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Test live and/or install a LINUX distro on a WINDOWS 7, 8 of 8.1 computer.
STEP 1: Go to http://distrowatch.com/
STEP 2: if necessary, select the language on the top of the page (red rectangle on the image below).
STEP 3: Click on Search
STEP 4: Fill in the first part of the Search by Distribution Criteria (Simple Search Form) part
First, select Linux near OS Type
If you are a newbie it's better and easier to select Beginners in the Distribution category like shown in the red
rectangle above.
STEP 5: Now click on the Submit Query button below.
Scroll down and 23 distros will appear. Below you can view only the first five.
We recommend to select one of the first three distros AS LONG AS YOUR COMPUTER COMPLY TO THE
REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED ON THE NEXT PAGE. Otherwise select Old Computers near Distribution category
and then click on the Submit Query button.
All these distro's can run on a 32-bit system type as on a 64-bit system type as well. IT IS NECESSARY TO SELECT
THE RIGHT ONE (32-bit) or (64-bit) BEFORE DOWLOADING. (See further for more help).
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Requirements
Memory
Available Space on Hard Disk
Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa*
Minimum 2Gb (4Gb recommended)
30Gb recommended
Ubuntu 14.04.02*
Minimum 2Gb (3Gb recommended)
30Gb recommended
Elementary OS – Freya*
Minimum 1,5Gb (2Gb recommended)
* Recommended distros (see further)
30Gb recommended
STEP 6: Now click on one of the first three distro's. e.g. Linux Mint. The method described below yields for the
other distro's.
To learn more, click on the links.
STEP 7: Click on the link of the Home Page http://linuxmint.com/
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STEP 8: Click in the menu on Download
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STEP 9: Click under Download links on Cinnamon 32-bit or Cinnamon 64-bit according to the system type
installed on your computer.
TIP : how to know if your system type is a 32 bit or a 64 bit ?
For Windows 7 proceed as indicated below :
Click on the START button, then clik on Computer or This PC or the “name” of your computer.
Right-click in the white part of the screen that opened and then click on Properties.
Search for the line System type to check if your computer uses a 32-bit or a 64-bit Operating System.
Once you are sure of the system type, go to step 10.
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For Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 proceed as indicated below :
Press the Windows key to open the Start screen if you are not already there. Under Utilities, right-click
Computer.
In the menu that appears at the bottom of the screen, left-click Properties.
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Search for the line System type to check if your computer uses a 32-bit or a 64-bit Operating System.
Once you are sure of the system type, go to step 10.
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STEP 10: After clicking on the right item to select, like explained before, the next screen will appear:
Copy the code near MD5 with the Copy function (after right-clicking) or with the Ctrl-C key combination and
Paste this by using the Paste function (after right-clicking) or with the Ctrl-V key combination in a text file, by
using e.g. Notepad or Word. Save this file as e.g. Linux Mint Cinnamon 17.3 MD5 on a easy to find location on
your Computer (on your desktop or in a new folder named e.g. LINUX MINT). This will be useful afterwoods to
check whether the download happened correctly or not.
Scroll down and select a Continent and a Country to download from the MIRROR: click on it in the column
MIRROR and the download will begin!
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STEP 11: You will find the downloaded “ISO-file” in the Downloads folder, on your Computer.
Now go to http://winmd5.com/ and download WinMD5 Freeware Download for free.
Go to the t Downloads folder and open the ZIP or RAR file Winmd5free. Execute the WinMD5.exe by doubleclicking on it.
Click on Browse and go to the Downloads folder in order to select the linuxmint-17-2-cinnamon-64bit.iso (of
linuxmint-17-2-cinnamon-32bit.iso) file.
WinMD5free will now automatically check the Current file MD5 checksum value.
Open the text file with the MD5 checksum (copied from the linuxmint.com website) that you saved on your
Computer. Copy and paste the saved checksum in the box“paste its original md5 value to verify”. Then click on
Verify.
Important notice for the future : With LINUX the MD5 checksum tool is a build-in function. You do
not need any software to check it !
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STEP 12: In this step we will explain how to create a bootable USB flash drive containing LINUX Mint Cinnamon
17.3 in order to proceed easily to the installation.
Further, under STEP 15, we explain how to create a bootable DVD. If you plan NOT TO USE a USB flash drive, go
to step 15.
Go to the website https://rufus.akeo.ie/ and download RUFUS 2.2 (808 kB) for free.
Read the web page carefully and follow the simple instructions for the installation of RUFUS 2.2.
Important notice for the future : With LINUX the bootable USB tool is a build-in function. You do not
need any software to create it !
STEP 13: Connect a empty USB of at least 2Gb to your Computer.
Go to dowloads en dubble click on the file rufus-2.2
Make choices as explained below
Device: select the to the Computer connected USB flashdrive
Partition: select BIOS and UEFI
Filesystem: select FAT32
Check the Create a bootable disk using and select ISO-image
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Click now on the icon
to browse for the linuxmint-17-3-cinnamon-64bit.iso (or linuxmint-17-2-
cinnamon-32bit.iso) file.
Click now on Start. Wait until the process is completed.
YOUR USB FLASH DRIVE IS NOW BOOTABLE AND CONTAINS LINUX MINT 17.3 CINNAMON 64Bit (or 32bit).
STEP 14: Check if yor Computer can and/or will boot on a USB flash drive.
Do this, if you don't know how to check it:
A. Reboot your Computer
B. Go to the BIOS/UEFI by using the “DEL” key or the key specified in your Computer User's manual.
C. Move to the Boot Options by using the arrow key to the right. Change the Boot sequence so that USB
appears as the first boot. You can check now if CD/DVD appears as the second boot and if your hard drive
appears as third. That's the best order to keep.
Also check if USB Legacy is 'Activated' (or stands on 'Automatic). Otherwise, select one of those two options.
D. Now use the F10-key in order to save the changes. Select Yes to save the changes when asked for.
IF YOU ARE READY WITH THIS GO TO STEP 17
STEP 15: In this step we will explain how to create a bootable DVD containing LINUX Mint Cinnamon 17.3 in
order to proceed easily to the installation.
Take a new DVD-R, (we recommend a DVD-R instead of a DVD-RW (re-writable)) and put it into your Computer.
Go to the folder Downloads and right-click on the linuxmint-17-3-cinnamon-64bit.iso(or linuxmint-17-3cinnamon-32bit.iso) file.
Click on Burn disc image and follow the simple
instructions.
When the process is completed,
YOUR DVD IS NOW BOOTABLE AND CONTAINS LINUX
MINT 17.3 CINNAMON 64Bit (or 32bit).
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STEP 16: Check if your Computer can and/or will boot on a DVD.
Do this, if you don't know how to check it:
A. Reboot your Computer
B. Go to the BIOS/UEFI by using the “DEL” key or the key specified in your Computer User's manual.
C. Move to the Boot Options by using the arrow key to the right. Change the Boot sequence so that DVD
appears as the first boot.
D. Now use the F10-key in order to save the changes. Select Yes to save the changes when asked for.
STEP 17: Wait now untill Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon is ready to use. This can take several minutes. Why is this
so long ? Because the LINUX Operating system has to run on a USB or a DVD exactly like WINDOWS runs on
your hard drive !
CONGRATULATIONS !
Now you can explore this new Operating system AS IF it were installed on your Computer (even if it isn't).
Take your time and enjoy !
Of Course this Operating system will run slower than when installed on a hard drive. So be patient after clicking
on an item. The response time will of course also depend of the “speed” (RAM Memory) of your Computer.
STEP-18: IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO READ, about the installation of a LINUX distro on your Computer
There are different ways to install a LINUX distro on your Computer.
You can install LINUX by replacing your actual WINDOWS Operating system BUT WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND
NOT TO DO THIS UNTILL YOU UNDERSTAND A MUMM OF LINUX AND NOT BEFORE YOU HAVE CORRECTLY
SAVE ALL YOUR DATA AND PRECIOUS INFORMATION !!!!!.
YOU CAN INSTALL LINUX ALONGSIDE WINDOWS, THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR BEGINNERS !!!.
BEFORE INSTALLING, READ THIS CAREFULLY:
After installing LINUX properly alongside WINDOWS and restarting your Computer, you will see somethinhg
new appearing on your screen: the GRUB.
GRUB stands for GRand Unified Bootloader. The GRUB shows a menu with the next possibilities:
– starting up different Operations Systems like WINDOWS and LINUX
– testing the memory of your Computer (to detect possibles issues)
– going back to previous installed versions of the different installed Operating Systems
– going to the BIOS/UEFI
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If the GRUB does not show up after restarting your Computer and LINUX starts immediately (in other words,
you cannot choose between Windows and Linux, do not panic: reboot your Computer and keep the Shift key
down immediately after the BIOS/UEFI was shown (even briefly).
These are possible illustrations of the GRUB (you need to install a specified package to make the GRUB looks
like the second example)
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STEP 19: Install LINUX MINT 17.3 CINNAMON alongside WINDOWS on your Computer
Look for the icon Install Linux Mint on the desktop
Dubble click on this icon and follow the instructions carefully like described in the user guide (see page 12) that
you will find on the first link below.
To help you, please use the next links
http://www.linuxmint.com/documentation.php : with this link you can download (and maybe print) the user
guide.
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/mint-cinnamon-first : this link provides simple instructions
about the most important things to do after installing LINUX MINT. You can either follow these einstructions OR
follow OUR instructions further in this document.
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STEP 20: Please, after installing LINUX Mint 17.3 Cinnamon follow the instructions below:
– click on the second link given on previous page under STEP 19
OR
– read and apply the INSTRUCTIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS of ALTERNATIVE COMPUTING STUFF
1. Open a terminal (there are different ways to do this)
Click on this icon in the panel
(beneath the screen)
Or, click on this icon after opening
the menu
Or, use the key combination
Ctrl + Alt + T
Copy sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade and paste this into the terminal using the right-click and
clicking on paste. Be careful to copy only the blue text!
You will see something like this
Type your password. You will notice that the cursor will NOT move! This is absolutely normal. It is wanted like
this for security reasons. Then use the Enter key and wait until Linux has everything installed. DO NOT
INTERRUPT THIS until username@computername ~ $ appears again
Now copy sudo apt-get install linux-firmware-non free and paste this into the terminal using the right-click and
clicking on paste. Be careful to copy only the blue text! DO NOT INTERRUPT THIS until
username@computername ~ $ appears again
Close the terminal by clicking on the X of exit.
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Click on the MENU button OR on the SUPER key
keyboard and click then on this button
(that's the WINDOWS key with the flag) on your
Now click on RESTART
After the computer is restarted, it is ready to use.
2. Recommendations
There are a few important things we strongly recommend to change.
– swappiness (read more about this on the web)
Open a terminal, copy and paste sudo apt-get install gksu leafpad into the terminal.
This will install two packages: gksu and leafpad. If these packages are already installed, Linuw will tell you !
Copy and paste gksudo leafpad /etc/sysctl.conf into the terminal
This will open a configuration file. Scroll down to the last line (if necessary).
Copy and paste the following lines under the last # sign
# Decrease swap usage to a more reasonable level
vm.swappiness=10
The first line is a comment: that's the reason why it's beginning with a # sign.
The second line is a instruction.
Save the file en close it.
– hide hibernation (hibernation will probably never been used and may cause problems by clicking on it by
mistake)
Copy and paste sudo mv -v /etc/polkit-1/localauthority/50-local.d/com.ubuntu.enable-hibernate.pkla / into the
terminal
This will hide Hibernate in the session window.
Restart the Computer
Open a terminal and check the swappiness by copying and pasting cat /proc/sys/vm/swappiness into the
terminal.
Now you should read 10.
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Close the terminal.
STEP 21: important
If you want to install software packages and/or customize your desktop and /or check the settings, you have
three alternatives:
1° Make use of the Linux sites, the forums and the chat.
2° Ask for help on [email protected] and we will help you by providing you accurate information or by
helping you directly on your computer using Team Viewer. See the instructions on the nexpt page to install
Team Viewer under Linux.
3° Subscribe to our training courses. You will find more information on our website.
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How to install TEAM VIEWER on a linux distro
A LTTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LINUX SOFTWARE:
You can download and install software packages from the Software Center. These packages are officially
supported by LINUX. For example, there are more than 45.000 packages for LINUX MINT.
Alongside the official packages, you also can download PPA's (Personal Package Archives). These are not
officially supported what does not mean that they are not supported by their authors.
Finally you can download commercial packages, free or not. These packages are neither supported by the
LINUX Community, what does not mean that they are not supported by their authors.
For example: Team Viewer.
Team Viewer is commercial but free. It is reliable.
Proceed as indicated below:
Go to https://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx?
pid=google.tv_exact.s.int&gclid=CPv67OGu2MYCFc7HtAodFaQEMg
Click on downloads and then on all downloads.
Click on Linux
Click under Ubuntu, Debian on the button Download deb v11………..
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Download the file.
In Firefox Mozilla, your default browser, that opened after clicking on the link, you will see a white down arrow
on the right top of the screen. This arrow will become bigger and blue once the file is downloaded.
Now click on the arrow or go the the Downloads folder.
Right-click on the teamviewer_…..._.deb file and select Open with Gdebi Package Installer.
Follow the instructions.
After completion, open the Menu on your desktop en type the word team in the search box.
Open TeamViewer.
Follow the instructions.
You can put TeamViewer on your desktop by right-clicking on it in the Menu and by choosing Add to desktop.
Success and enjoy your Linux distro!
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