Installation help for a noob... SOLVED

[Charlie Day]

I want to make the switch to Linux Mint.

I currently have a netbook with Windows on it. I dont want to have dual OS's. I want Windows wiped from the computer.

Can someone please direct me to or list a quick step by step for dummies on how to do this? I consider myself computer savvy enough to learn quickly so hopefully this wont be too painful for anyone helping me out.


I have no external cd drive but I do have an external HD at my disposal.

The idea I have in my head, is that I can download the Linux installation files onto the Ext HD, and then somehow reformat the netbook, get rid of Windows, and then install/boot Linux Mint from the Ext HD?

Any help is appreciated. Sorry if this topic has been covered before, but Ive done a few searches on this forum and on Goggle and havent found both an explanation of the process I understand nor my exact scenario.

Thank you.

[Aging Technogeek]

You do not need to reformat the drive or wipe Windows before installation. The installer has an option to use the entire drive. This will format the drive to ext4, erasing Windows in the process, and install Mint, automatically creating the necessary partitions.

For a netbook with no DVD drive, your best bet for an installation is a USB flash drive (2 GB will be large enough). Use an app like Unetbootin or Pendrive Linux to copy the ISO file onto the flash drive.

Insert the flash drive in a handy USB port on the netbook and turn on the power. While the mfgr's logo is on screen, press the proper button to open the boot menu and select the flash drive as first choice for boot.

The drive should boot to what is known as a live desktop. This is Mint running from the flash drive. You can try all of your hardware to make sure it all works (wifi, touchpad, etc) before you go ahead with the installation.

When you decide to install Mint, just double click the "Install Linux Mint" icon to start the installer. Answer the few set up questions, choose "Install to entire drive" and sit back for 8-12 minutes while the installer does its thing.

After the installation is complete, you will be prompted to restart the computer. Follow the directions on screen about removing the flash drive and pressing "Enter", let the restart proceed, and begin enjoying Mint

[Charlie Day]

So by "installing to entire drive" I will have gotten rid of Windows? Awesome. Thankyou for your help.

So I think the process sounds easy enough but I still have a couple questions...

- for getting the ISO file I simply go to the Mint website and download from the DVD 64bit link? I download it to my netbooks HD I presume.

- Must I use a USB flash drive? Is speed/time the only advantage to the flash drive?

- Im unsure on the Unebootin/Pendrive part of the process... can you walk me thru how that works? Im assuming I download the pendrive software from their site, and I should download it to my Windows running netbook? And then what? Do I use it to somehow copy the Linux Mint file (that would theoretically be sitting on my netbook HD as well) to the flash drive (or in my case Ext HD)?

Thanx

[animaguy]

Some people may disagree with me but I recommend using a DVD/RW for iso burning. They are cheap. They can be erased easily and used again.

[Charlie Day]

Some people may disagree with me but I recommend using a DVD/RW for iso burning. They are cheap. They can be erased easily and used again.

Im currently on the road. 3 weeks before I will be back home where I have USB flash drives I could use. Im not able to buy nor do I really need an external CD drive. Im in a pretty remote part of Europe so Im just trying to make do with what I got.

[Aging Technogeek]

It is difficult to install from an external hard drive due to the presence(usually) of other files on the drive. If you have a blank drive (or one you do not mind erasing) it would be simpler. A flash drive is really the best way to go for a netbook or other computer that does not have an internal CD/DVD drive.

I am assuming from your posts that you will be downloading the iISO and creating the install medium in Windows. I am not familiar with either Unetbootin for Windows or Pendrive Linux since I did not start using flash drives for installation until I was running only Linux. Unetbootin for Windows should be similar to Linux, but there is enough room for variation that I do not want to give you step by step instructions and maybe cause a failed installation.

Someone who is familiar with creating bootable flash drives in Windows will hopefully read this and respond.

[Charlie Day]

It is difficult to install from an external hard drive due to the presence(usually) of other files on the drive. If you have a blank drive (or one you do not mind erasing) it would be simpler. A flash drive is really the best way to go for a netbook or other computer that does not have an internal CD/DVD drive.

I am assuming from your posts that you will be downloading the iISO and creating the install medium in Windows. I am not familiar with either Unetbootin for Windows or Pendrive Linux since I did not start using flash drives for installation until I was running only Linux. Unetbootin for Windows should be similar to Linux, but there is enough room for variation that I do not want to give you step by step instructions and maybe cause a failed installation.

Someone who is familiar with creating bootable flash drives in Windows will hopefully read this and respond.

Thanks for the advice. Now I understand why the Ext HD wont work.


Your assumptions are right about downloading the ISO, but Im still not sure how that process really works. I dont know what "creating the install medium" entails or what that function does exactly.

I have to use Unebootin if Im downloading to Windows and Pendrive if my computer is already running Linux?

Since the netbook is running Windows, Im assuming I have to use Unebootin. I download the ISO, and then Unebootin "creates the install medium" on the flash drive. And then I restart the computer and go thru the Linux install process.

Once that has happened then Windows will be wiped from my computer since I will have "installed to the entire drive" and then the Unebootin Windows based install medium should no longer work for the future right? I will then need to download the Pendrive Linux flash stuff if I want to have a Linux based install medium for potential future use?


At this point, I understand the need for a flash drive and I understand the actual boot/installation process. Its this Unebootin install medium stuff in the middle that I still need a walk-thru on.

[Aging Technogeek]

Actually, Unetbootin was originally a Linux app that was ported to Windows while Pendrive Linux is a Windows only application. Either works well for your purpose and both are free for download off their respective websites.

Both websites include usage instructions (personally, I think the Unetbootin instructions are more straightforward and easy to follow, but check both and make your own choice)

Unetbootin
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Pendrive Linux
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

[Charlie Day]

Actually, Unetbootin was originally a Linux app that was ported to Windows while Pendrive Linux is a Windows only application. Either works well for your purpose and both are free for download off their respective websites.

Both websites include usage instructions (personally, I think the Unetbootin instructions are more straightforward and easy to follow, but check both and make your own choice)

Unetbootin
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Pendrive Linux
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

Ok, excellent help. Thankyou.

It definitely seems like the Unebootin is a much easier walk-thru. So if I understand the process correctly...

1. Download Unebootin (for Windows)
2. Download the LinuxMint 12 ISO file (DVD 64bit right?)

Does it matter where I download either one of these files too?

3. Create the Bootable Live USB Drive with Unebootin by using the ISO file that Ive already downloaded (diskimage option) (set to USB drive as install target)
4. Restart computer and get to the BIOS screen and then change boot option to boot by USB
5. "Live desktop" will be going, use this time to check hardware
6. Click "Install Linux Mint" icon

Then the Linux installation process should begin correct? At this point i will "install to entire drive" in order to get rid of Windows?

7. Remove flash drive per instructions
8. Restart computer

[Aging Technogeek]

You seem to have it all under control. Just follow the steps as you have listed them and it should work fine. If you run into any more problems, don't hesitate to ask for help.

BTW,
If you are away from home and have only the one computer available, I would not recommend trying a change of Operating Systems. Especially if the computer is required for work.

I would say wait until you get home and have a backup system just in case something bad happens. You would not want to be left with an unusable computer.

Even if all goes well, there is a learning curve you will have to get through . Mint is easy to use, but it is not Windows. Many things are done differently. If you are using your computer for work, I would advise putting Mont on a second computer until you have (somewhat) mastered the differences, then replacing Windows on your work box.

[Charlie Day]

You seem to have it all under control. Just follow the steps as you have listed them and it should work fine. If you run into any more problems, don't hesitate to ask for help.

Excellent. Thanks for your help.

As I said earlier, my questions would be ignorant at first but now that I understand the process I feel confident that I can pull this off.

BTW,
If you are away from home and have only the one computer available, I would not recommend trying a change of Operating Systems. Especially if the computer is required for work.

I would say wait until you get home and have a backup system just in case something bad happens. You would not want to be left with an unusable computer.

Even if all goes well, there is a learning curve you will have to get through . Mint is easy to use, but it is not Windows. Many things are done differently. If you are using your computer for work, I would advise putting Mont on a second computer until you have (somewhat) mastered the differences, then replacing Windows on your work box.

The computer is not required for work. It's mainly a computer that I use for the internet. It was my primary computer but Ive recently picked up a Macbook and that is the computer that is strictly work related so I dont mind the learning curve while Im on the road. Playing with this new OS will help me kill some time.

[Charlie Day]

OK, I just started to try and get a head start on downloading everything and encountered my first road block...

I went to http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=95 to download Mint 12 and Im now looking at "torrents" & "download mirrors"

I have no idea what Im looking at or what to do next.

[n1sh1k4ze]

"Download Mirrors" is for direct download using download manager software. Find the nearest mirror to you, and click the hyperlink.

While a torrent is data about a target file, though it contains no information about the content of the file. You'll need software like BItComet, uTorrent, or BIt Torrent to download the ISO.

[Charlie Day]

"Download Mirrors" is for direct download using download manager software. Find the nearest mirror to you, and click the hyperlink.

While a torrent is data about a target file, though it contains no information about the content of the file. You'll need software like BItComet, uTorrent, or BIt Torrent to download the ISO.

Im in Portugal, but I downloaded the Download Mirror from the USA to ensure that it was in English. Im not sure if that was the right thing to do or not.

I downloaded the torrent link from the Mint download page. Im still unsure what Im supposed to do with it. Basically, what Im saying is that I got three files now downloaded to my netbook (unebootin, the torrent, and the mirror) and while I know what Im supposed to do with the unebootin file, I have not a clue what to do with the torrent or mirror still much less what exactly they are or purpose they serve. I thought I was going to be able to download the ISO from the Mint page. In fact, I think I did but now Im not so sure.

I know you have tried to define them but when you start talking "target files" you lose me. What is "download manager software"? And now I need additional torrent software in order to download the ISO?

Im just at a stage of total confusion right now considering I listed the steps of the process as I understood them, and was told that I was ready to roll. But now these torrents and mirror terms pop up out of nowhere and Im kinda thrown for a loop.

[n1sh1k4ze]

You've downloaded the file from one of the America mirror? Please make sure that the file you downloaded is around 1 GB. If it is, then you'll set to make the USB startup disc using Unetbootin and the 1 GB file you've just downloaded.

[Charlie Day]

You've downloaded the file from one of the America mirror? Please make sure that the file you downloaded is around 1 GB. If it is, then you'll set to make the USB startup disc using Unetbootin and the 1 GB file you've just downloaded.

Yeah it was just over 1 GB

So the Download Mirror is just a location Im downloading from?

What do I do with the file I downloaded from the Torrent link?

[alljokingaside]

Hey all,

Planning a clean install, wiping Vista from my old laptop, via USB. I've used pendrive and gotten to the GUI. When I try to execute "Install Linux Mint", it initially flashed the message-

"Granted permissions without asking for password // The 'usr/bin/live-installer' program was started with the privileges of the root user w/o the need to ask ....This is not a problem report; it's simply a notification to make sure you are aware of this."

Nothing happens afterwards.

When attempting to "Open as Admin", I keep on getting asked for the admin password. Obviously, I have no idea what this is. I went into Control Panel->Users and Groups and set the password for Mint. I didn't think that this'd do much, but it was worth a try, I thought. I thought wrongly.

So, my question is how hard should I kick my laptop/pendrive to make it work? I suppose the next question is how to make it work w/o bashing it in

[Charlie Day]

Install has about 3 minutes left in it.

So far when playing around with Mint prior to the install, I can say Im very happy I switched.


Thankyou to all that helped me.


Im kinda interested now in learning how to boot from a flash drive so that my OS/computer is basically as mobile as a USB stick.

[Charlie Day]

Anyone know how to get Skype installed on Linux Mint 12? Im having a princess of a time.


Also, can anyone recommend a good IP hiding program?


And one other question... should I have installed the 32 or 64 bit version of Mint 12? What is the difference?

[Charlie Day]

OK, Im having all sorts of issues.


1. I decided I should have installed the 32 bit version. So my plan was to re-install Linux Mint 12 via my USB flash drive just as I did before. So I went and downloaded the UNebootin for Linux. But every time I try to run it, I get a message that says that there is no app for running executable files.

How do I run UNebootin for Linux?

Im going to install Pendrive now and maybe that will fix things.


2. How do I reformat a USB key in Linux? With Windows its as simple as right-clicking. I cant seem to find any help searching the net.

3. How do I get Skype to work? Ive tried installing it with the Software Manager and I get nothing. All other apps have installed perfectly.

4. And on top of it all, my screen keeps fading in and out. Any idea why?


Thankyou. Hopefully someone helps me out or maybe I'll start a new thread to get some new feedback.