How to Install Kubuntu With Rufus

Kubuntu is a free and open-source OS based on Ubuntu. Kubuntu is the first Linux distribution I have ever tried. This quick guide shows how to create a fully functional bootable USB flash drive for Kubuntu that will boot on a machine with a UEFI bootloader. Usually, all of the modern computers that are made to run Windows 8 and higher are UEFI compatible. Now let's see how to install Kubuntu on your PC. To create the bootable USB, we are going to use a software called Rufus USB. Rufus USB is an open-source utility that allows you to copy ISO files into USB flash drives easily. Please proceed along the following steps to create your Kubuntu bootable USB flash drive.

  1. To install Kubuntu, first of all, we have to download the ISO file. The latest version of Kubuntu available is Kubuntu 19.10 (Eoan Ermine) and can be downloaded from their official website for free. 
  2. Options on the download page include "Kubuntu 19.10" and "Kubuntu 18.04.4 LTS". Click on the "Kubuntu 18.04.4 LTS" option. You also can select Kubuntu 19.10, but we do not recommend using the latest versions as they are not that stable when compared to the LTS versions.
  3. After that, another option will appear asking if you want to download the desktop version of Kubuntu or GNOME. It's totally up to you which one you prefer but for this installation guide, I am going to go with Kubuntu.
  4. Again there are two more options, 32-bit or 64-bit. Your choice here will depend on whether you plan to run your Live USB on a 32-bit or 64-bit computer.
  5. Finally, to download the ISO file, you can choose between a direct link or a BitTorrent. It's up to you which you choose and depends on whether you have a BitTorrent client installed on your computer or not. If you don't have a BitTorrent client, simply select "Direct Link". Once you've done that, the Kubuntu ISO file will start downloading.
  6. Now to make the USB drive bootable, you have to download and install Rufus. You can get Rufus USB directly from their official website. Actually, there are several tools available for making bootable USB flash drives using Windows. One tool is Rufus and the other is the Win32 Disk Imager.
  7. I am very familiar with Rufus USB and therefore this guide shows how to create a bootable USB drive using Rufus. If you like Win32 Disk Imager more, you are free to use that as well.
  8. If you left the checkbox checked for "Launch Rufus" when installing the software, now you must have a screen similar to the one in the picture. If Rufus hasn't started, simply double-click on the "Rufus" icon on your desktop and it will start.
  9. Now, plug an empty USB flash drive into one of the USB ports on your computer. Make sure to backup all of your data on that drive because the USB flash drive will get formatted in the process. 
  10. When you plug the USB flash drive into your PC, Rufus will automatically detect it and select it. After that, locate the ISO file that you've downloaded previously by using Rufus and click on the "Start" button. The image will now be written to the USB flash drive.
  11. Once the process is completed, you can eject the USB drive from your PC.  If you are installing Kubuntu on a PC with standard BIOS, all you need to do is reboot your computer and change your boot sequence to boot from your newly created bootable USB flash drive.
  12. Finally, the installation wizard will appear and you can continue with the installation. If you want, you even can try Kubuntu Live before installing it on your PC. As you can see in the image above, Kubuntu Live is fully functional.

Kubuntu With Rufus USB