Linux has become one of the most reliable operating systems out there today. This open source OS has a wide variety of distributions They are available on the internet for free mostly.
This allows having an OS on the computer that adapts to the real needs of the userthus generating great acceptance in the world of technology.
One of the most prominent benefits of Linux is that it can run on PC with few technological resources. Therefore, it is ideal for those people who want to recover old computers that have become obsolete due to their technical limitations. In this article We will teach you how to install Linux on a newly formatted computer.
Why install Linux on a computer? Main benefits
Among the main benefits offered by installing Linux on a computer we can name the following:
- You can install Linux next to . In this way it is possible to combine these two types of OS and obtain a greater compatibility of resources. Especially in those software that Linux does not support. It will also allow users who are not so habitual to Linux to be able to incorporate the knowledge of this system without having to leave Windows abruptly.
- Being an open source OS, Linux presents a considerable robustness with respect to the vulnerabilities that are detected and corrected by the same users in a short time. A benefit related to the previous point is that is free. So you can access updates without having to pay a penny for patches.
- Offers greater stability in computer performancethus providing better reliability at the time of work.
- Has a significant number of distributions or “distros”Therefore, the operating system can be adapted to any computer that has few technical resources.
- According to the latter, we can also say that an advantage is have the option of repurposing an outdated computer for Windows and getting it to work properly with minimal resources. For example, you can run Linux with less than 1GB RAM.
Installation requirements What do I need to have Linux?
As we told you in the last points of the previous topic, one of the most outstanding benefits of Linux is being able to reuse an old desktop computer. This is due, in particular, to the requirements that this operating system needs to run.
We indicate below what are the requirements that Linux requires for its installation:
computer requirements
The computer requirements you will need are practically minimal. This is because you will be able to use Linux on a computer that has 1GB of RAM, with a 100 MB storage disk at least and a processor that is Pentium II either Intel Celeron 256MB RAM.
These resources that we name you are the minimum you need for distros in particular, such as “Puppy Linux”. But in case you want to access one with more applications, you should consider a little more technical requirements of the PC.
Choosing an OS distribution
One of the The most notable characteristics that Linux has is the number of distributions that exist on the market so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs.. You will be able to make your decision based on the amount of applications that can offer you and the level of necessary resources of the computer. Another way to choose a distro is by its interface, by the level of online support that you can have in different communities, by the ease of installation or by the level of difficulty they present in managing the OS.
Among the most important distros, we can highlight:
- ubuntu: Coming from the Debian architecture, it is intended especially for people who are just starting out with Linux. It is one of the most popular distributions.
- Manjaro: It is a distro aimed at users with more knowledge of the operating system, it belongs to the Arch Linux family.
- Raspbian: If you are a fan of the Raspberry Pi, you can find in this official distribution all the necessary packages for the proper functioning of video games and other applications.
- ArchLinux: This distribution is designed in the architecture of Ubuntu, and at the same time of Debian. It is ideal for users who are just starting out on the Linux path, since its desktop has interface similarities to Windows.
- Lubuntu: It is one of the lightest. It can be installed on computers with few resources and processors that today may be considered obsolete in other operating systems. Among the applications it uses, we can mention the OpenBox windows and the LXDE desktop.
- Puppy Linux: This is another distribution aimed at those computers that are a bit old and don’t have much resources.
- ZorinOS: It is a distro based on the Ubuntu family in which it provides a MacOS-like interface and is geared towards hacking activities. You will have to pay for this distribution around €14.
As there is a wide variety of distributions, We recommend that you visit the official pages of each one. This will allow you to know in more detail the technical requirements you need to obtain a better functioning of your equipment.
Boot USB with system
Before installing Linux, it is necessary to boot a USB to host the OS distribution on this device. and thus be able to install from the computer boot the chosen distro. The first thing you have to do is visit the website of the distribution you have chosen and download it in an ISO file.
Now you will have to download an app so you can “create bootable usb”. There are plenty of apps that you can use to do this job, but the most prominent of its kind is “rufus”.
Once you have found the latest version of Rufus, you will have to connect the USB to the computer and so you will have to choose in the field “Device” the name of the removable memory and then you will have to click on “Select”. You will see the name of the Linux distribution file formatted “.ISO”. You will have to choose the same, click on “Open” and then in “Start”.
Next, an intuitive procedure will appear where the system will ask you if you want Rufus to select a previous version to start syslinux. It will also tell you if you want to write in ISO image mode and then you will have to accept when it asks if you want to erase all the data on the USB.
Steps to install Linux on your newly formatted computer
We show you the necessary steps so that you can install the Linux OS on a recently formatted computer without errors:
Choose the Linux distribution
As we have already mentioned before, there are a large number of distros that you can use to install the operating system. You can choose this by:
- User’s Linux knowledge level. You should bear in mind that a person who is just starting out in the paths of this open source operating system is not the same as a user who already has some skill in command lines.
- Number of applications that you can find in each distribution. This has to do, especially, with the desktop environment, windows that will open, as well as specific functions according to the type of activity that is required.
- Target to install Linux. You will have to know if it is to take care of your privacy, use in hacking activities, on a Raspberry Pi, reuse an old computer or to carry out specific activities such as gaming, audio, streaming, etc.
In our case, as the objective is to give life to an obsolete computer, we will use “Lubuntu”.
Boot the USB
Once you have chosen the distribution, you will have to download it from the website of the distro and proceed to install on a USB device. You will do this with an image ISO format. Next, you will have to prepare the external memory to be able to connect it to the computer and thus install from the Linux boot.
To do this you will have to use Rufus and follow these steps:
- Connect the USB to the computer.
- Choose “Select”.
- Click on “Open”.
- Click on “Start”.
- Choose “Yes”.
- Activate the option “Write in ISO image mode (recommended)” and select “Okay”.
- To finish click on “To accept”.
start the computer
When you have connected the USB to your desktop computer, you will have to start it and then choose with the unit selector, which will depend on the Bios that the PC has, the memory where you have the Linux distro hosted. You must select by means of the directional arrows and to finish the process you will have to press “Enter”.
Configure Lubuntu
Once you have chosen the boot drive and clicking on Lubuntu, you will have to select language (F2) that you want to use in the configuration. Then you will have to click on the first option, “Start Lubuntu”. At this time, the OS will start via USB, you will see an executable file of the application on the desktop.
Install Linux on your computer
By clicking on the executable file, the system will welcome you to the Lubuntu installer. After choosing the language again, you must click on “Following”. Choose the location through the “Region” and the “Zone” which is preset. Once you have everything, and you must click on “Following” to choose the keyboard layout.
Now, you will have to go to the tab “partitions” and activate the third option, “Erase everything”. This will allow you to have only Linux as the operating system. You will have to press and again on “Following” to finish the installation of Lubuntu or any other distribution you have chosen on your computer.
What are the best tools I can install to maximize Linux?
Linux allows you to download applications with which you can maximize your OS. Next, we will show you tools that will increase the performance of your computer:
auto key
Designed for those users who use the keyboard frequently and want to assign them scripts and shortcuts to be able to speed up times in writing and other tasks. You can edit these commands at any time, since they are saved in Python without formatting and you will see them in pop-up windows. It is also useful for assigning shortcuts to tasks that you can perform with mouse.
Blender
You will be able to use this function with the greatest peace of mind that you can, since It has an open source development Therefore, the weaknesses that this software presents are corrected by many users, allowing their level of experience to be really outstanding.
It is a free software and it is not only available for Linux but also on Windows and MacOS. Create 3D graphics and edit videos with very simple steps. It is ideal for architecture designs and also game development. It has different tools with which you can customize it and thus save time in the controls.
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