The FIRST Question: How do I install LINUX?

From GLUG-BOM

1 How do I install Linux?
2 The Answer

How do I install Linux?

Often, any person who is introduced to Linux (GNU, FOSS) or 'free' software, he will put up this question. Perhaps, this is a fundamental question.

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The Answer

There are a few steps before you actually start installing Linux. I list them down below. They are in no means exhaustive or possibly complete, but a good indication of it.

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Know / Check your Hardware

You will need to know your hardware specifically.

Your Processor (e.g. Intel Pentium IV or AMD Athlon 3200+)

Your Motherboard make (Intel 845 / 915 / 945 / 965 or MSI or Gigabit or ASUS)

Your chipset information for audio / video (Intel 845 chipset / SiS chipset / NVidia for video etc.)

Your additional hardware such as Printer, Webcam, Digital Camera, iPod etc. that you have (list them)

Your Primary Memory or RAM (256 MB / 512 MB) and its type DDR 1 / DDR 2 etc.

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Use a LIVE CD to probe functionality

Once you have known your hardware, a local Linux user should be able to help you figure out the right Linux-based-OS to try. In other words, you could ask for "Ubuntu/Kubuntu Linux" or "Knoppix" from you local Linux-helper and use it as a LIVE CD to identify if that supports your hardware very well.

How do you know your hardware is compatible? After you boot in, you just need to check, if that hardware works. Experiment a little with the in-house apps in the LIVE CD.

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Linux-based-OS selected?

Once you have determined that the LIVE CD you tried works with almost all your hardware, you can go ahead an install it. However, if you already have Windows installed, you'll need to refer to the next step. If you don't have Windows installed, and have a blank new Hard disk, you can skip the next step.

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I have Windows installed! Can I install Linux keeping the Windows installation intact?

Yes and No. Yes, if you are careful; No, if you blindly hit "Next" as you would do for most Windows application installation.

Here is what you will have to do in order to keep your existing windows installation intact and dual-boot with a Linux-based-OS.

Assuming, you have few drives already partitioned and formatted with NTFS / FAT 32 partitions, you will need to dedicate one partition completely for Linux. Minimum recommended is 8 GB assuming you will install additional software according to your usage.

Now, there is primary partition and there are logical partitions within one extended partition. If you don't quite know about this or understand this, often D:\ and further ones are logical and C: is usually primary.

What you essentially need to do is empty one such drive which may be greater than or equal 8 GB in size and install Linux on that partition.

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I have a drive formatted with FAT32 and no data on it. How do I install?

Fantastic! This drive with no data is ideal for you to install Linux. However, note, if is greater than 8 GB, the better.

Steps:

If you know how to delete that partition, delete that partition. (Right Click My Computer -> Manage -> Disk Management -> Right click drive -> Delete Partition)
Pop in the Linux CD / DVD and boot into the LIVE Mode / Install Mode.
Questions upto the stage of partitioning is fairly straightforward and you will be able to set them up correctly.
When you reach the partitioning stage, select Manual partition.
You will see an entry called "free" in the list of partitions listed in that window.
Select the "free" partition and click "New" or "Add" button.
Select "swap" in the file system type and enter a value, roughly 1.5 or 2 times the size of you RAM. Click on "OK" to finish.
Select the "free" partition again; click "New" or "Add" button.
Select the Mount point as "/", File system as "ext3" and size as maximum allowable size. Click on "OK" to finish.
This completes the important steps for installing the distro. Answer few more questions about username/password, machine name and you are done!

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