I'm a total beginner and I want to do a clean install of Kubuntu (24.04.3 LTS) on my laptop. I plan to completely replace Windows 11 and all its data, setting up an environment solely for Kubuntu. However, I'm pretty confused about the partitioning options available to me.
The Kubuntu manual mentions these guided options: using the entire disk or setting up LVM (Logical Volume Management) or encrypted LVM. But then the installer also presents me with options like installing alongside existing OS, replacing a partition, erasing the entire disk, or doing manual partitioning.
The 'erase disk' option will wipe everything, including the Windows boot manager, but I'm worried about potentially bricking my laptop. I do have a recovery disk for Windows 11 on a thumb drive just in case I want to revert back. Should I really go with 'erase disk' to remove all traces of Windows?
1 Answer
You won't brick your laptop as long as you can access the BIOS! If you're feeling brave, I suggest manually repartitioning. LVM is great, but might be overkill for personal use and can complicate recovery. Aim for three partitions: one for root (/), one for home (/home) for all your files, and a swap partition for memory management. Don't delete the EFI partition from Windows; just reformat it. Using GParted while booted into a live session can help you set these up easily. Keep your root partition around 20 GB, and your swap should be larger than your RAM if you want to use hibernate, otherwise 1-2 GB is plenty. And if anything goes wrong, you still have your recovery options!
Exactly! Just make sure to back up any important files first. You can do this!