OK, now that the latest Ubuntu Linux has been released, a lot of people want to try and test the system, myself included. Of course, the first option is to download the live CD and test it myself, which I did. After knowing that all the devices in my computer are supported well (at least, most of the devices that I am using), then I want to upgrade my existing Gutsy installation to Hardy. However, there is a catch: I can’t do fresh install on top of my existing Linux partition, simply because I have done too many configurations and tweakings, which will be tedious to repeat them all over again. Therefore, I did some googling and found out the only TWO (2) ways to upgrade from Gutsy to Hardy as follows:
First Option: Use Update Manager (recommended)
In essence, you can do an upgrade by typing some simple commands and a few click of a button. This is how:
Step 1: Ensure the installation of Gutsy is up to date. Run Update Manager tool and check for any available updates.
- Press Alt-F2, and type “update-manager” then click “OK”
- Click “Check” for any new updates
- Click “Apply” for all available updates
Step 2: Run Update Manager again like in Step 1, but this time use the following command: “update-manager -d”
Step 3: Update Manager tool will show that Distribution 8.04 (Hardy) has been released. Then you can click “Upgrade” to start upgrading your Ubuntu to Hardy.
The rest is pretty simple to follow.
Caveat: The above steps requires high speed internet access, since it requires a heavy download of around 500Mb to finally complete the upgrade.
Second Option: Use Hardy Alternate Setup CD
The steps are as follows:
Step 1: Download the Alternate Setup CD instead of the Desktop or Server CD and install either a new or an upgraded version of Ubuntu from here or use the torrent version.
After this, you can do either one of these two things: Mount the .iso file, or burn to a CD. If you plan to install in more than one system or if you have a CD-RW, then burning the image to a CD should be the preferred way. However, if you are going to install it only in the current system (or just ran out of any blank CD), then mounting the iso directly should be your preferred choice. I’ll describe it separately below (choose 2a or 2b, not both!):
Step 2a: Burn the image to a CD, and put the CD in your to be upgraded system. A pop-up window stating that a distribution volume has been inserted. Click “Run Upgrade” to start the upgrading process.
Step 2b: Mount the .iso file & run the upgrade with the following commands:
sudo mount -o loop ~/Desktop/ubuntu-8.04-alternate-i386.iso /media/cdrom
sudo /media/cdrom/cdromupgrade
* Note: only mounting to/media/cdrom works. Mounting to other directory name may fail.
Step 3: Another pop-up window will show stating whether you want to include the update from the internet to this upgrade. Logically, if you are connected to the internet and don’t mind downloading some updates (small quantity at first, but it will grow in due time), then you should use the First Option rather than using this option. 
The rest of it is self explanatory.
BTW, you may also check this official link from Ubuntu on how to upgrade from previous versions of Ubuntu.
=rms=
PS: If someone knows how to upgrade using the Desktop Live CD, please let me know. Thanks.
Update:
There is one bug that is very annoying when upgrading Ubuntu from Gutsy (or other version) to Hardy, and that relates to the user being unable to 'sudo' anymore. The only way around it is to change the '/etc/hosts' file prior to the upgrade by adding a line like this one:
127.0.0.1 computerhostname
If you have a domain name trailing the system host name, then it is better to copy that line, and delete the domain. A very annoying bug indeed, which might deter a lot of people from switching to Ubuntu. :-(
Also, if you have tweaked a lot of configurations such as php.conf, apache.conf, menu.lst, etc, then the installation portion of the upgrade will require some interactions. Therefore, if you leave the upgrade to run at night, you may find out in the morning that the upgrade is still waiting for your input.
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