You're considering Linux as a replacement operating system, but there's a problem: yous don't know how to install it.

Switching to Linux can be straightforward. Choose a Linux operating arrangement (OS), write the installation media, and sit back and wait. But while simple, it does come with some complications. Here, nosotros await at how to put Linux on your PC with the minimum of fuss.

What You Demand for Installing Linux

Elementary OS Linux

To install Linux on a figurer or laptop, you lot will need:

  • A suitable target device (the PC or laptop) – note that installing Linux is destructive to existing data on your computer, and then a clean system is recommended
  • A downloaded Linux ISO file
  • Installation media (writable CD or DVD, or USB flash device)

That's all there is to it. However, you may spend some time choosing and downloading the ISO file before you're fix to brainstorm.

Choose a Linux Operating System ("Distro")

Before proceeding you will need to choose and download a Linux operating system to install on your chosen computer.

Various Linux operating systems (also known as "distros" which is curt for "distribution") are in broad use, from big names like Ubuntu and Mint to Fedora, Manjaro, elementary, and Popular!_OS. Each of these balance usability with productivity, much as you would expect from a mainstream operating system.

While there is some difference between these OSs (despite all existence Linux), you can expect similar levels of compatibility with your computer's hardware.

A note on the target device: you can utilise a desktop or laptop computer to run Linux. Some Linux versions are particularly suited to older hardware like low-spec laptops and netbooks. If this is something you have in mind, take the time to research your figurer model to find the best Linux operating arrangement for it.

Overall, take this as a rule: choose a Linux distro past first ensuring it works with the hardware y'all plan to install it on.

How to Download Linux to Your PC

With your Linux operating system selected, you'll be fix to download it to your calculator to prepare the files for installation.

In most cases, a Linux distro downloads in ISO format. This is a deejay image format, which can be written to a CD, DVD, or USB flash storage. You can wait ISO files to exist effectually 2GB in size ordinarily, although some more compact distros might be one-half this size.

As such, you'll need to ensure y'all accept the necessary storage space on your download PC to store the ISO before you lot fix it for installation. Downloading is simply a case of visiting the Linux distro's homepage and downloading the pick that most closely suits the computer you program to install Linux on.

Ready Linux for Installation

With a Windows ten or macOS calculator, the operating organization is preinstalled. Nonetheless, you may have institute yourself in a situation where the Os must exist reinstalled. In such cases, you would take the time to fix installation media, using an optical disc or USB disk.

A like procedure is required for installing Linux.

Windows x and macOS both arrive piece of cake to mount an ISO file in the operating arrangement, enabling yous to browse the contents of the disk prototype. Yet, writing the ISO file to your intended installation media is a trivial trickier, and requires a dedicated tool.

(macOS users should come across our guide on mounting and called-for ISO images on a Mac.)

With the installation media created, safely remove information technology from your computer.

How to Install Linux on a Laptop

Installing Linux basically requires you to prompt your computer to boot from the installation media rather than the hard disk drive.

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With your laptop calculator switched off, connect the installation media, and boot the laptop. If the media is detected, you'll exist able to offset the installation procedure (or boot Live mode, meet beneath). This is a guided procedure, with steps for your region and location, connecting to wireless networking, and selecting a disk sectionalisation.

The exact steps involved will depend on the called Linux distro. Note that if wireless networking isn't an option, information technology is worth connecting the computer to Ethernet to enable the downloading of updates during the installation process.

How to Install Linux on Your PC

Installing Linux on a desktop PC is very similar to installation on a laptop. In that location is arguably wider hardware support for desktops, merely overall, the procedure is identical.

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Where it may differ is in the presence of an optical drive. Every bit CD and DVD drives are increasingly rare on laptops, it makes sense to use a USB installation media; with an old desktop, you can probably use the optical drive for installation. While this might be slower, it can too be more convenient than scrabbling effectually looking for a USB pollex drive.

Over again, the verbal steps required for installing Linux on your figurer depend on the specific distro. The guided procedure should help y'all to make the right choices, however.

Forget Installation: How to Get Linux on a Computer Without Installing

By this stage you should know how to install Linux on a laptop or desktop computer. But what if you want to run Linux on your computer without installing it? You have three options for running Linux without removing the existing operating arrangement:

  1. Run Linux in Live mode – Linux distros feature a bootable live CD environs (including USB media) which lets you lot utilise the operating organisation without installing information technology
  2. Run Linux in a virtual machine – virtualization is a great mode to run Linux and go to grips with information technology without installing on a physical hard disk drive
  3. Setup Windows Subsystem for Linux – Windows ten features an optional tool for running Linux, which is unproblematic to enable and lets yous install a Linux distro direct from the Microsoft Store

Whichever choice you select, y'all'll still be able to enjoy an extensive Linux experience. This flexibility is one of the key reasons for Linux's enduring success.

Congratulations, You've Installed Linux on Your Computer

As you can see, installing Linux isn't nearly as complicated as you lot might have thought. All it requires is a suitable target figurer, the right Linux version, and suitable installation media.

The process of installation is guided in well-nigh cases, helping you lot to ensure your Linux calculator is set up only the style yous want. And if you don't have a spare computer, installing Linux on your existing PC with a virtual machine or Windows Subsystem for Linux is also an pick – as is running Linux as a Live CD.

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