Active computer users probably know what Windows is, but few are aware that there are other platforms that can replace it. One such alternative is Linux Mint. You can find out how to install and make this curiosity work in this material.
What is Linux?
Many, having heard the word Linux, present a terrible black terminal that is controlled by text commands and is completely not intended for an unprepared user. And this was true fifteen to twenty years ago when Linux was the domain of geeks or server solutions. Bearded men were hatching a watch in front of a black text interface. Now Linux is a full-fledged operating system that has all the necessary functions, and without any problems can compete with the notorious Windows. The user has both a window interface and popular programs: the same Firefox or Chrome, office suite, media player, games and much more.
Why Linux Mint?
Linux Mint is one of the most popular distributions among ordinary users. This system is based on Ubuntu, which was specially developed to simplify interaction with Linux. It had a full, advanced interface, application store and support. Mint developers went further and made the system even more loyal to the user, and also achieved greater stability. The appearance of the desktop has also been slightly modified in accordance with the interface in Windows. All these features, coupled with full support, allow you to grow both the number of fans and the percentage of user satisfaction with Linux Mint. How to install this system and not feel deprived, avoid data loss and other unpleasant consequences? The first question users ask.
Installation process
Installing Linux - the process is surprisingly simple, you just need to decide on the distribution and prepare the media. The first includes the definition of a workspace. There are several options, including Cinnamon, which is the easiest and most familiar for new users. How to install Linux Mint 17? The latest edition of the OS has a modern installer that will guide the user through the entire process without any problems.
The only thing you should take care of before downloading and installing the ISO image is preparing the hard disk using the utility for managing disk space, create an additional partition, say, fifteen gigabytes (the system requires much less, but you should always take it in reserve).
Linux Mint: how to install using a disk?
There are several installation options. They differ in the media used. How to install Linux Mint 17.2? First of all, you need to choose the right distribution. Images for 32- and 64-bit processors are distributed on the official website. Once you’ve selected, download and burn the ISO image to disk. During boot, make the PC boot from this media.
Linux Mint: how to install from a flash drive?
The installation process from the memory card is similar to that of the disk. The difference is that recording is performed using a specially designed utility, and the media itself can be selected smaller. Instead of a 4.7-gigabyte DVD disc, you can take a two-gigabyte memory card, this will be enough for Linux Mint to work. How to install from a flash drive using the UBI utility?
For recording, the utility Universal USB Installer is used. The program interface is divided into 4 steps:
- Choosing a distribution kit, indicate the system you are going to record.
- Just find the image of the downloaded system and indicate the path to it.
- Specify the media that we will use (you can also format it).
- Extra storage space for Live CD and system test.
During boot, force the PC to boot from the flash drive. An installer appears prompting you to choose whether to directly install or download the Live CD.
Live cd
On modern Linux distributions, a special system for testing the system before installation is preinstalled. Initially, this mode was conceived as a kind of lifeguard in case the main system does not boot, and you need a tool to restore access and fix problems. In this mode, all OS features are available to you. There is access to the Internet, the installation of any software. You can try anything you like to make sure that the system suits you and you like it.
Changes to the system are not saved, and as soon as you finish the session, all work will be deleted. And the systems already installed on computers will not suffer, as well as disk space. In the future, you should learn how to install Linux Mint 17.3.
Full installation
If you finally decided to install this system, make sure that everything is ready - proceed with the installation. This process is extremely simple. First of all, you are given three choices: the main one is to replace Windows, that is, completely erase the hard drive and install a new system. But for many, it is important to keep this platform, so such users are wondering about how to install Windows next to Linux Mint. It is only necessary to allocate disk space using the disk utility or the installer. Both systems do an excellent job of this task and have an intuitive disk utility interface.
There is another installation option for the Linux Mint system. How to install it using manual disk space tuning? This, in fact, is what it was necessary to create a 15-gigabyte space for. Now it should be divided into 3 parts. The first will be a user partition: leave about 8 gigabytes of memory, and install ext4 on the file system. The second section is system. The latter is a swap file. If there is no need for it, you can ignore this item and give the remaining space to the user section.
Then we observe the installation process and gradually get acquainted with the features of the system.
Further customization and features of Cinnamon
Having finished with the installation process, consider that you have completed all the difficult work, then it’s very easy to configure the system. The Linux Mint interface with the Cinnamon design resembles that of all familiar Windows. There is even a semblance of the Start menu.
The system has a specialized Driver Manager that tells you which drivers to install and automates the configuration process.
In the new version of the system, new widgets were added. Thanks to close integration with the system, the user can control the charge level not only of the computer, but also of the Bluetooth equipment.
Dualism
One of the benefits that a user who decides to install Linux gets is the capabilities of one and the other system. While in the Linux environment, you can continue to use Windows as a second OS, as well as run Windows applications inside Linux using a special utility (emulator) called Wine. How to install Wine on Linux Mint? There are two options:
- Using the app store. Just enter the name of the program in the search and download.
- Through the terminal (which you will have to master at least at the basic level in any case). Open the terminal and write: sudo add-apt-repository ppa: ubuntu-wine / ppa, after we update the list of sudo apt-get update packages, well, we start the installation process sudo apt-get install wine1.7.
Now you can download programs and games created for Windows. Many of them are experiencing compatibility problems, but now you can use the most necessary, and in extreme cases - installed next to the OS from Microsoft.
Necessary computer features
Before starting the installation, a number of technical aspects should be taken into account (any modern computer corresponds to them, there will probably be no problems).
- 512MB of RAM at least (1GB recommended for more comfortable work with the system).
- 9GB of disk space (20GB recommended).
- A graphics system with support for displays with a resolution of 800 x 600 (1,024 × 768 recommended).
- A DVD drive to boot from a disk or a USB port for working with a flash drive.
Reviews
The Linux platform currently occupies rather weak positions in the market due to the lack of advertising and support from computer manufacturers who are not ready to install Linux on their devices by default. Over time, this figure increases, more and more compatible equipment and programs appear. If earlier users were unhappy that Linux did not support their printer or could not configure an Internet connection, now there are no such problems. The Linux driver catalog has grown.
Users are more and more positive about Linux Mint and say that using it is much easier. Many people prefer this system to Microsoft's platform because of its security and beauty, as well as the presence of pre-installed software and the absence of the need to pay for software. The system is absolutely free and in no way inferior to senior competitors. Even the gaming industry, which until recently was considered a weakness of Linux, was reinforced by Valve, which launched Steam on Linux, thereby increasing the number of fans of the system.