Here’s how to create a boot CD for Ubuntu.

This’ll let you try the OS just by rebooting and without installing anything on your computer. This is also called a “live CD” because you can use the OS mostly like you would if it were installed. I.e., it’s not just a setup program, but the real thing.

Note: Lucid is still in alpha testing so don’t install it if you’re not an enthusiast or if you have data on your hard drive you’d like to keep.

Get the ISO image for Ubuntu

Before you burn the live boot CD, you need the right CD image. Ubuntu CD images are provided in “ISO” format.

The daily build for Ubuntu (regardless of what the next version is) is here:

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily/current/

The daily build incorporates any bug fixes that were applied in a given day.

This the direct link to the daily Intel 386 (32-bit) CD image. Save it someplace.

Other releases (including final releases) can be found here:
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/

Burning the CD with Brasero

Once you have downloaded the ISO CD image, you can burn the CD.

The default application for burning CDs in Ubuntu is Brasero. It’s in Applications > Sound & Video > Brasero Disc Burner.

When the Brasero window opens, click on the “Burn image” button (the last one):

This brings up the Image Burning Setup window. In the “Select a disc image to write” section, click to select the ISO image:

Then insert a writable CD. You can use a CD+R, DVD+R or DVD-R. If you use a DVD, the extra space will be wasted:

You can set the CD burn speed if you like in Properties. I just left it as it is. Click Burn to write the boot CD image.

Brasero burns the CD. You can either close it out or make another copy:

Rewritable CDs and DVDs

You can use a CD+RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RW or DVD-RAM, with Brasero as well. This let’s you write the CD image again without having to use a new CD everytime. This is especially important with daily builds because otherwise you’d use up 150 CD or so burning images.

You don’t have to blank the rewritable disc before using it. Just insert it when Brasero asks for a writable CD. It’ll erase the CD before writing.

If you want to blank a CD manually, select Tools > Blank from the main Brasero window:

Booting with the Ubuntu CD

After the CD’s burned, you might have to set your BIOS settings to make your computer boot from the CD instead of your hard drive.

Related posts:

1. Updating Ubuntu Boot CD Images with zsync
2. Ubuntu Dropping the GIMP From Installation CD for Lucid Lynx
3. How to Install Google Chromium on Ubuntu