whether or not you want more than one user in the adm group is up to you as the admin.

Personally, I wouldn’t worry much about it. She can set up her own system however she wishes and can maintain her own way.

It’s not clear if “dual working” environment means dual Ubuntu/Windows or if you are referring to multiple users.

That answer would be quite lengthy.
Try booting a Lubuntu Live USB, enter the ‘Try Lubuntu’ environment, and see for yourself which differences are important to you.

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Welcome… I always suggest to stay with LTS versions. 500GB is barely good enough for just one OS. If you intend to do dualboot get another nvme with at least 2TB or two different nvmes. Different nvme brands could help to identify where to install any needed OS.

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As stated above Ubuntu & its flavours does not have a separated Admin & User account. Some other Linux distributions do have separated accounts like Windows.

I am basing my answer on what will happen when Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is released in a few weeks time.

When we try to do something that requires Administrator privileges, the system will offer a dialog box that will require a password to authenticate the action. As the first user on the system ( the user who installed Ubuntu) we enter our password and for that action we are working as an administrator. Our authority lapses after a few minutes and we revert to working as an ordinary user.

Ubuntu comes with a utility called Terminal. It allows us to work with Linux commands. For example, we can use the terminal to update & upgrade the system and the applications. Staring with Ubuntu 26.04 LTS we prefix certain commands with the phrase:

sudo-rs

That will prompt a request for our password. Such as

sudo-rs apt update

After enter the password the utility will check the software repositories to see if any packages can be updated. We follow that command with:

sudo-rs apt upgrade

We may not need to enter our password again because the system has not reached its time-out limit.

So, we login as an ordinary user. We work as an ordinary user. We work as administrator when we need to. Our password allows to to work as administrator for the limited period that we need to be the administrator.

The second user will work as an ordinary user unless we give the second user Administrator privileges. We do that through System Settings>System>Users>Add User

Regards

7

Canon make Ubuntu drivers for some of their products. It may just work out of the box. If you can give the full model we may be able to provide DEBs (if needed)

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You appear to have a lot of capacity left on your drive (477Gb) so I would use Windows to create a new 150Gb partition and give it a (simple) name that is obvious to you that this is the partition for ubuntu - call it UBUNTU

You can then use the live ubuntu installer to install ubuntu on that partition (as said, create a new post for help on that one if you need help).

Ubuntu,in a way, is not that different to Windows but in detail it is very different. When installed, say as yourself as the user, you can use the system as you like. One way of looking at yourself as the user (this is an analogy) is that you both a normal user and the admin user at the same time. If you want to make changes to the system (like installing new software applications, or updating the system for example) you can do this by either something called the terminal or a gui program. If you try and do these changes (by whatever method, terminal or gui program) you will not be allowed to do it (because you are a normal user) - as said above, you will be asked for your password, you enter it (thus becoming the admin user) and then you can make your changes. If you then close down either the terminal or the gui program you then automatically become just your original normal/standard user.

When installed you can make your wife an additional user and, like windows, when you first start the system you will be prompted to enter what user you wish to boot to.

Again, as said above, no matter how simple or many, it is best to ask separate questions on this forum as sometimes simple questions can get long and complicated and it can get very very confusing if multiple questions are being answered in the same thread.

I haven’t really added anything to what has been said already, perhaps just added another angle. You will absolutely not regret what you want to do. This forum is a rich source of help for you all the way through, and beyond.

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OK, I have 99% of my answers. It is now my decision based on your top notch replies…

Ubuntu 25.10 is the 2025-October release, next month in April we’ll release 26.04 (2026-April release), with 26.10 not scheduled until 2026-October (what 26.10 represents).

I made mistake ..I am test using on old lap top 25.10 then looking forward to new iteration on my main PC after install of current 25.10 which I have now downloaded ready for Rufus.

Differences.

Checked out Lubuntu, and it did nothing for me as I really like the original Ubuntu GUI so decision made ….UBUNTU it is as I have been experimenting for last 6 months. Thanks for guidance.

Administer.

Question answered, thanks

Dual working environment.

Simply put. The relevance of “dual working” just refers to Win 11Pro as the original operating system and that after Ubuntu is installed only to use Windows 11environment when something doesn’t play nice in Ubuntu. Simple switching hopefully on a very irregular basis, No gaming on PC , No editing whatsoever. No business use as totally retired, Simple straight forward use such as email, shopping, research, news catch up, Signal use, airline holiday bookings etc……it is that simple.=

Partition size.

It is not possible for me to add another NVM. The existing good and speedy 500GB has more than plenty of capacity, Currently there is 487405MB unused space. I have seen so many installations of Ubuntu and variants noted on internet and YT on a created partition of say around 30 to 50GB and then just use “grub” to select OS. Thanks and appreciated jossccz.

Further info in relation to above.

This appears to “knock on my door” with the resolution I have seen innumerable times. Why the 150GB size?**……. any particular reason***.*

Users

Question answered clearly and Terminal use understood, as have been experimenting over 6 months on old acer laptop. Quite enjoy it.

GRUB ??

Is the “grub” selection item already installed on / in Windows 11 or do I have to manually install it?

Thank you ALL for your superb input and guidance and look forward to your comments update pertaining to my reply with clearer clarification as opposed to my mish mash original post.

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Jumping in by chance. There are other options. For years I have used external drives with plugin caddies, subject to USB3.0. It works smoothly. The external docking bay is StarTech USB 3.0 SATA or IDE HDD/SSD Dock .. UNIDOCKU33 .. then you have to purchase SSD and caddy box to plugin .. I have several .. so in principle you can setup a “deadman’s handle” caddy .. from memory name EasyCaddy .. to plug for different circumstances and backups. Leaves the Windows host untouched apart from installing rEFInd for multi booting. You could have a physical “trading caddy” for physical backup. It is just another way of looking at options. Ubuntu works well for me over USB 3.0. but look at rEFInd whatever route you take. An then of course there is Ubuntu WSL embedded in Windws 11 and other options such as VM’s in desktop and/or Azure. A witches brew. I would try external SSD first since if your lose Windows while experimenting you are snookered. Then if you decide to enter Windows host to reconfigure you can use your external SSD asset as backup.

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Grub = Grand Unified Bootloader. It will be installed as part of the Ubuntu installation process. Talking someone through the installation process is best done in a separate topic. There are installation guides we can link to.

Installation is a lot simpler if we use the whole drive. We let the installer do all the work. Installing to a partition or two has to be done carefully. We direct which partition to install Ubuntu to and we also direct which partition that Grub is installed to. The installer will make a default selection. Which may be the correct one. That should be confirmed.

During the installation process Grub will detect other operating systems (Windows) and create a boot menu that will appear when we reboot.

Here is where we get technical. The Windows installation would have created what is called an EFI System partition. It may be about 500 MB in size and formatted as FAT 32 bit. Grub’s boot files go in the EFI System partition. There is plenty of room and both Windows and Grub boot files peacefully co-exist.

Here is a complication from our point of view. I am familiar with the Ubuntu installation process. I have done it many times over the years. But, the installer has been re-written in recent years. The dialogs are looking different. I have not done sufficient recent installs to go by memory. a guide is useful.

Official Ubuntu installation tutorial

Regards

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Do you have three disks on this PC?
Windows 11 on one disk and Ubuntu 25.10/26.04 on a separate disk would be perfection.

PS: I removed HELP Needed from the topic title as the category is Support and Help

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50G for your primary OS, and 450G for the backup?
If Ubuntu will be your Primary OS, consider a larger partition.

Some folks find that they quickly exhaust 50G in ordinary use. Ubuntu itself will happily fit within 50G, but folks who download much will run out of space from those personal files.

I know a person who has 30G of just their email archive. Lots of emailed images.

Many folks go this route.

It’s often a transition stage. Lot of users later reinstall Ubuntu using 100% of their drive space, eliminating the backup OS (and data) entirely. Most find that Ubuntu does indeed ‘play nice’ with their hardware and usage.

Warning: Windows assumes it is the only OS, and rarely a Windows Update might deliberately delete your Ubuntu install as part of whatever maintenance it is doing. This is the main risk of dual-booting. Keep regular backups of your data.

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150Gb has no specific relevance. You could use anything but as Ian W said, many people find their requirements for space grows and grows over time. You can always expand space at a later date but I think most people would advise to start quite large if you have the space. Expanding is easy but as per windows, there is always risks when dealing with your data. Don’t forget your Back-up strategy as well!

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Hello all those that assisted. News is that I have installed an new fast Samsung SSD to Asrock and with use of advice on this forum from good Ubuntonians all is working fine. I did look at all the flavours available but I so liked Ubuntu Naturel. I am super pleased and love it.:saluting_face: :100:

I have created a new user ….my wife and prepared her desk top which she is itching to learn. I do however have one question that is a minor problem.

I have to install on her “side / local user” the following Desktop Application “IBKR Trading Desk” which is of course for linux. ntws-latest-standalone-linux-x64.sh

Is it because her local account needs to have install permission? If this is the case how do I activate for this occasion.?

I downloaded package to the location designated “Download folder” I have tried to install via Terminal but all her Terminal shows is sw ~/Downloads (cd~/Downloads as shown on IBKR instructions.)

This is what is shown on IBKR website for Linux instructions.

a.) Go to the directory where the installer was downloaded: cd , for example cd ~/Downloads.

b.) Make the installer executable: chmod u+x , for example chmod u+x tws-latest-standalone-linux-x86.sh

c.) Run the installer to start the wizard: ./, for example ./tws-latest-standalone-linux-x86.sh

How do I install the correct way ? ….. What am I doing wrong? ….The programme only needs to be on her user account.

Many thanks in advance,

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You as the primary user with root/sudo permissions need to navigate to the correct directory (whatever your wife’s username is and her Downloads directory) and run those commands prefixed with sudo. I don’t know anything about the software you are referring to but if it installed using the system and not entirely in the /home/user directory, you need root/sudo which you pretty much need for any software or system changes. If it is not installed in the system and everything is in the user directory, log in as that user.