Linux mint on laptop

Install Linux Mint¶

The live session¶

When you boot the computer from the USB stick (or DVD), Linux Mint starts a live session . It logs you in automatically as a user called mint and shows you a desktop with the installer on it:

The Linux Mint live session

The live session is similar to a normal session (i.e. to Linux Mint once it is permanently installed on the computer), but with the following exceptions:

• The Live session is slower (it is loaded from a USB stick or DVD as opposed to a SSD or HDD).
• Changes you make in the live session are not permanent. They are not written to the USB stick (or DVD) and they do not impact the system installed by the installer.
• Some applications work differently (or not at all) in the live session (Timeshift, Flatpak, Update Manager, Welcome Screen..etc.).

The username for the live session is mint . If asked for a password press Enter .

Installing Linux Mint on the computer¶

To permanently install Linux Mint on your computer:

1. Double-click Install Linux Mint .
2. Select your language.

1. If you are connected to the Internet, tick the box to install the multimedia codecs.

If Linux Mint is the only operating system you want to run on this computer and all data can be lost on the hard drive, choose Erase disk and install Linux Mint .

Encrypt the new Linux Mint installation for security refers to full disk encryption. At this stage of the installation your keyboard layout wasn’t yet selected so it is set to en_US. If you decide to use this option, keep this in mind when entering a password. Note that there are issues with this option and some NVIDIA drivers. If you are new to Linux use home directory encryption instead (you can select it later during the installation).

If another operating system is present on the computer, the installer shows you an option to install Linux Mint alongside it. If you choose this option, the installer automatically resizes your existing operating system, makes room and installs Linux Mint beside it. A boot menu is set up to choose between the two operating systems each time you start your computer.

If you want to manage the partitions or specify which partitions to use, select Something else .

Linux Mint requires one partition to be mounted on the root / directory.

The Linux Mint operating system (without additional software or personal data) takes roughly 15GB, so give this partition a decent size (100GB or more).

ext4 is recommended. It is the most popular Linux filesystem.

Also create a swap partition. This partition is used for hibernation and as a safety buffer in case your computer runs out of RAM. Give this partition a size equal to the amount of RAM in your computer.

Your name can be your real name, but it doesn’t have to be. It is only used locally, in the screensaver and on the login screen.

Your username is what you log in as, and your hostname is the name of your computer on the network.

To prevent bugs only use lowercase characters, with no punctuation or accentuation.

To protect your personal data against local attacks (people around you, or in case your computer gets stolen), tick Encrypt my home folder .

Choose a strong password.

1. Enjoy the slideshow while Linux Mint is installed on your computer.

When the installation is finished, click Restart Now .

The computer will then start to shut down and ask you to remove the USB disk (or DVD). Upon reboot, your computer should show you a boot menu or start your newly installed Linux Mint operating system.

© Copyright 2017, Linux Mint Revision 11740971 .

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Linux mint on laptop

The latest version of the friendly operating system is here. Install it on your computer today!

Features

What is Linux Mint?

Linux Mint is an operating system for desktop and laptop computers. It is designed to work ‘out of the box’ and comes fully equipped with the apps most people need.

Graphic Design

Work in 3D with Blender, draw or edit pictures in Gimp, use Inkscape for vector graphics.

Productivity

With LibreOffice’s complete office suite, use the word processor, make presentations, drawings, spreadsheets or even databases. Easily import from or export to PDF or Microsoft Office documents.

Multimedia

Enjoy your music, watch TV and movies, listen to podcasts, Spotify and online radio.

Browse the Web, watch Youtube and Netflix with Firefox. Turn any website into a desktop app for immediate access.

Gaming

Access more than 7,800 games with Steam. Install GOG to get even more.

Give it a try. You’ll Love it!

Most of our users come from Windows and they never look back.

Easy to use, fast and comfortable.

Give your hardware the operating system it deserves and feel right at home.

Everything just works «Out Of The Box», without the need to configure anything or to install extra applications. It’s ready to go. Although it’s very configurable, everything is set and tuned nicely by default and no unecessary questions are asked.

It’s very easy to use. It features an intuitive desktop and adopts KISS principles. Anyone can rapidly feel at home and use Linux Mint. User experience, workflow and comfort is key.

Home rule

It’s your computer, your rules. This is a key principle at Linux Mint. We don’t collect data, we don’t work against you. You’re the boss. Your operating system is designed to do what you want without getting in your way.

Rock solid

With centralized software updates, system snapshots, a unique Update Manager and the robustness of its Linux architecture, Linux Mint requires very little maintenance. It works, it’s safe and it doesn’t break.

Free and Open Source

It is completely free of cost and almost all of its components are Open Source. Linux Mint stands on the shoulder of giants, it is based on Debian and Ubuntu.

Community-centric

There is a tight bond and a great relationship between the development team and the community. We communicate with our users and constantly use their feedback to improve Linux Mint.

Fun, helpful and passionate.

If you’re making your first steps with Linux don’t hesitate to join the forums. Linux users are often welcoming, helpful and eager to share their experience.

Is it free?

Yes, Linux Mint is completely free of charge. Almost everything in Linux Mint is also open-source.

Will it work on my computer?

Yes, Linux Mint works on most computers. It can also be run from a live USB stick to make sure everything works fine without having to install anything.

Can I keep Windows?

Yes, you can have both Windows and Linux Mint. A menu asks you which one to use when you start the computer.

Will it suit my needs?

Hopefully. Linux Mint comes with what most people need out of the box as well as easy access to more than 60,000 software packages and 7,800 games.

The years go by, and I keep trying one Linux desktop distro after the other. But for more than a decade now, I come back to Linux Mint. Why? It’s simple: Year in and year out, Mint remains the best, easiest-to-use Linux desktop.

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

ZDNet

Mint has become the very best example of what a Linux desktop should be: fast, easy, pleasing to the eye, useful and productive. Others, still, see Mint as the ideal desktop for Windows refugees, or those who are trying out Linux for the first time, and want an operating system that essentially works ‘out of the box’.

David Hayward

Linux Format

Linux Mint’s latest release will have an exceptionally wide appeal. Anyone looking for an incredibly stable, robust, fast, clean, and user-friendly desktop operating system could do a whole lot worse. [. ] Every Linux desktop distribution should strive to do exactly what Linux Mint 20.1 has accomplished—create a desktop that is the perfect balance of speed, features, and user-friendliness.

Jack Wallen

TechRepublic

There’s a good reason for that popularity: Linux Mint just works. It isn’t «changing the desktop computer paradigm,» or «innovating» in «groundbreaking» ways. The team behind Mint is just building a desktop operating system that looks and functions a lot like every other desktop operating system you’ve used, which is to say you’ll be immediately comfortable and stop thinking about your desktop and start using it to do actual work.

Scott Gilbertson

ars technica

Exploring the bevy of Linux distributions out there is a fun part of the hobby, but for your first installation, you will likely want something popular and beginner-friendly, so it’s easy to get help when you need it. That’s why I recommend starting with Linux Mint.

Whitson Gordon

PCMag

Linux Mint has again shown why it deserves to stay among the best Linux distribution for beginners. If you’re thinking to migrate from Windows to Linux, you should definitely get your hand on Linux Mint.

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How to choose a laptop for Linux Mint

If you buy a new laptop for Linux , you do not just buy the Windows laptop you like and hope for the best – you need to plan your purchasing to ensure that it will work well with Linux . Fortunately , compatibility with hardware in Linux is now better than ever .

Most desktop Linux distributions are installed on computers that were created without any concern for Linux users . The equipment may not work perfectly in Linux and if not, the manufacturer doesn’t care. Some research before buying can save you nerves later.

Laptops that come with Linux
Actually, it is possible to get a laptop that comes preloaded with Linux. This is a good option if you seriously intend to use Linux and just want to get your equipment worked. These laptops do not just preset a distribution you can choose to perform the installation for a few minutes – but you get a guarantee that Linux will correctly maintained. Installing Linux on this laptop, it is claimed that he had some work to ensure that the equipment works correctly, it has the driver under Linux distributions, and so on. Technical support will seriously consider you if you have a problem when running in Linux: they won’t shut down under the pretext that only supported Windows.

Here are some laptops that you can explore and buy right now:

• Laptops System76: this manufacturer specializes in laptops, desktops and server hardware with Ubuntu preinstalled. They make this all – laptops System76 even button Super is an image of the logo of Ubuntu, not Windows, as in the vast majority of computers. System76 sells a large number of notebooks from 14-inch to 17-inch “monsters” created as a powerful Linux-analogues productive gaming Windows laptops
• Laptops ZaReason – this company also sells laptops, servers and desktop computers running Linux. Their laptops are cheaper than from System76.

Please note that we do not have any of these laptops , so can’t recommend anything . You need to read reviews of the latest versions of these devices to make their own buying decision .

Using a Chromebook

How to choose a laptop for Linux Mint

Chromebook also can be turned into a cheap Linux laptops. ChromeOS is a slightly modified Linux desktop with a different interface, so the hardware chromebooks will support desktop Linux. You can install a traditional Linux desktop system along with ChromeOS and use the same driver hardware that come with the Chromebook itself, so everything should work perfectly.

Downside to using a Chromebook as a portable Linux computer that they were not created for this. In them a small amount of internal memory, and they are designed to be lightweight systems to work with the Internet. They won’t like you if you’re going to run multiple virtual machines at a time, as you have compiled code. However, they are much cheaper than the usual Linux laptops. So if you want a simple cheap little device to work with Linux Mint or Ubuntu, Chromebook can work for you.

We reviewed some things that you should think about when you buy chromebook for use with Linux. Be especially careful in the differences between the Chromebook based on ARM architecture and Intel processors.

Laptops that do not come with Linux
You may also want to buy a laptop that comes without Linux, and set it on him. It will also allow you to use dualboot when your computer has both Windows and Linux. Or you can remove the preinstalled windows and then install Linux.
More and more equipment is now becoming highly compatible with Linux, but, in my opinion, you still need to do some research to make sure that no problems will arise. Be especially careful with laptops with switchable graphics technology

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