Clean Install

Kubuntu Focus Suite 24.04 LTS

Perform a clean install if you want to run the OS on a computer or virtual machine; restore a system that has been corrupted; or to upgrade the OS from a prior LTS.

Get convenience, performance, and reliability. Validated on Kubuntu Focus hardware.

Get convenience, performance, and reliability.
Validated on Kubuntu Focus hardware.

Please read the disclaimer before proceeding. We review and update guided solutions regularly. If you have suggestions or requests, please write support@kfocus.org.

The Kubuntu Focus Suite

As the name suggests, KFS 24.04 LTS is a system image that provides the Kubuntu 24.04 LTS OS and a suite of software that adds convenience, performance, and reliability features that are impractical to add to Kubuntu directly:

KFS 24.04 LTS is the latest recommended and supported system image for Focus hardware. It was extensively validated and approved for all Focus models shipped since 2019. It is also continuously validated on all models sold within the last 3 years. See the Support Matrix for more details.

While we can’t validate for all other hardware, VMs and other devices can still benefit from the substantial testing, sophisticated tools, curated apps, and expert articles[1].

Get highly-tested and robust Kubuntu Focus Tools.

Get highly-tested and robust Kubuntu Focus Tools.

Check Requirements

Laptop and Desktop Systems

The minimum system requirements for physical hardware is the same as for all official flavors of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, as shown here. You should have the following to proceed:

  • 8 GB or larger USB flash drive for the installer media
  • 2 GHz dual-core processor
  • 4096 MiB RAM
  • 25 GB of storage space (SSD, USB stick, memory card, or external drive)
  • 3D acceleration-capable GPU or iGPU with at least 256 MB of VRAM
  • 1024x768 or higher resolution display
  • Internet access (recommended but not required)
Virtual Machines

The system requirements for virtual machines are similar to the requirements for physical devices. Here is some additional advice when using VirtualBox:

  • You will not need a USB flash drive. Instead, the VM can mount the ISO file directly.
  • VirtualBox 7: When creating a new machine, click on NEW and then specify all the machine settings EXCEPT for the KFS ISO file. Instead, give the system a name, use the default folder, and specify Type: Linux and Version: Ubuntu (64-bit). The ISO Image: field should show <not selected>. Press the Next button to proceed.
  • For a testing VM, we recommend allocating 4.0 GB of RAM, 24-32 GB of disk, and 4-8 CPU threads. Also, please enable EFI boot using, for example, Settings > System > Motherboard > Enable EFI.
  • If you enable 3D acceleration for the VM, you may notice a message displayed during boot similar to: *ERROR* vmwgfx seems to be running on an unsupported hypervisor ... *ERROR* This configuration is likely broken. These messages can be safely ignored.

Prepare Install

USB flash drive and friends

Begin Install

Test the Kubuntu Focus Suite before install.

Test the Kubuntu Focus Suite before install.

Use OEM mode when installing on a system with multiple disks.

Use OEM mode when installing on a system with multiple disks.

Start the Kubuntu Focus Suite installer.

Start the Kubuntu Focus Suite installer.

Partition Disks

Default Partitioning
Encrypt your disk for enhanced privacy and security.

Encrypt your disk for enhanced privacy and security

  • When presented with the Partitions screen, if you have a single-disk system, we recommend you select the Erase disk option and use the defaults. This option also works if you have chosen to install in OEM mode and have a second disk, as discussed in the previous section.
  • If you want full-disk encryption, enable the Encrypt system checkbox in the lower half of the installer window. You will need to provide a secure passphrase. DO NOT FORGET THE PASSPHRASE YOU CREATE, as it cannot be recovered.
  • If you accept the defaults, please proceed to the next section. If you need a more complex storage topology, for example to reuse a prior /home partition on a single disk, please continue to “Manual Partitioning”.
Manual Partitioning
Use Manual Partitioning for more complex storage needs.

Use Manual Partitioning for more complex storage needs.

  • On the Partitions screen, select Manual partitioning.
  • Select the disk you wish to install Kubuntu onto using the Storage device drop-down at the top of the screen. If the installer shows partitions already on the disk, make sure this is the correct disk!
  • If you wish to use the recommended System Rollback tool, please create the first 3 partitions exactly as specified in the Partitions for System Rollback table below.
  • Create more partitions as desired. Please keep this advice in mind:
    • Many people like to keep /home on a separate partition so they can reinstall the OS without touching their data. Others like to mount a data disk in a location like /srv/data.
    • We recommend using the EXT4 file system if you need fast and reliable storage.
    • Consider using the BTRFS file system ONLY if you want snapshots AND you know how to manage this file system. Otherwise, please stick with EXT4.
    • The System Rollback tool will NOT snapshot any partitions besides the root file system (/), and /boot. No other partitions are snapshotted, even if they are BTRFS.
  • Click Next to proceed with your chosen partition layout.

 

Partitions for System Rollback
Mount PointFile
System
SizeCan be
Encrypted?
Optional
Label
Flags
/boot/efiFAT32300 MiBNOboot
/bootBTRFS4 GiBNOkfocus_boot
/BTRFSMin: 32 GiB
Prefer: > 120
Yeskfocus_2404

Do NOT change the size of any partition where an exact size is specified.
Use ONLY the file system type specified for each partition.

Configure Multi-Disk

If you have multiple disks and proceeded with the OEM install mode, this section will be relevant. Otherwise, it does not apply and you may skip to the next section.

Once you boot into OEM mode, the desktop will appear. You should see the “Multi-Disk Configuration Tool” (the MDCT), which you will want to use now to set up your second disk. The MDCT is available only while in OEM configuration mode.

Prepare a secondary disk with the <b>Multi-Disk Configuration Tool</b>.

Prepare a secondary disk with the Multi-Disk Configuration Tool.

The MDCT provides the option to use one of the disks to store user home directories or general data. You may erase and reformat the disk, or reuse it and keep the existing data.

You can easily reuse a disk with existing data.

You can easily reuse a disk with existing data.

If the root disk is unencrypted, then the MDCT requires that any secondary disk also be unencrypted. If you are trying to reuse an encrypted secondary disk, make sure to install the OS with encryption enabled.

After the disks are set up, the system will reconfigure itself for the hardware and then offer to reboot. Please reboot immediately as suggested. After a reboot and a return to the desktop, you may see the first run wizard, which you should ignore. Double click Prepare for Shipping icon in the top-left corner of the desktop to finalize the setup. Then reboot. You will be guided through setting up your user account at startup.

Finish Install

Change the encryption passphrase in the Welcome Wizard.

Change the encryption passphrase in the Welcome Wizard.

Known Issues

All software has bugs and limitations. Before you proceed, please review the following known issues. Always back up your data before install. If you are not running on supported Focus hardware, also run a live session to verify compatibility before proceeding.

Known issues

Abridged Changelog

kfocus-apt-source
kfocus-calamares-settings
kfocus-firstrun-bin
kfocus-hw
kfocus-installer-prompt
kfocus-linux-meta
kfocus-main
kfocus-nvidia
kfocus-power-bin
kfocus-qwe
kfocus-rest
kfocus-rollback
kfocus-settings
kfocus-tools
kfocus-wallpapers

Revisions

This is a partial revision history. See the git repository for all entries.

Footnotes

[1] The Kubuntu Focus team uses the Suite regularly on over a dozen different hardware configurations. These include the official models (Ir14, Ir16, M1, M2, NX, XE), other laptops, and desktop systems.

[2] The Live environment does not have the NVIDIA drivers installed and, as such, cannot perform advanced GPU-intensive tasks, such as machine learning and AI development. To use these features, the Kubuntu Focus Suite and the kfocus-nvidia package must be installed on a Kubuntu Focus M1 or M2 system.

Disclaimer

We try hard to provide a useful solution validated by professionals. However, we cannot anticipate every situation, and therefore cannot guarantee this procedure will work for your needs. Always backup your data and test the solution to determine the correct procedure for you.

THIS SOLUTION IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS “AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOLUTION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

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