Install Linux Mint from a USB flash drive

Long gone are the days when Linux was a simple black screen with a flashing cursor symbol. The current Linux can be such

Appearance (or environment) of Kde. Or so

Environment Xfce. And maybe this?

Mate. Or so?

Surrounding Cinnamon.

All the images look completely different, but at the same time, these are the options for the appearance. And although in all the pictures all the names are written in English, the Russian language (with a very high-quality translation) appears after a few clicks, about which we'll talk just below.

If you decide to install Linux, we recommend you try the Mint version, which is based on Ubuntu, but unlike it, it has a more sophisticated interface. Anticipating the questions, we immediately note that for the sample does not have to immediately format the hard drive, erase all the necessary documents and look for how to get online. Installing Linux Mint next to Windows is quite common, and the developers of the system took it into account. Everything can be done gradually, in stages. In order not to search for a blank disc, we'll put it from a USB flash drive. Installing Linux Mint from a flash drive is not more difficult than installing from a CD, except that instead of 4 GB of blank we have enough 2 GB flash drives, since the distribution itself occupies ~ 1.5 GB.

Difficulties in choosing

Deciding to try Linux, not accustomed to the richness of choice, the user will think: "And how does he, this Linux will look to me, and which one is better?" If we stop at Mint - the desktop of the main directions of the development of the distribution is shown above. Everyone comes to a convenient working environment for themselves in the process of using. For initial testing, Cinnamon is recommended - 4 pictures. One of the reasons for this choice is the flexibility of the settings, the other is that Cinnamon was originally planned for Mint. Finally, you can also call that the appearance will be great to remind Windows. Plus it or minus - to solve to the user. Regardless of your choice - installing Linux Mint will go the same way, the differences will be revealed after the final reboot.

Having decided about the appearance, go to the official Linux Mint website and in the Download section choose the architecture (32 or 64) and the version of the shell. The version no codecs is delivered without additional multimedia codecs, that is, they will still have to be installed for viewing video, listening to music, etc. The OEM version is not intended for initial training. Click on the selected architecture. In the opened window we get a brief information about the distribution, name, architecture, shell and several mirrors for download. Note the data in the edition line - our shell is selected. It's also worth noting that if you want to use torrents, such a link also exists, but above the list of mirrors. Click on the selected link and wait for the distribution to be downloaded.

Preparing for installation. HDD

If we do not want to lose Windows files, we need to allocate disk space for the new system. It is recommended to allocate about 15 GB. If you select less, you may experience problems in the process. In principle, you can skip this step altogether - in the installer there is a good program for working with disks, but for the first time we will go the standard way. We reduce one of the disks by 15 GB. Installing Linux Mint will require less, but, as we said, it is better to have a stock. This can be done by any program, even built-in Windows, but we use ADD-Acronis Disk Director.

The program works with disks in the graphical interface, visually showing the sizes and on the fly recounting the volumes. Note that the work is not done on the C drive.

Any other than boot, you can move as you like, making free space, before or after the data. If you make free space on the C drive before the data, the next time Windows stops loading. After changing the section, go to the next step

Preparing for installation. Flash drive

On the official website of the distribution, Linux Mint is supposed to be installed on a USB flash drive using the Universal USB Installer program, and its settings. We insert the flash drive and run the program.

In the main window of Universal USB Installer, we need to configure 4 points.

Step 1 - if there is no Mint in the drop-down list, select Ubuntu.

Step 2 - specify the distribution file.

Step 3 - choose the flash drive (look in "My Computer", which letter was allocated to it, and select it here.) You do not need to write anything else).

Step 4 - do not need to fill out.

Next, choose - to format or not (to the right of Step 3) and click Create. After a couple of minutes of waiting, we'll get the finished flash drive. Now is the time to go directly to the installation.

Live CD

Installing Linux Mint from a flash drive is no different from installing from a DVD, except that speed. Therefore, after the end of the download, we get a Live-system, which is quite workable, except that it is not yet installed and (most likely) English-language. In it you can work, test, usually everything works right away, just slower. In this mode, no files on the hard disk are changed, they are not deleted, but the files created by you on this system will not be saved either. The system has a full set of software - you can go online (though it works, if before that you did not go directly from Windows), read the Wyrd files, even watch a movie. It works, but it's slower. But before proceeding with the installation, be sure to configure the Internet. To install some packages it will be needed. To do this, the tray has an icon. It is usually depicted as two plugs connected to each other. Right click on it - change the connection and further DSL (for most modern connection options with the network PPPoE, PPPtP, ADSL, etc)

Installing to disk

Click on the "Install Linux Mint" icon to start the installation. The installation will prompt you to choose a language (there is a Russian), ask you about the connection to the Internet, state how much it might need, and if you have a laptop, will tell you to connect it to the network. The next step is to breakdown the hard drive. About it we'll talk just below. Otherwise, the installation of Linux Mint differs little from the installation of Windows.

Formatting partitions for Linux

At this stage it is necessary to dwell in detail, since there is no general concept of partitions, letters, disks in Linux. The file system is easiest to imagine in the form of a tree. Root, trunk, branches. Each new section in the system will become one of the twigs. This branch becomes the home section, such a branch becomes disk D, etc.

During the installation, the wizard will offer three options: "Replace Windows (delete it)", "Install next (do not risk)" and "Another option." We'll need it. Arrows choose it - click Enter.

The received before 15 GB need to be divided into three parts. 8 + 2 + 5, respectively, system + paging + user files. Then, if you do not need a paging file, you can delete the middle partition and attach the location to the user section. Double click on the free space, the appeared window is shown below. With the exception of the mount point and the field with the size - other parameters are shown in the picture.

The type of the new partition, perhaps, can not be changed - it does not matter. For the system in the top field, set 8192 (this is MB), the mount point is "/". We agree with the changes. Choose the remaining free space - 2048 MB. Here we select the field where "EXT4" is written, change to "swap partition". Mount points are not necessary. Plus choose the remaining free space and repeat the actions, as was done above for the system, except for the mount point. Select "/ home" from the list.

As a result, instead of free space, you will have 3 new sections - "/", "/ home", "swap". The markup is finished. Click Install Now.

Loading a new system

After installing and removing the USB flash drive, the system will boot up again. Linux Mint after installation starts in the English version. Let's make it Russian.

Press the button "menu" - "Control center" - "Languages".

Linux Mint after installation

In a new window, the Install / remove languages button will allow us to add Russian.

Click "Add" and in the new window select "Russuan, Russia", then at the bottom of the "Install" window.

The window was closed, and in the previous one there is a button "Install language packs". We press, we wait while it will be established.

Now turn all the windows one by one, checking that "Russuan, Russia" is selected. We are overloaded. If everything is done correctly, a window will appear that prompts you to rename the home folders. The "menu" button is renamed in manual mode.

Further tuning

The initial configuration of Linux Mint after installation is widely described on the Internet. There are a lot of points, but here we will consider one - how to change the main menu that is unusual for us. The developers of Cinnamon offer several variations of the main menu, even in the form of Win7. Let's try to install. Right click on the bottom panel - choose "add new applets" In the window that opens, do as in the picture below.

We put a check mark to the right of the selected item, wait until it is installed and get the menu, as in Windows.

Drivers

Unlike other editions, Cinnamon almost immediately picks up all found equipment correctly. And if you are not going to play toys, work with complex packages, the issue of drivers can not be bothered. However, there are cases when Wi-Fi, for example, is not found after installation. Here you can install Linux Mint drivers. We leave on it through the menu "Administration". The system will first look for the possible drivers. Then the window will appear as on the screen below.

If the drivers are - they will appear in the list. You will have to choose the required one, then in the bottom part of the window click "Activate" (on the screen is not active). Wait for the installation and reboot the system. After a reboot, the driver is normally activated without problems.

A few words in conclusion

There is a saying: "The devil is not so terrible as he is painted." The same can be said about Linux. Lately, a lot of people started using Linux, which used to be difficult to teach Windows before. Linuksoid, and so called users of this system, knows one good rule - if you do not know what, find a manual on the web. Manuals exist, for all occasions. Do not forget about it.