Linux Mint how to install: step-by-step instructions, features and reviews

Active computer users probably know what Windows is, but few know that there are other platforms that can replace it. One such alternative is Linux Mint. How to install and make this wonder work, you can find out in this material.

What is Linux?

Many people, hearing the word Linux, represent a terrible black terminal that is controlled by text commands and is not at all intended for an unprepared user. And that was true fifteen to twenty years ago, when Linux was the lot of geeks or server solutions. Bearded men hatching the clock in front of the black text interface. Now Linux is a full-fledged operating system that has all the necessary functions, and without special problems can compete with the well-known Windows. The user has a window interface, and popular programs: the same Firefox or Chrome, an office suite, a 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 specifically designed to simplify the interaction with Linux. It had a full-fledged, advanced interface, application store and support. Developers Mint went further and made the system even more loyal to the user, and also achieved greater stability. The appearance of the desktop was also slightly modified in accordance with the interface in Windows. All these features, coupled with full support, can 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 losing data and other unpleasant consequences? The first question that users are asked.

Installation process

Installing Linux - the process is surprisingly simple, you just need to decide on the choice of the distribution and prepare the media. The first includes the definition of the workspace. There are several options, including Cinnamon, which is the most simple and familiar for new users. How to install Linux Mint 17? The latest version of the OS has a modern installer, which will guide the user through the whole process without any problems.

The only thing you need to worry about before loading and installing the ISO image is to prepare the hard disk with the disk space management utility, create an additional partition, say, a gigabyte by fifteen (the system requires much less, but it's always worth taking in reserve).

Linux Mint: How to install using a disk?

There are several installation options. They differ in the carrier used. How to install Linux Mint 17.2? First of all, you need to choose the right distribution. On the official site are distributed images for 32- and 64-bit processors. After selecting the desired one, download and burn the ISO image to disk. At boot time, make the PC boot from this media.

Linux Mint: how to install from a flash drive?

The process of installing from a memory card is similar to that of a disk. The difference is that the recording is made using a specially designed utility, and the media itself can be chosen smaller. Instead of a 4.7-gigabyte DVD-disc, you can take a two-gigabyte memory card, this will be enough for Linux Mint. How to install from a USB flash drive using the UBI utility?

For recording, use the utility Universal USB Installer. The program interface is divided into 4 steps:

1. Select the distribution, specify the system you want to write.
2. Just find the image of the downloaded system and point the way to it.
3. Specify the medium that we will use (you can also format it).
4. Additional space on the media for the Live CD and the system test.

At boot time, make the PC boot from the flash drive. An installer appears, which prompts you to choose a direct installation 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 certain lifesaver in case the main system does not boot, and a tool is needed to restore access and fix problems. In this mode, you have access to all the features of the OS. There is an Internet connection, installation of any software. You can try everything, anything, to make sure that the system suits you and is pleasant.

Changes to the system are not saved, and as soon as you finish the session, all work will be deleted. And already installed on the computers will not suffer, as well as disk space. In the future, learn how to install Linux Mint 17.3.

Complete installation

If you eventually decided to install this system, you were sure that everything is ready - proceed with the installation. This process is extremely simple. First of all you have three options to choose from: the main one is to replace Windows, that is to completely erase the hard disk and install a new system. But for many it's important to keep this platform, so these users are wondering how to install Windows next to Linux Mint. You only need to allocate disk space using a disk utility or installer. Both systems perfectly cope with this task and have an intuitive interface of the disk utility.

There is another option for installing the Linux Mint system. How to install it using manual disk space configuration? This, in fact, for what it was necessary to create a 15-gigabyte space. Now it should be divided into 3 parts. The first one will be the user partition: leave the amount of memory about 8 gigabytes, and install the file system ext4. The second section is system. The latter is the swap file. If there is no need, you can ignore this item and leave the remaining space in the user partition.

Further 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 complicated work, it's very easy to further customize 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, which will tell you which drivers to install, and automates the configuration process.

In the new edition of the system, new widgets were added. Due to close integration with the system, the user can monitor the charge level of not only the computer, but also Bluetooth-equipment.

Dualism

One of the advantages that a user who decides to install Linux is the capabilities of one and the other system. Being in the Linux environment, you can continue to use Windows as the second OS, and also 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 application store. Simply enter the name of the program and load it.
• Through the terminal (which you in any case have to master at least at a basic level). Open the terminal and write: sudo add-apt-repository ppa: ubuntu-wine / ppa, after updating the list of packages sudo apt-get update, well, run 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 issues, but now you can take advantage of the most necessary, and in extreme cases - installed by a number of operating systems from Microsoft.

Required computer characteristics

Before starting the installation, you should consider a number of technical issues (any modern computer corresponds to them, there probably will not be problems).

• 512MB of RAM at least (1GB recommended for more comfortable working with the system).
• 9GB of disk space (20GB recommended).
• Graphic system with support for displays with a resolution of 800 x 600 (1024 × 768 recommended).
• DVD-drive to boot from the disk or USB-port to work 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 that are not ready to install on their Linux devices by default. Over time, this figure is increasing, there is more and more compatible equipment and programs. If earlier users were dissatisfied with the fact that Linux does not support their printer or can not configure the connection to the Internet, now there are no such problems. The driver catalog for Linux has grown.

Users are increasingly positive about Linux Mint and claim that it is much easier to use. Many prefer this system to the platform from Microsoft because of its security and beauty, as well as the availability of pre-installed software and no need to pay for software. The system is absolutely free and in no way inferior to older competitors. Even the gaming industry, which until recently was considered the weakest part of Linux, was backed up by Valve, which launched Steam on Linux, thereby increasing the number of fans of the system.