Linux Mint is one of the Best Linux Distributions out there, with an easy-to-use interface and tons of features, it is one of the Best Linux Distributions to install on a Desktop PC or Old Laptop.
So, let’s get installing Linux Mint!
Download Linux Mint
Head to https://www.linuxmint.com and click ‘Download’, scroll down to find the latest version (at the time of writing it is Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa), and click the download link for Cinnamon. Then select one of the links from the list which matches your area of the world. This will begin to download the image which is about 1.9GB.
Flash Linux Mint to USB Drive
Once it has finished downloading, you must download BalenaEtcher. BalenaEtcher is a free piece of software that allows you to easily flash operating systems to SD cards and USB Drives. Download BalenaEtcher from here. Once downloaded, run BalenaEtcher.
Run BalenaEtcher, select Flash From File and select the Linux Mint ISO you downloaded, then select a USB Drive (4GB in size or more), and click Flash.
Once it has finished flashing, remove you USB Drive from your computer.
Boot Into Linux Mint
Now, plug the USB Drive with Linux Mint into your Laptop or PC, make sure it is turned off first.
To Boot into Linux Mint, you must enter the BIOS of your Laptop and select the USB Drive. You must find which key your Laptop uses to enter the BIOS. Head here to find a list of all BIOS keys for Laptops.
Once you know the BIOS key, you must turn on the computer and instantly tap or hold the BIOS Key. For example, on my ACER Laptop, I must press the ESC key when it starts to enter the BIOS.
Then, once you have entered the BIOS, use the Arrow Keys and Enter to select the name of your USB Drive from the list. Now your Laptop will Boot into Linux Mint on the USB Drive. TIP: Use a USB 2.0 Port if you have one since 3.0 can glitch!
Install Linux Mint
Now you will Boot into Linux Mint! However, we are not done yet. At the moment you are running Linux Mint on the USB Drive in your computer, you need to install it though. To do this, click the Install Button on your Home Screen and Linux Mint will begin installing on your computer.
Once it is done, remove the USB Stick and Boot into Linux Mint! Now you are running Linux Mint on PC!
You can check out a list of the Best Linux Mint Apps 2021 here.
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