Install Linux Mint from a flash drive

Long gone are the days when Linux was a simple black screen with flashing cursor. Current Linux can be so

Appearance (or the environment) Kde. Or such

The Xfce environment. Maybe like this?

Mate. Or this?

Surrounded by Cinnamon.

All the pictures look completely different, but at the same time, it designs the appearance. And at least in all the pictures all titles are written in English, Russian language (with a very high quality translation) appears after a few clicks of the mouse, which we will discuss below.

If you decide to put Linux, we recommend you to try the version of Mint , which is based on Ubuntu, but unlike her, has more exhaust interface. Anticipating the question, I note that the sample does not need to format the hard drive, erase all the necessary documents and to look, how to get online. Install Linux Mint next to Windows — quite a common phenomenon, and the developers took into account. Everything can be done gradually, in stages. Not to look for the disc will be put with the stick. Install Linux Mint from a flash drive is not as easy as installing from a CD, except that instead of 4 GB blanks is enough for us 2 GB memory stick, as the distribution itself is ~ 1.5 GB.

Complexity

Deciding to try Linux, not accustomed to the wealth of choice the user will think: "But how is this Linux I will have to look, and what is still better?", If we stop for Mint - Desk of the main directions of development of the distribution shown above. It is convenient for itself, working environment, each comes in use. For initial testing it is recommended Cinnamon — 4 picture is One of the reasons for this choice is flexibility, the other — that Cinnamon was originally planned for Mint. Finally, you can call and what the appearance will be great to remind Windows. Plus or minus — addressed to the user. Regardless of your choice — install Linux Mint will go the same way, the differences will show up after the final reboot.

Deciding about appearance, go to the official Linux Mint website and in Download section select the architecture (32 or 64) and version of the shell. Version no codecs supplied without additional multimedia codecs, that is, they will still have to put for watching videos, listening to music, etc. the OEM Version is not intended for initial training. Click on the selected architecture. In the opened window, get summary information about the distribution name, architecture, shell, and several mirrors for download. Please note the data in the row edition — selected our shell. It is also worth noting that if you want to use torrents — such a reference too, but the above list of mirrors. Click on selected link and wait until the distribution is complete.

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Preparing to install. Hard disk

If we don't want to lose Windows files, we need to allocate space on disk for the new system. It is recommended to allocate approximately 15 GB. If you allocate less — can cause problems in the process. In principle, this step can be skip and generally — in the installer is a good program for working with disks, but for the first time come standard. Reduce one of the disks to 15 GB. Installation of Linux Mint will require less, but, as we have said, it is better to have a reserve. This can be done by any program, even built into Windows, but we use ADD — Acronis Disk Director.

The Program works with disks in the graphical interface clearly showing the size and on-the-fly counting volumes. Please note that the work is not on C drive.

Any other than the boot, you can move as you like, making the free space before or after the data. If on the disk to make free space to data, then the next time Windows will no longer boot. Changing a section moving on to the next step

Preparing to install. USB flash drive

The official website of the distro you plan to install Linux Mint on a flash drive using the Universal USB Installer program, consider setting it up. Insert the USB flash drive and run the program.

In the main window Universal USB Installer we need to configure 4 time.

Step 1 — if dropdown list is not our Mint — choose Ubuntu.

Step 2 — specify the distribution file.

Step 3 — select USB flash drive (look at ‘My computer”, what letter allocated to it, and select it here. Anything more is not necessary to write).

Step 4   optional.

Then select — to format or not (to the right of Step 3) and click Create. After a couple minutes of waiting, get ready the stick. Now is the time to proceed directly to the installation.

Live CD

Install Linux Mint from a flash drive is no different from installing from the DVD, except that speed. So after download we will get a Live-system which is quite efficient, except that it is not already installed and (most likely) in English. It is possible to work to test, normally everything works, just slower. In this mode, no files on the hard drive do not change, are not deleted, but also filesyou created this system, too, will not be saved. The system has a complete set of software — you can go online (though it works if you were not directly from Windows), read Mordovskie files, even movies. It works, but slower. But before we go to installation, be sure to configure Internet. To install some packages will need it. For this tray there is an icon. Usually depicted as two forks connected with each other. Right-click on it — to change the connection and on the DSL (for most modern variants of connection PPPoE, PPPtP, ADSL, etc)

Installing to disk

Click on icon "Install Linux Mint" to begin installation. The installation will prompt you to choose a language (there are Russian), will ask you about connecting to the Internet, saying how much she may need, and if you have a laptop, I will inform you that you need to connect it to the network. The next step is hard drive breakdown. We'll talk about it below. Otherwise, installing Linux Mint is not much different from installing Windows.

Formatting partitions for Linux

At this stage it is necessary to dwell in detail, because the General concept of the sections, letters, disks in Linux no. The file system is easiest to imagine as a tree. Root, trunk, branches. Each new section in the system will be one of the branches. This twig will be a section of home, this branch will become the D drive, etc.

During installation, the wizard will offer three options: ‘Replace Windows (remove it)”, “to Set beside (not worth the risk)” and “Other option”. Here it is we need. Arrows select it — press “enter”.

Obtained as early as 15 GB should be divided into three parts. 8+2+5 accordingly, the system + paging + files. Then if you don't need a swap file, the middle section you can remove and attach the seat to the responsibility of the user. Double click on free space, the window shown below. With the exception of the mount point and size fields — other parameters shown in the picture.

The type of the new partition, change will fail — it doesn't matter. For the system in the upper field set to 8192 (MB) mount point “/” . Agree with the changes. Select the remaining free space — 2048 MB . Here select the field where it says "EXT4" change to “swap”. The mount point is not necessary. Plus select the remaining free space and repeat the steps as done above for the system, except the mount point. In the list to select «/home".

As a result, instead of free space, you will have 3 new sections - «/», «/home”, “swap”. The markup is finished. Click “Install now”.

Download the new system

After installing and removing drives the system will boot again. Linux Mint after installation starts in English. Make it Russian.

Click on the “menu” - “Control center” - “Languages”.

Linux Mint after installation

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

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

The Window was closed, and in the previous there is a button "Install language packs”. Press, wait until set.

Now alternately close all Windows, checking that the chosen “Russuan, Russia». Are overloaded. If done correctly, the screen will appear prompting you to rename home folders. Button “menu” renamed manually.

Further configuration

The Initial setup Linux Mint after installation, is widely described on the Internet. Points quite a lot, and here we consider one — how to change unfamiliar to us main menu. The Cinnamon developers offer several variations of the main menu, there is even a Win7. Let's try to install. Right-click on the lower pane — select “add new applets” In the opened window, do as shown below.

Put a tick to the right of the selected item, waiting for it to set and get menu like in Windows.

Drivers

Unlike the other editions, with the Cinnamon almost immediately picks up all the hardware correctly. And if you are going to play with toys, work with complex packages, drivers issue can not bother. However, there are cases when the Wi-Fi, for example, is not found after installation. Here will help install drivers Linux Mint. Exit it via the menu “Administration”. First, the system will look for possible driver. Then will display a window as in the screenshot below.

If the drivers are — they will appear in the list. You can choose the one you need, then at the bottom of the window, click “Activate” (on screen not active). Wait for installation and reboot the system. Usually after a reboot the driver is activated without problems.

A Few words in conclusion

There is a saying: “devil is Not so terrible as he is painted”. It's possiblebe said about Linux. Recently started to use Linux so many people, which used to be difficult to learn to use Windows. “Linuxoid” and called by users of this system know one good rule — if you do not know, find the network manual. Manuals exist, on all occasions. Do not forget about it.