How to create a custom Ubuntu ISO
Tired of the default programs on Ubuntu? Want to make your own custom Ubuntu? With the Cubic application, you can. Follow along to learn how you can make your own custom Ubuntu.
How to install Cubic on Ubuntu
Cubic is a great tool and with it, you can easily customize an Ubuntu ISO for your own liking. However, you’ll need to install it first. Sadly, the Cubic app doesn’t come available in the official Ubuntu software sources, so you’ll have to add a PPA.
To add the Cubic PPA, open up a terminal window by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on the keyboard. Or, search for “Terminal” in the app menu, and launch it that way. Once in the terminal, use the add-apt-repository command to add the Cubic repo to Ubuntu.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cubic-wizard/release
After entering the command above, Ubuntu will automatically refresh its software sources. You can then install the Cubic app on your Ubuntu system using the apt install command.
sudo apt install cubic
Once the Cubic app is installed, you can launch it via the Ubuntu app menu.
How to create a Custom ISO with Cubic
To create a custom ISO with Cubic, start by selecting a project directory. Click on the “Browse” button, and create a new project directory using the file browser. When you’ve created the folder, select it to use with Cubic. Click “Next” when done.
You’ll now need to download an Ubuntu ISO disk to customize. To download Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu Mate, or others, select one of the links below.
- Kubuntu – Ubuntu with KDE
- Lubuntu – Lightweight Ubuntu with LXQt
- Ubuntu Budgie – Ubuntu with Budgie Desktop
- Ubuntu MATE – Ubuntu with Gnome 2.x
- Ubuntu Unity – Ubuntu with the old Ubuntu Unity desktop
- Xubuntu – Ubuntu with XFCE4
After choosing an Ubuntu ISO, enter Cubic, and find the “Filename” area. Click on the browse icon, and browse for your downloaded Ubuntu ISO file. When you’ve selected it, it will load up into Cubic. Once your ISO is loaded up in Cubic, click on the “Next” button.
When you select the “Next” button, Cubic will load up a terminal. You can use this terminal to customize the filesystem. When done, click the “Next” button. Upon selecting the “Next” button, you’ll be able to browse through a list of optional programs to add to the Ubuntu ISO.
When you’ve chosen all of your programs, click on the “Next” button to move to the next page in Cubic. You’ll then be asked to “Generate” your new ISO. Use the “Generate” button to create your new Ubuntu ISO.
How to flash your custom Ubuntu ISO to a USB flash drive
Now that you’ve created your custom Ubuntu ISO file, it is time to flash it to a USB flash drive for installation. To flash the ISO, you’ll need to download a USB creation tool. In this guide, we’ll use the Etcher tool.
To download Etcher, head to the official page. Once downloaded, install it and launch it. Then, follow the step-by-step instructions below to create the USB installer.
- Select the “Flash from file” button, and click on it with the mouse. Browse for the custom ISO you made with Cubic. It is located inside of the project folder created during the previous section of this guide.
- After selecting your custom Ubuntu ISO, insert your USB flash drive into the computer. Then, click on “Select target” and choose your USB device.
- Find the “Flash!” button, and click on it with the mouse. When you select this button, the flashing process will begin. This process will take a bit of time to complete.
When the flashing process is complete, reboot your computer with the USB inserted. Then, configure the computer to boot from USB so you can install your custom Ubuntu ISO.
How to install your custom Ubuntu ISO
To install your custom Ubuntu ISO, start by loading it up via your PC BIOS. After loading it up, select the “Install Ubuntu” button. When you select this button, you’ll be prompted to choose your keyboard layout. Using the UI, choose your layout. Then, click “Continue.”
Choose the type of installation you prefer on the “Updates and other software” page. You can choose from “Normal” or “Minimal.” However, keep in mind that your custom Cubic packages are in the “Normal” section. Click “Continue” when done.
Choose how you wish to install your custom Ubuntu. You can either erase the disk, install it alongside, or do something else. When you’ve made your choice, click the “Install Now” button.
After selecting the “Install Now” button, your custom Ubuntu ISO will ask you to set up your timezone, configure your user account, etc. Do these things and in no time you’ll be using your custom Ubuntu installation! Enjoy!
