How to Install a Linux Distro on Your Windows Computer
Are you new to tech? Have you heard about Linux almost everywhere you visit online? What is Linux? Do you want to install Linux? Don’t worry! In this article, you will learn what Linux is, and I will give a step-by-step guide on installing a Linux distribution on your Windows computer without losing any of your important files.
What is Linux?
Linux is an open-source, Unix-like operating system that is developed by the community. It is capable of managing activities from multiple users simultaneously.
It is a very good alternative to popular operating systems like macOS and Windows, and it can be installed on any type of computer, including Raspberry Pi, servers, and more.
Linux is well-known for its stability, security, and flexibility. In this article, the installation method will be explained using a virtual machine, which is also known as virtualization.
What is a Virtual Machine?
A virtual machine is a software or a program installed on your computer to run another operating system. It is just like running another computer on your main computer, for example, running a Linux VM on Windows and vice versa. When the OS is installed within a virtual machine, it has its own operating system, applications, and files, making it run independently of the host computer.
Tools Needed:
- A PC — make sure your PC has at least 4 GB of RAM.
- Virtual machine software — I highly recommend VirtualBox. You can find the download link here: VirtualBox.
- The Linux ISO file — for this, I highly recommend Linux Mint. However, you can also try other ISOs like Debian, Ubuntu, and Arch Linux. But for this article, I’ll be using Linux Mint. You can download the Linux Mint ISO file from here: Linux Mint.
Now, let us get started.
- After downloading the virtual machine, as in our case, VirtualBox, install it.
2. Once you have installed the VirtualBox on your computer, open it.
3. After opening it, you should have something like what is above. Now, click New.
4. You will be prompted to name your virtual machine, as in my case below, I named mine Linux Mint.
5. Now, select the downloaded ISO file of Linux Mint.
6. Check the “Skip Unattended Installation” box as checked in the image above.
7. Now, click next. In this section, you can choose to select the memory you want it to take but I advise you leave it as default. Once done, click next.
8. At this stage, you'll be prompted to select a hard drive disk. Please note that the hard drive space you will be allowed here will be deducted from the hard drive disk of your main computer.
9. Once you have allotted the space, click next. Now, click finish.
10. At this point, you have successfully added the machine to your VirtualBox, all that is left is to start it up and install the ISO file.
11. Start the machine and follow due with the installation procedures. It is very straightforward. After everything, you should have something like this:
As in the diagram above, I have installed a Linux distro on my computer, it runs perfectly fine.
I am writing a bash script that contains what you need to know as a new Linux convert, kindly look forward to it.
