Reinstalling Ubuntu on the Dell Computers - northern-bites/nbites GitHub Wiki

These steps erase everything on a computer and reinstall Ubuntu to give a fresh setup.

  1. Plug the Ubuntu USB Drive into the computer.
  2. Get into the computer's BIOS.
    1. On a Dell Latitude, press F2 when you see the Dell logo on startup. Press it over and over until you see "Preparing to Enter Setup."
    2. In the BIOS, change the boot order so USB Drive is first.
    3. Press Apply, then Exit. The computer will shut down.
  3. Boot into the USB drive by starting the computer normally.
  4. When you see a completely purple screen (indicating that the computer has booted into the Ubuntu USB), press the Shift key. You will see a list of languages.
  5. When English is selected, press Enter.
  6. Select "Try Ubuntu Without Installing"

You should be in the Ubuntu desktop now. From here, we're wiping the drive and reinstalling the OS.

  1. Double click the installer on the desktop
  2. Select your language
  3. Connect to the internet: use the Robotics network with the password robocupusopen
  4. Make sure "Download updates" and "Install 3rd party software" are both selected
  5. On the next screen, selecte "Erase Ubuntu 14.04 and reinstall" (the one with the warning)
  6. Press Continue after the warning dialog
  7. Time zone: New York
  8. English US keyboard
  9. Your name: "Shared Nbites"
  10. Computer's name should be labeled on the computer (if not you get to name it)
  11. Your username is "shared_nbites"
  12. Your password is "hotdawgs"

The installer will run. Once it is completed, shut off your computer (Ubuntu will try to shut it off by itself but it won't work), change the boot order in the BIOS to the default, remove the USB, then start the computer again.