Start tapping F12 or F10 (differs from PC to PC) continuously to reach the Boot menu as soon as you see the brand logo. Choose USB/Removable Media. Step 4: Begin Installation. As soon as the image file is booted, you will see two options – “Try Linux Mint” and “Install Linux Mint”. The most popular option to test-drive Linux on Windows is a LiveCD. Though it says “CD,” you can also use a USB Flash Drive as a LiveCD (without having to burn a CD). To get started, download the latest version of Ubuntu to your desktop. This is an ISO file (also known as a CD image) that is around 650 MB in size.
Nothing makes me happier than resurrecting an old, slow, useless Windows PC by installing Linux on it.
The result is a system that will almost always run faster, with almost zero chance of malware infections, and that affords all the computing basics. (Many of the latest computing advances, too.)
Before you begin, read my tips on choosing a Linux distro, arguably the most challenging part of the equation (if only because there are so many). Once you've made that decision, all that's left is to actually install the operating system.
Choose a boot option
But, first: This is a proceed-at-your-own-risk tutorial. Also, note that I'll be referring to the old PC as the 'destination system.'
Here's the overall process in a nutshell:
- Step one: Download a Linux OS. (I recommend doing this, and all subsequent steps, on your current PC, not the destination system. Although the latter is an option if it's malware-free and in decent working order, everything will get done faster and more easily on your primary machine.)
- Step two: Create a bootable CD/DVD or USB flash drive.
- Step three: Boot that media on the destination system, then make a few decisions regarding the installation.
The first part is easy: Just download Linux from Mint or Ubuntu or whatever site hosts the version you want. That download will likely consist of a single ISO file. Note: An older computer may have a 32-bit processor, which won't work with 64-bit versions of Linux.
The second part -- creating boot media -- requires a little thought. The fastest, easiest method is to use a flash drive, even if the destination system has a CD/DVD drive. Indeed, the only reason not to go the flash-drive route is if the destination system won't boot (or boot properly) from one. (I've encountered this problem a few times, even after tweaking the BIOS boot settings and actually selecting 'USB drive' from a pop-up boot menu.)
My advice: Try a flash drive first. If it doesn't work, you can always use that same ISO file to create a bootable CD later.
How big a drive do you need? It depends on the size of the Linux distro. The latest versions of Mint and Ubuntu run about 1.8GB and 1.5GB, respectively, so a 2GB drive should suffice. Make sure it doesn't contain any important data, as it'll need to get wiped as part of this procedure.
Build your boot drive
Once you've downloaded your Linux ISO, you'll need a utility that can create a bootable flash drive. I'm partial to Rufus, which is fast, free and easy to use. Download the portable version; there's no need to actually install it, because most likely you'll just run it once.
Step 1: Plug in your flash drive (ignoring or closing any prompts that pop up), then run the Rufus utility.
Step 2: In the Device field, at the very top, make sure your flash drive is the one selected. If not, click the pull-down and select it.
Step 3: Near the checkbox marked 'Create a bootable disk using,' click the little disk icon and navigate to the Linux ISO file you downloaded. It's most likely in your Downloads folder. Click it, then click Open.
Step 4: If you like, you can change the 'New volume label' field to something like 'Linux,' but it's not necessary. Click Start, then wait while the drive is formatted and the ISO installed.
Get ready to boot
Now it's time to turn your attention to the destination system. It doesn't matter what condition it's in or even if it's riddled with malware; you just need it to be able to boot from a flash drive.
That may mean venturing into the BIOS and changing the boot order, which by default almost certainly puts the hard drive first. Some systems do offer a pop-up boot menu that lets you choose what device to boot from without having to monkey with the settings. If yours does, count yourself lucky.
For example, I did some testing with a years-old HP Pavilion dm1z. When you first power it on, there's no boot menu -- just a blank screen and then the Windows startup screen. So I did a quick web search for 'Pavilion dm1z boot menu' and learned that I need to press either F1 or F10 immediately after powering on the machine. (Turns out it was F10.)
That's pretty common, though based on past experience, it might also be F2, F9, F12 or even the Delete key. Depends on the system.
Once you've found your way into the BIOS, find the boot or startup menu and make sure 'flash drive' or 'USB drive' is first in the boot order. Then save and exit (usually by pressing F10, but, again, this varies).
One OS or two?
As you probably know already, Linux can boot and run right from the flash drive -- no actual installation required. That's a great way to test-drive a distro, but this tutorial is about installing the OS, so let's focus on that option.
The big decision you'll need to make is whether you want to install Linux alongside your existing OS, which would result in a dual-boot setup, or reformat the hard drive and run only Linux. The former is worth considering if the system has a large drive and can easily accommodate both operating systems, or you still have need for Windows.
This following instructions may vary a bit from one distro to the next, but they're based on my installation of Linux Mint.
Step one: Boot from the flash drive directly into Linux.
Step two: Double-click the Install Linux icon on the desktop.
Step three: Make any requested selections regarding language, installation of third-party software and so on. Then choose your OS installation preference: alongside the existing OS or erase-and-install.
After you make your choice, just sit back and wait while Linux does its thing. The installation might take some time, especially if the computer is on the older, slower side.
Now that you're up and running, hit the comments and let us know which Linux distro you chose and how the installation went!
SabrinaSouza asked the Answer Line forum how to install Linux onto a PC without losing Windows.
You can pick from many versions of Linux, but I'll confine my instructions here to Ubuntu. It's popular, it's powerful, and it plays well with Windows.
There are other versions that I'll recommend for specific jobs (such as diagnosing an unbootable PC), but for learning Linux and possibly using it for productive work, Ubuntu is the best choice I know.
You download Ubuntu in the form of an .iso file, which is an image file of a CD--in this case a bootable one. Double-click the file, and a program will likely come up and walk you through the process of burning the disc.
If no such program pops up, download and install the Active@ ISO Burner, then try again.
Another option: Use the Universal USB Installer to create a bootable flash drive out of that same .iso file. I actually prefer the flash drive; it's faster.
So what can you do with this CD or flash drive? Plenty, but I'll give you three options:
Just Boot ItUbuntu is a live version of Linux. You don't have to install it. You can simply boot it from the CD or flash drive, and, when asked, say you want to run rather than install Ubuntu.
This works for getting a feel for the operating system, but not for actual work. For instance, the contents of Ubuntu's Document folder disappears when you reboot.
Install Ubuntu Within WindowsYou can actually install Ubuntu as a Windows program, although you can't launch it as one.
Insert the CD or flash drive. If nothing starts up automatically, open the drive in Windows Explorer and run wubi.exe. Select the option Install inside Windows, and follow the prompts.
When you reboot after the install, your PC will boot Linux and start setting it up. This can take a long time--especially if you're using a CD. Be patient.
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The next time you boot, and with every boot afterwards, you'll get to pick between Windows and Ubuntu. And you can uninstall Ubuntu like any other Windows program.
Install Ubuntu in a Virtual MachineYou can run both OSes simultaneously by installing Ubuntu inside a virtual machine (VM). In a VM, software imitates hardware so that you effectively run one computer inside another.
I can recommend two free VM programs: VMware Player and Oracle VM VirtualBox. Ubuntu installs just fine in either of them. VirtualBox is more powerful, but I find VMware Player easier for the virtual machine novice. (Yes, I know that I recommended VirtualBox just last week, but that was for a Windows 8-specific job.)
By the way, you don't actually need to burn a CD or prepare a flash drive to install Ubuntu inside a virtual machine. Both VMware Player and Oracle VM VirtualBox can install directly from the .iso file.
Read the original forum discussion.
Can You Install Linux On A Windows Pc
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Install Linux On Windows Laptop
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