Today, as we mentioned in the morning, is the release date of Ubuntu 17.10 Artful Aardvark. We also mentioned that this version comes with a different desktop environment by default. Below we will see how you can upgrade from an older version without any problems.
Ubuntu 17.04 Zesty Zapus was released this year on April 13 but will only be supported until January 2018, when an upgrade to Ubuntu 17.10 is considered necessary.
As for the DE being different, you shouldn't worry. According to Canonical, the packages you have installed will not be removed during it procedureof the upgrade, but some of Unity's features will be modified slightly to adapt to the new default GNOME Shell desktop.
If you decide to upgrade from Ubuntu 17.04 to Ubuntu 17.10, the first thing you should do is create a backup of your most important files (documents, music, game saves, video etc.) to some external disk. Once done you can install any available updates on Ubuntu 17.04 system.
When you have fully updated Ubuntu 17.04, you can start the upgrade process by opening one terminal from the Unity Launcher.
Run command:
update-manager
and A software update tool will appear stating that there is a new version of the distribution.
Make it click on the “Upgrade” button and follow the instructions on your screen. At the end of the upgrade you will need to restart your computer.
That's it. You can enjoy Ubuntu 17.10 Artful Aardvark on your PC and remember to select your favorite desktop from the login screen (GDM).
For those who need ISO
- ubuntu-17.10-desktop-amd64.iso
- Kubuntu 17.10
- Lubuntu 17.10
- Ubuntu Budgie 17.10
More flavors in the next few hours, as Canonical repositories still seem to be updated.
Happy Ubuntu day!