Uploaded June 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
If you want a text tutorial along with the video, check it out at my website here: allhow2s.com/how-to-download-any-version-of-ubuntu-desktop-on-windows
This video will show you how to download Ubuntu on Windows 8. I will be making videos vvery soon on how to install Ubuntu in several ways (virtual machine, Wubi, and directly to the hard drive). These will be linked in the video and the description after they are made.
Ubuntu can be downloaded from ubuntu.com. There are a few different options, which I will explain below.
First, choose your download method. You can either directly download it, or download it as a torrent. I would highly recommend the torrent download, because it is much faster, ca be pasued and restarted, is much more likely to download correctly, and doesn't put any strain on the ubuntu servers. The only thing is that you have to do extra is download a torrent client (I recommend utorrent as shown in the video, or bittorrent, both can be downloaded from ninite.com or filehippo.com). If you choose to directly download it, that is fine to, just make sure that the download completes all the way, and that there aren't any interruptions to your internet while it is downloading.
The next thing you need to decide, is x64 (64 bit) or x86 (32 bit). If you don't know which you need, then go with 32 bit, as it will work on anything, where 64 bit wont necessarily. You can also check which version of windows you are using, because if you are running 64 bit Windows, then your computer will support 64 bit Ubuntu. (Instructions to find your version of Windows are here: youtu.be/Y80YQ6I5xOo). There isn't a huge difference for most people between the x64 and x32 versions, so if you're having trouble choosing, then just go with the 32 bit version, if you don't know that you specifically need one or the other, you probably won't notice the difference.
The next thing to choose is the version. If you don't know to much about Ubuntu, I would definitely recommend the newest LTS version. This version of Ubuntu will have less bugs, and is guaranteed to be supported for the next 4 years. It may be missing some of the very newest features though. If you have to have the most cutting edge, just go with the newest version, it will work, just may have a few more bugs, and have problems with some programs running on it, as they might not be tested for it yet.
The last decision to make is to choose the desktop installer or the alternate installer. The desktop installer is easiar to use, and basically makes all the decisions for you, while the alternate installer allows you to choose from more advanced options. If you understand computers pretty well, go with the alternate installer, if you're a newbie, go with the desktop installer. I will have a video on how to use both later.
After you have decided on all this, just download it. It will download as an ISO image, which you can burn directly to a disc with imgburn (you can get that program from ninite.com or filehippo) or if you are using a virtual machine, you can just use it as the install image.
If there is anything I left out, just leave a message and I'll get back to you.
Check out my facebook at: facebook.com/pages/All-How-2s/198429346974010
or my twitter: twitter.com/AllHow2s
Or my website where I have a lot of other great tutorials (such as how to take a screenshot, or how to get the start button back on Windows 8): allhow2s.com
If you want a text tutorial along with the video, check it out at my website here: allhow2s.com/how-to-download-any-version-of-ubuntu-desktop-on-windows
This video will show you how to download Ubuntu on Windows 8. I will be making videos vvery soon on how to install Ubuntu in several ways (virtual machine, Wubi, and directly to the hard drive). These will be linked in the video and the description after they are made.
Ubuntu can be downloaded from ubuntu.com. There are a few different options, which I will explain below.
First, choose your download method. You can either directly download it, or download it as a torrent. I would highly recommend the torrent download, because it is much faster, ca be pasued and restarted, is much more likely to download correctly, and doesn't put any strain on the ubuntu servers. The only thing is that you have to do extra is download a torrent client (I recommend utorrent as shown in the video, or bittorrent, both can be downloaded from ninite.com or filehippo.com). If you choose to directly download it, that is fine to, just make sure that the download completes all the way, and that there aren't any interruptions to your internet while it is downloading.
The next thing you need to decide, is x64 (64 bit) or x86 (32 bit). If you don't know which you need, then go with 32 bit, as it will work on anything, where 64 bit wont necessarily. You can also check which version of windows you are using, because if you are running 64 bit Windows, then your computer will support 64 bit Ubuntu. (Instructions to find your version of Windows are here: youtu.be/Y80YQ6I5xOo). There isn't a huge difference for most people between the x64 and x32 versions, so if you're having trouble choosing, then just go with the 32 bit version, if you don't know that you specifically need one or the other, you probably won't notice the difference.
The next thing to choose is the version. If you don't know to much about Ubuntu, I would definitely recommend the newest LTS version. This version of Ubuntu will have less bugs, and is guaranteed to be supported for the next 4 years. It may be missing some of the very newest features though. If you have to have the most cutting edge, just go with the newest version, it will work, just may have a few more bugs, and have problems with some programs running on it, as they might not be tested for it yet.
The last decision to make is to choose the desktop installer or the alternate installer. The desktop installer is easiar to use, and basically makes all the decisions for you, while the alternate installer allows you to choose from more advanced options. If you understand computers pretty well, go with the alternate installer, if you're a newbie, go with the desktop installer. I will have a video on how to use both later.
After you have decided on all this, just download it. It will download as an ISO image, which you can burn directly to a disc with imgburn (you can get that program from ninite.com or filehippo) or if you are using a virtual machine, you can just use it as the install image.
If there is anything I left out, just leave a message and I'll get back to you.
Check out my facebook at: facebook.com/pages/All-How-2s/198429346974010
or my twitter: twitter.com/AllHow2s
Or my website where I have a lot of other great tutorials (such as how to take a screenshot, or how to get the start button back on Windows 8): allhow2s.com
