https://ubuntu.com/core/docs/install-with-dd > [!Tip] Download Regular Ubuntu Desktop Live CD first > Contrary to what you are used to, the Ubuntu Core install will actually require you to install regular Ubuntu Live desktop, from which you will boot the target machine and `dd` (write to disk directly) the Ubuntu Core image which you will download while running the live CD (or from another USB drive you have downloaded it to). I wasted a ton of time ignoring steps in the above doc that make it clear but I kept glossing over that instruction