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These screens choose how the installer asks questions and which initial applications or support packages it adds. They do not fix an internal SSD that Ubuntu cannot see. If the disk is missing, close the installer and return to Lesson 4.1.
Interactive installation versus Automated installation
Choose Interactive installation for this series. It is Canonical’s standard route for most individual users and shows each decision in sequence.
Automated installation loads a prepared configuration from another source and is intended for advanced or repeated deployments. It is powerful because it can apply choices without asking each question. That is exactly why it is unsuitable when a beginner has not reviewed the configuration.
Default selection versus Extended selection
Choose between the labels shown by the Ubuntu 26.04 installer:
- Default selection installs the basic essentials. Applications can be added later through App Center. This is sufficient for most connected beginners and avoids choosing software before you know what you need.
- Extended selection includes additional office tools and utilities. Choose it when you already want that offline-ready application set or have limited internet access after installation.
Neither choice creates a “more complete” operating system in the sense of better hardware support. They mainly change the initial application set, and those applications can be installed later.
Network and updates
The installer offers a network connection before these choices. Connecting lets it retrieve updates and third-party drivers during installation, but Canonical says a network is optional for the installation itself.
If your installer build presents an option to download updates while installing, enable it when the connection is stable and not heavily limited. The first installed system will begin closer to current. If the connection is unreliable or metered, installation can finish offline and Software Updater can apply current fixes after the first boot.
Do not treat a stalled network download as a reason to repartition. Network and storage are separate parts of the process.
The Optimise your computer options
Ubuntu 26.04 presents options including:
- Install third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware.
- Download and install support for additional media formats.
Third-party graphics or Wi-Fi packages can provide proprietary drivers needed by hardware such as some NVIDIA graphics adapters. Media-format packages add support for formats whose licensing prevents them from being included in the same default set.
Canonical’s current installation guide recommends enabling both relevant options. This path follows that recommendation when the computer is online and the learner accepts those licenses. The choices may add non-open-source software; leave them clear if using only open-source components is a deliberate requirement.
A calm default for this path
For an ordinary connected beginner:
- Choose Interactive installation.
- Choose Default selection unless the extra offline applications are already wanted.
- Connect to a reliable network when available.
- Enable the two recommended third-party and media-format options when their licensing is acceptable.
- Continue only after confirming that disk preparation from Chapter 4 is complete.
This is a recommendation, not a claim that every learner has the same requirements. A school policy, fully open-source requirement, limited data plan, or offline deployment can justify another choice.
Common mistakes and recovery
Choosing Automated because it sounds faster. Go back and select Interactive unless you have a trusted configuration you understand.
Choosing Extended to fix Wi-Fi. The application set and hardware-driver option are different. Use the third-party hardware choice and verify the actual adapter.
Assuming updates are impossible later. A completed offline install can be updated through Software Updater or APT after networking works.
Ignoring a RST or BitLocker alert to reach these screens. Back out. Application selections cannot make an inaccessible disk safe.
Practice
Knowledge check
Explain why Default selection is enough for many connected users and why the graphics/Wi-Fi option is separate from Extended selection.
What to learn next
Continue to Ubuntu Disk Setup Explained: Erase, Alongside, or Manual. The next screen can change or erase internal storage, so read that lesson before selecting an option.