This is the procedure for downloading and installing Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, also known as code name Noble, on an Intel or AMD based desktop computer. Tested for Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS for Intel architecture on 2025-04-28.
Download Ubuntu ISO installation image.
Go to the official Ubuntu page Download Ubuntu Desktop and download Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS for Intel or AMD 64-bit architecture. If you prefer FTP, you can open the list of alternative downloads and find a local mirror and its supported protocols. You can use an FTP client, such as FileZilla, to download the image and checksums via FTP. The image is rather large, compared to other operating systems, with its size of around 6,4 GB, so it could take 45 min or more to complete.
Confirm SHA256 checksum integrity of Ubuntu image.
If you are on an Ubuntu computer, that has sha256sum installed, you can use it to confirm the checksum and integrity of the image.
$ sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS
ubuntu-24.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso: OK
Create a boot able USB flash drive with Ubuntu installer.
If you are on an Ubuntu computer, that has Startup Disk or Make Startup Disk installed, you can use it for creating a boot able USB flash drive. The image is rather large, so it could 30 min or more to complete the format and write process. If the write is successful, a message will confirm, that the flash drive is ready to be used to boot Ubuntu.
Install Ubuntu from USB flash drive.
Make sure, that the desktop computer is turned off. Insert the USB flash drive, that has the Ubuntu installer and turn on the computer. The GNU GRUB boot menu appear. Select the default “Try and Install Ubuntu” or “Ubuntu (safe graphics)” and the huge live boot Ubuntu loads. When the desktop appear, launch the “Install Ubuntu”. A message about “Preparing Ubuntu” appears.
Issue: Something went wrong in Ubuntu 24.04 installation.
After booting the Ubuntu 24.04.2 install image from USB flash drive, selecting “Try and Install Ubuntu” and launching “Install Ubuntu”, the following error message appeared. There was nothing logged.
Something went wrong. We're sorry, but we're not sure what the error is. You can try restarting your computer and start the installation process again. You can also report the issue.
I can only guess, that the installer experienced an error during read from USB flash drive or experienced unknown exit codes from probing hardware.
I will consider testing the minimal netboot image for installation in PXE.
If you have more information about the solotion to this issue, I will be glad to hear from you.
Issue: System program problem detected during Ubuntu 24.04 installation.
After booting the Ubuntu 24.04.2 install image from USB flash drive, selecting “Ubuntu (safe graphics)” and launching “Install Ubuntu”, the follow error message appeared. There was nothing logged. I can only guess, that the installer experienced an error during read from USB flash drive or experienced unknown exit codes from probing hardware.
System program problem detected. Do you want to report the problem now?
If you have more information about the solotion to this issue, I will be glad to hear from you.
Comments.
I am disappointed, that Canonical has changed the Ubuntu install process to this huge, slow and unreliable install process, instead of keeping it minimal, fast and reliable. An installer with an installer image size of 6,4 GB is more likely to experience error during download, write to USB flash drive, read from USB flash drive, loading live Ubuntu and loading installer.
I am also disappointed, that the programming of the installer is poorly done with no information nor usable error messages. It is more likely, that the user will not be able to solve issues during installation.
If the installer had been properly programmed, the install proces would begin right after power-on and boot from USB flash drive. The user would know exactly, what happens and which step, that failed, such as during network interface configuration or built-in graphics adapter initialization.
The unusable messages and their phrases, such as “Something went wrong” are totally unacceptable in an installer. I am shocked, that any quality assurance team would approve this for a major version release of an operating system.