How to upgrade Ubuntu from an ISO image

I'm using Ubuntu 10.04 now and want to Upgrade to Ubuntu 11.04. The problem is my net connection is very slow and I can not do a network upgrade from the "Updates Manager".

So, is there a way that I can download the Ubuntu upgrade as an bootable CD image and upgrade from it?

4 Answers

1. Download the alternate installation CD
2. Burn the ISO to a CD and insert it into the CD drive of the computer to be upgraded. If the ISO file is on the computer to be upgraded, you could avoid wasting a CD by mounting the ISO as a drive with a command like:

sudo mkdir -p /media/cdrom
sudo mount -o loop ~/Desktop/ubuntu-11.04-alternate-i386.iso /media/cdrom

(make sure you use the actual filename of the iso you downloaded ^^^^ )

1. A dialog will be displayed offering you the opportunity to upgrade using that CD.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.

If the upgrade dialog is not displayed for any reason, you may also run the following command using Alt+F2:

gksu "sh /media/cdrom/cdromupgrade"

Or if you're using Kubuntu run the following command using Alt+F2:

kdesudo "sh /media/cdrom/cdromupgrade"

Just make a bootable USB or CD/DVD and boot it up as you would install ubuntu. When you are asked what you want to do just select "Upgrade...":

Okay, so since cdromupgrade file is missing or not available, the next best thing is to create a LiveUSB and go on from there. Since you're upgrading from 13.04 the entire process should be rather flawless.

1. Open the Dash and open the *Create Startup Disk * option. This opens a window, from where you can choose the iso file and destination.
2. Now select the 13.10 iso file and a usb (remember to use the erase disk option before you mount the image) and create your startup disk.
3. Now, upon re-booting you should boot directly into the USB. Select the install Ubuntu 13.10 option.
4. The installer window would present a number of options to you depending on the other OSes present in your hard drive.
5. Choose the Upgrade to 13.10 option. This should get you going and ready for 13.10.

Hope this helps you.

You can boot ISO files from Grub. However, I think you will need to have the ISO file on another medium (such as another hard drive, or a USB/CD/DVD)

Booting from Grub2:

Installing over the network:Is it possible to install Ubuntu through network?

And finally:

Though if you have your /home in a separate partition (or any other non-standard filesystem configurations like that), this will not work.... You must reinstall, rather than upgrade.

Though you can simple upgrade incrementally through the normal method:

though you may have to check your settings.