Introduction

Welcome, brave soul, to the Complete Tutorial on installing Ubuntu MATE, the Linux distro that pairs the elegance of MATE desktop with Ubuntu’s solid foundation. Whether you’re a hardened sysadmin or a curious newbie who once typed sudo make me a sandwich, this guide will hold your hand (virtually) through every twist and turn.

Why Choose Ubuntu MATE?

• Lightweight Fast: Runs beautifully on old hardware without demanding your firstborn.
• Familiar Interface: Traditional desktop paradigm—no weird full-screen app grids.
• Strong Community: Lively forums, active devs, endless cups of virtual tea to share.
• Customization: Tweak panels, menus, icons—if you can dream it, you can configure it.

System Requirements

Or network boot if you’re feeling adventurous.

1. Download Ubuntu MATE ISO

1. Visit the official site: https://ubuntu-mate.org/download.
2. Pick your flavor: 22.04 LTS for long-term stability or 23.10 for the latest bells and whistles.
3. Verify ISO checksum: sha256sum ubuntu-mate-.iso and compare with the published hash.

2. Create a Bootable USB

2.1 On Windows (Rufus)

• Download Rufus and plug in your USB stick.
• Open Rufus, select the ISO, use MBR or GPT as appropriate.
• Click Start and watch the progress like water boiling—patience.

2.2 On macOS (Etcher)

• Install balenaEtcher.
• Select ISO, choose target USB, click Flash!
• Admire the spinning wheel of destiny.

2.3 On Linux (dd)

sudo dd if=~/Downloads/ubuntu-mate.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress  sync

Replace /dev/sdX with your USB device. No spaces in if or of—dd is unforgiving.

3. Configure BIOS/UEFI

• Reboot and enter BIOS/UEFI (usually F2, DEL or Esc).
• Disable Secure Boot if it complains (or trust the Ubuntu MATE key!).
• Set USB as first boot device.
• Save reboot—brace yourself for the boot menu!

4. The Installation Process

1. Welcome Screen
   • Select your language.
   • Click Install Ubuntu MATE. No reverse gear!
2. Keyboard Layout

   Choose your layout. If you enjoy mystery typing, pick something random.

3. Updates Third-Party Software
   • Tick Download updates while installing.
   • Tick Install third-party software for codecs and graphics drivers.
4. Partitioning

   Options:

   • Erase disk: Simple, but nukes everything.
   • Something else: Manual—create /, /home, swap.
5. Timezone

   Pick your region. Watch the clock jump to the right time!

6. User Setup

   Create username, hostname (avoid spaces), and a very secure password—no “1234”.

7. Installation

   Progress bars, background images, and perhaps some system checks. Go make a coffee.

8. Complete

   Remove USB when prompted, press Enter, and reboot into your new Ubuntu MATE.

5. Post-Installation Setup

• Open a terminal and run:
  

  sudo apt update  sudo apt upgrade -y

• Install additional drivers:

  sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

• Enable firewall:

  sudo ufw enable

• Explore Software Boutique for curated apps.
• Customize panels: right-click gt Properties. Arrange menus to your heart’s content.

6. Tips Tricks

• Hot Corners: Assign workspace switching for ninja-like efficiency.
• Compiz: Add eye-candy effects—just don’t distract yourself from work.
• Timeshift: Set up snapshots to roll back disasters (or pranks).
• SSH Server:

  sudo apt install openssh-server

  Access remotely and flex your terminal muscles.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Ubuntu MATE and earned a shiny digital badge in Linux mastery. Now go forth: tweak, explore, and maybe participate in the community at https://ubuntu-mate.community/. Should you ever get lost, remember: the terminal is your friend (most of the time).