Table of Contents
Overview
Installing Linux is the process of taking the Linux operating system from an image file and placing it onto a computer or virtual machine so it can boot and run by itself. At a high level, you download an installation image, prepare some kind of install medium, start the computer from that medium, then follow an installer that writes Linux to a disk and sets up a basic system.
This chapter gives you the big picture of installation, what decisions you will have to make, and what to expect on screen, without going deeply into the specific topics that are covered by their own chapters, such as creating a bootable USB, partitioning, or installing inside a virtual machine.
What you need before you start
Before you can install Linux, you need an installation image of a specific Linux distribution. This image is usually an .iso file that you download from the official website of the distribution, for example Ubuntu or Fedora.
You should verify that your computer meets the minimum requirements given by the distribution. These include a supported processor, enough RAM, and enough disk space for the system and your files. Many installers will also list recommended requirements, which are higher and lead to smoother performance, especially on graphical desktops.
Most modern Linux systems are installed on 64 bit hardware. If your computer is very old, you may need to check whether the distribution still provides a 32 bit version. You also need a way to boot from the installation medium, typically a USB port for a flash drive or an optical drive if you still use DVDs.
Finally, you should decide whether you will install Linux alone on the machine, install it alongside another operating system such as Windows, or install it into a virtual machine. This decision affects how you handle the disk and how you boot the system later. The separate chapters on dual booting and virtual machines address those specific cases.
Understanding the installer workflow
Most mainstream distributions provide a graphical installer that guides you through installation step by step. The installer runs from the medium you created, typically a USB stick. Some distributions first load a live session, which is a temporary Linux system that runs from the USB without changing your disk, then offer an Install icon on the desktop to start the installer.
Although installers differ in appearance, they usually follow a very similar sequence of steps.
You select a language for the installer and for the installed system. You may also choose a keyboard layout at this stage so that keys work as you expect. Time zone selection then sets the system clock and default regional settings such as date formats.
Some installers ask whether you want to try the system or install it right away. Trying the system runs a live session where you can test hardware support, such as network and graphics, before making any permanent changes. This is often the safest way for beginners to verify that Linux works reasonably well on their machine.
Next, the installer detects your disks and asks how you want to use them. This is where you decide whether to erase a disk and use it only for Linux, install alongside another operating system, or choose a custom layout. The concept of partitions, and the roles of root, home, and swap, are introduced more deeply in the dedicated partitioning and related subchapters. Here, it is enough to understand that the installer needs to know where on the disk to place Linux.
During this process, many installers can automatically handle the most common cases. For example, they can shrink an existing Windows partition to make room, or they can automatically create a suitable layout when you choose to erase an entire disk. Advanced users can choose manual or custom partitioning to define details such as filesystem types and mount points.
After disk settings, the installer usually prompts you to create a user account. You choose a full name, a username, and a password. You may also select whether this user can perform administrative tasks using tools like sudo. The installer can also let you set the computer name that will identify the machine on a local network.
Once these steps are complete, the installer copies files from the image to the target partitions, installs a bootloader so that the computer can start Linux, and performs configuration tasks in the background. This copy process is often the longest single stage, but it is automatic. When it ends, you are prompted to restart into your new Linux system.
BIOS, UEFI, and booting the installer
To run an installer you must boot the computer from the installation medium instead of from the existing operating system on the disk. Modern computers have firmware that can be either BIOS-style or UEFI-based. Both provide a boot menu where you can choose which device to start from.
At the simplest level, you insert your prepared USB stick, power on the machine, and press a special key such as F12, F2, Esc, or Del to enter the boot menu or firmware settings. The exact key depends on the computer vendor. From there, you tell the system to boot from the USB device.
Some systems may require you to adjust firmware options such as Secure Boot or boot order. Many modern distributions can install and run with Secure Boot enabled, but if you encounter a failure to start the installer, you may need to check these firmware settings. The detailed procedures are very specific to each computer model and are usually described in the documentation for the machine or the distribution.
Once the firmware hands control to the installer, you will see an installation menu or splash screen, then the graphical or text installer begins.
Choosing automatic vs manual options
Installers often offer both automatic and manual options for disk usage and other settings. For beginners installing Linux on a computer that will not share the disk with another system, choosing an automatic option like “Erase disk and install” is usually simplest. This lets the installer handle details such as how many partitions to create and which filesystem to use.
If you need a more complex arrangement, for example separate partitions for different directories or a dual-boot with Windows, you will choose a more manual path. The partitioning and dual boot chapters explain these advanced uses. For this chapter, the main point is that the installer can be either very simple or quite flexible, depending on what you choose.
The same pattern appears in other choices. For instance, you can often use default settings for things like bootloader installation or choose custom devices and flags if you have specific needs. When learning Linux for the first time, using defaults wherever practical reduces mistakes and gives you a working system more reliably.
For an installation on real hardware, any option that erases or reformats a disk will permanently delete all data on that disk. Always back up important files before installing and carefully read any warning screens that mention data loss.
Common installation environments
Linux can be installed in several different environments, each with its own purpose. Installing on real hardware gives you a dedicated Linux machine that uses the full power of your computer. This is ideal when you want Linux as your main operating system.
Dual booting allows Linux to coexist with another operating system, such as Windows, on the same physical machine. At startup you choose which system to launch. This is useful if you still need software that only runs on the other operating system or if you are not ready to move fully to Linux.
Installing Linux in a virtual machine means creating a simulated computer inside another operating system. Linux runs inside a window and uses virtual hardware. This is especially good for learning because you can experiment freely without affecting the host system. It is also easy to take snapshots and revert if something goes wrong.
Although these environments use the same installation images, the details of how you start the installer and how you handle the disk differ. Later subchapters guide you through those specific cases.
Installer user accounts and security basics
During installation you usually create at least one user account. This account is what you will use to log in after the installation completes. The installer asks you to choose a strong password. For a secure system, the password should be hard to guess and not reused from other services.
Some distributions ask whether the user can perform administrative tasks. If you allow this, the user can use tools such as sudo to run commands with administrator privileges when needed. If you deny this, you may need to use a separate root account or adjust settings later. For a personal machine, granting yourself administrative rights through a tool like sudo is the normal choice, as long as you use it carefully.
You may also see options such as automatic login, where the system logs in to your account without asking for a password at startup. Although this is convenient, it reduces security, especially on laptops that you carry outside your home. You should consider the physical security of the device before enabling automatic login.
After the installation finishes
When the installer completes and you reboot, your machine should load a boot menu or directly enter your new Linux system. The very first boot may take a little longer as the system finalizes some settings.
On first login, many distributions present a welcome screen or a setup wizard. You may be guided through connecting to a network, enabling third party drivers or codecs, and applying the first set of updates. It is very common that a fresh installation will need to download updates, because the image you installed from was created earlier.
From this point, you move into the next phase of your Linux journey. You will learn how to manage your desktop environment, keep the system updated, install applications, and set up hardware like printers and graphics. The dedicated chapter on first steps after installation explores these tasks.
Conceptual summary
Installing Linux involves a predictable sequence: obtain the installation image, prepare an install medium, boot from it using the system firmware, follow an installer that collects choices about language, time zone, disk usage, and user accounts, then wait while files are copied and the bootloader is configured. When it is done, you reboot into a self contained Linux system that you can use and customize.
Although the details and appearance of each distribution’s installer differ, the core ideas remain the same. Once you understand this general pattern, you can approach any Linux installation with confidence and focus on the particular environment you choose, such as real hardware, dual boot, or a virtual machine, which will be covered in the following subchapters.