Kubuntu Focus - Clean Install

Background

A clean install can sometimes be the quickest solution to fix a corrupted system. The Kubuntu Focus Suite includes Kubuntu 22.04 LTS, curated apps, dozens of optimizations, and UX preferences. The goal is to provide an optimal experience out-of-the-box with the applications and Guided Solutions you need the most.

You don’t need to own a Focus to try or use the Kubuntu Focus Suite. You may try an ISO Image for free. If you decide to install on your own VM or hardware, backup your data and test first, as some optimizations could conflict with some devices. YMMV, although we have seen excellent results with many computers^[1].

Install from the ISO

For installation on a Focus device, we supply a custom-made Kubuntu ISO disk image tailored to provide the Kubuntu Focus Suite.

Download the ISO image
Install the ISO image to a USB Flash drive (>= 8 GB) using Ubuntu (or flavor thereof), Windows, or macOS. You may have received a USB stick with your Kubuntu Focus computer.
Boot your computer and tap F2 to enter the BIOS screen. Select Boot Manager in the top center menu list, and then select the USB drive from which to boot. There should be only one USB drive, and the name will change depending on which brand drive you use.
Select the Start Kubuntu option and press Enter. After about a minute, the system should present you with a graphical menu to Try or Install Kubuntu. If this does not occur after 2 minutes, try again with the Start Kubuntu (safe graphics) option.
Click Try Kubuntu.
The Live Boot environment will start with a full Kubuntu desktop. If everything is working as expected^[2], double-click on Install Kubuntu. Follow the instructions on the screen.
When presented with the Updates and other software screen, select Normal installation and Download updates while installing Kubuntu, and leave other options unchecked (see screenshot). The system will later guide you to install third-party drivers for the GPU if needed.
When presented with the Installation Type, choose your preferred method. We use Guided - use entire disk for unencrypted disks and Guided - use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM for full-disk encryption. If you choose the latter, DO NOT FORGET THE PASSWORD YOU CREATE, as it cannot be recovered.
If installing inside VirtualBox, do not set up encrypted LVM as this has historically not worked. You may use VirtualBox to encrypt disks by using VM Settings > General > Disk Encryption.
Sign-in to the freshly installed operating system. On first boot, your system will reconfigure for the hardware and you will be asked to reboot.
After reboot, sign-in again. The Welcome Wizard will help you install useful restricted and optional software.
Remember to regularly upgrade your software packages as discussed here.

Troubleshooting

We recommend using the Kubuntu Focus Suite ISO on Intel and NVIDIA systems. Please run a live session before committing to an installation, and always back up your data. Known issues include the following:

The Kubuntu Focus Suite is configured and optimized for Kubuntu Focus hardware (prior and current models). If you have different hardware, the optimizations may not apply.
Kubuntu 22.04 "Jammy Jellyfish" Known Issues
Kubuntu 20.04 "Focal Fosa" Known Issues

Revisions

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

2022-07-11 19b39e5a Add 22.04 Known Issues
2022-06-20 abff0762 Add 22.04 LTS details
2022-01-24 e6c509c6 Add option details and images to ISO guide
2021-10-25 7bf9f4a5 Remove VM and use ISO exclusively
2021-10-10 5728326e Reformat to 2-column
2021-09-22 dc862884 Update link and headline colors
2021-08-23 681261b4 Review and update codeblocks
2021-06-09 ef3ea572 Open external links in new tabs
2021-04-22 5109fae2 Update to use ISO for this solution
2021-01-11 dcc9c438 Add install-focal.sh script
2020-06-10 c4ed9299 Restructure layout
2020-05-20 f776dc20 Remove proprietary install option
2020-04-20 8959836b Use apt-get, streamline process
2020-04-20 7b06252b First publication
2020-04-14 5a096eb3 Clarify VM use

Footnotes

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