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I have a laptop that will not boot the Ubuntu 24.04 or 25.04 gnome desktop releases from USB (apparently something new conflicting with the old BIOS because older versions will flash and boot from USB just fine). But it has a DVD drive and can boot from that just fine. However, the 24.04 and 25.04 desktop releases are too big to fit on a 4.7gb DVD.

Is there a netinstall ISO less than 4.7gb for Ubuntu 25.04 desktop? I'm only seeing larger and older versions.

Too big for DVD: https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Too old--newest is 22.04, but I want 25.04: https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/netboot/

Is there somewhere else I'm just not seeing them? Is there a workaround for this?

SirGeekALot
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    Install the server: https://releases.ubuntu.com/plucky/ubuntu-25.04-live-server-amd64.iso and then install the Desktop of your choice. Netboot only .tar.gz https://releases.ubuntu.com/plucky/ubuntu-25.04-netboot-amd64.tar.gz – kyodake Jul 11 '25 at 18:18
  • Put an old version onto the DVD then do-release-upgrade your way to 25.04 – user7215 Jul 11 '25 at 22:32
  • Ubuntu 25.04 is available with three installers; subiquity used by Server, ubuntu-desktop-installer used by Desktop & most flavors, and calamares used by other flavors. So you have 3 installers available; have you tried each? The major difference between them is just packages that get installed; compare seed or manifest files for clues; some ISOs are also smaller too (fit on DVD!) though I'd avoid optical media installs if you can... Your details also infer user-procedural & maybe incorrectly writing ISOs (or using outdated software thus why older versions work!!!) – guiverc Jul 11 '25 at 22:43
  • So I can install the server and then install Gnome desktop? I thought that might be a path to it. It looks like this command will do it after I've got the server installed?

    sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop

     – SirGeekALot Jul 12 '25 at 03:13
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    Yep, the ubuntu-desktop meta package will add the Ubuntu Desktop packages to your system converting it to a desktop system (if it was Server, if a flavor it was already a desktop system) with the apt command letting you influence minimal or full via options too (ie. recommends included or not)... https://packages.ubuntu.com/plucky/ubuntu-desktop – guiverc Jul 12 '25 at 04:13
  • @guiverc why though? Why not just use netinstall? https://ubuntu.com/download/alternative-downloads#network-installer. Why build a frankenstein server-non-server situation? – terdon Jul 12 '25 at 14:41
  • Netinstall ISOs aren't available for all releases; and I suspect the OP is chasing the wrong thing anyway; the ISO & DVD boot the same way so it's not machine firmware from details as I understand it in question; but far more likely a result of OP writing ISO incorrectly for the media (writing it so it'll only boot on uEFI for example; following unofficial ISO write instructions, or not waiting long enough (some firmware due bugs takes >10 mins to boot it!, I QA test all Desktop ISOs and have only had failures when ISO written incorrectly) – guiverc Jul 12 '25 at 22:41
  • @SirGeekALot you say "because older versions will flash and boot from USB just fine" which actually implies possible user procedural errors there; as post 20.04 ISOs need updated software if you reformat or ELSE it won't boot on some hardware; so that fact alludes to possibly you writing ISOs with older software & reformatting when they ISO writing software can't cope with newer versions thus booting only on some systems. Your lack of specifics don't rule out user-procedural; in fact point that as the likely cause in my opinion.... – guiverc Jul 12 '25 at 22:44
  • Mini ISOs exist for some releases too; eg. https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-mini-iso/noble/daily-live/current/ but OP asks for a specific dated ISO. – guiverc Jul 12 '25 at 22:45

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Yes, there is. Just go to the Ubuntu Downloads page, scroll down to "Network Installer", and use that:

The network installer lets you install Ubuntu over a network. It includes the minimal set of packages needed to start and the rest of the packages are downloaded over the network. Since only current packages are downloaded, there is no need to upgrade packages immediately after installation.

The network installer is ideal if you have a computer that cannot run the graphical installer. It is also useful if you want to install Ubuntu on a large number of computers at once.

For 22.04 LTS, users can use the new Ubuntu Live installer to setup and configure a network install.

terdon
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