How to install Linux? Full Detail

Steps to install Linux

Nothing excites me more than waking up an old, slow, useless Windows PC by installing Linux on it.

The result is a system that will always work faster, has less chance of malware infection, and provides all the basics of a computer. (Most of the latest computer developments, too.)

Before you get started, read my tips on choosing a Linux distro, which is undoubtedly the most challenging part of the equation (if only because there are so many of them). Once you've made that decision, all that's left is to install the operating system.

 

Select the start option

But, first: This is a progress-at-risk lesson. Also, note that I will be referring to the old PC as a "go-to program."

Here is the complete process in a nutshell:

➡Step 1: Download Linux OS. (I recommend doing this, with all the following steps, on your current PC, not the go-to program.

➡Step 2: Create a CD / DVD or USB flash drive.

➡Step 3: Launch those media in the destination plan, and then make a few decisions regarding installation.

The first part is easy:  Just download Linux from Mint or Ubuntu or anywhere with the version you want. That download may contain only one ISO file. Note: Older computers may have a 32-bit processor, which will not work with 64-bit versions of Linux.

The second part : creating startup media - requires a little more thought. The fastest, easiest way to use a flash drive, even if the destination system has a CD / DVD drive. Indeed, the only reason for not moving on a flash-drive is that the destination system may not start (or start properly) from another. (I encountered this problem several times, even after dragging the BIOS boot settings and actually choosing "USB drive" from the boot pop menu.)

My advice: Try flash drive first. If it doesn't work, you can always use that ISO file to make a compact CD later.

How big drive do you need? Depending on the size of the Linux distro. The latest versions of Mint and Ubuntu run at about 1.8GB and 1.5GB, respectively, so a 2GB drive should suffice. Make sure it does not contain important data, as it will need to be deleted as part of this process.

Create your boot drive

After you download your Linux ISO, you need a utility that can create a bootable flash drive. I am partial to Rufus, which is fast, free and easy to use. Download the portable version; Of course there is no need to install it, because you run it once.

➡Step 1: Plug in your flash drive (ignore or disable any prompts that pop up), and then run the Rufus utility.

➡Step 2: In the device area, at the top, make sure your flash drive is selected. If not, click on the pull-down and select it.

➡Step 3: Navigate to the Linux ISO file you downloaded by clicking on the small disk icon next to the check box marked "Use bootable disk". It is mostly in your download folder. Click it, and then click Open.

➡Step 4: If you wish, you can change the "New Volume Label" field to "Linux", but this is not required. Click Start, and then wait until the drive is formatted and the ISO is installed.

Get ready to boot

Now your focus is turning towards the destination system. It does not matter what condition it is in or full of malware; You must be able to boot from a flash drive.

This means going into the BIOS and changing the boot order, which puts the hard drive first by default. Some systems provide a pop-up boot menu that allows you to choose which device to boot without monkey with settings. If yours, count yourself lucky.

For example, I did some testing with the one-year-old HP Pavilion dm1z. When you first turn it on, there is no boot menu - empty screen and Windows startup screen. So I did a quick web search for the "Pavilion dm1z boot menu" and realized that I needed to suppress F1 or F10 as soon as the machine came to power. (This is F 10.)

This is very common, although depending on previous experience, it may be F2, F9, F12 or remove the key. Depends on the system.

After you enter the BIOS, find the boot or startup menu and make sure the "flash drive" or "USB drive" is in boot order first. Then save and exit (usually by pressing F10, but, again, it changes).

One or two OS?

As you probably already know, Linux can open and run directly from a flash drive - no actual installation required. That’s a great way to test drive a distro, but this tutorial is about installing an OS, so let’s focus on that option.

The biggest decision you will need to make is whether you want to install Linux next to your existing OS, which could lead to a double boot
setup, or to redesign the hard drive and use only Linux. The first is worth considering whether the system has a large drive and can easily fit both apps, or you still need Windows.

The following instructions may vary slightly from one distro to the next, but are based on my installation of Linux Mint.

Step one: Launch the flash drive directly on Linux.

Step 2: Double-click the Linux installation icon on the desktop.

Step 3: Make any requested language choices, third party software installation and more. Then select OS installation preferences: next to an existing OS or delete and install.

After your selection, just sit back and wait while Linux does its thing. Installation can take a while, especially if the computer is on the old, slow side.
Now that you're working, comment and tell us which Linux distro you chose and how the installation went!