Moving from Windows, Installing Mint

In yet another posting on migrating from Windows to Linux, I'm going to show you how to install Mint Linux. Mint Linux has been labeled the "best distro for migrants from Windows", but that doesn't mean it will be the best distro for you. I really enjoy it despite being a huge Linux geek, and not needing something very easy to use. Mint is actually based off of Ubuntu, but that doesn't mean one or the other is better. It just means they have a lot in common. If you read my guide to installing Ubuntu you may notice that the installation screens are extremely similar, sometimes only replacing the orangeish brown of Ubuntu with the green of Mint. That being said, I will show you how to install Mint Linux.

This is the menu you'll get when you first boot from the Live Boot Disc. Just like the Ubuntu boot disc, the Mint boot disc has options for starting the Live version of Linux Mint to test for system compatibility and also see if you like it, but also includes a "compatibility mode" version which may need to be selected if it fails to start up. You also can check the cdrom for errors, your memory for errors, or boot from your local disk. Again, I will just be going through the steps to directly install. To do this, select Start the installer only.

Next, we choose a language, and get greeted by the installer. Its nice to feel welcome isn't it? Select a language you're comfortable reading menus and typing in and click Forward.

Time zone selection! Again, the pretty map. I like it! Choose your timezone with the easy to use map or the almost as easy to use drop down menus.

Choose your keyboard layout. Mint suggests I probably have a USA keyboard (they're right, I don't know how they knew but its making me paranoid....) and I'm trusting, so I didn't type in the low box. That box is there so you can type, and make sure what you type shows up on the screen as you expect it. Once you're satisfied that you are using the correct keyboard layout, click Forward.

Here, I am letting Mint install on the entire harddrive. This is a new harddrive with nothing on it, so I have no problem with Mint hogging it all. If you are using a harddrive with anything you want to keep on it, make backups. Linux allows for partitioning only free space, and sometimes for resizing partitions, but don't trust it. If the data is important to you, dont' trust it to anyone else. If you're more advanced you can partition yourself. Unless you can think of a specific reason why not to, I'd allow Mint to choose my partitions. Click Forward upon making your choice!

Here is where you will put in your username and password. If you read my previous post about installing Ubuntu, skip ahead. If not, this will be good to know. Mint, like some other distros, no longer has you set a root password. The "root" user is the all powerful user who can do administrative tasks such as installs, updates, and other non-end user type things. Now, sudo is used to temporarily give a normal user root privileges. The initial user setup will include the ability to use sudo. Because of this, it is very important that you remember your user name and password. Also, if noone else will have physical access to the box, and you're trusting, you can let it sign you in automatically.

This is the verification screen. If you're advanced, you can click the advanced tab for more options. Otherwise, click Install!



Here, Mint is installing....

And here it is done. Once it is done and you click restart, it will shutdown and hang before turning off so you can remove your cdrom.

Here, you have your GRUB boot loader. Here you can again do a memory test, or you can boot into a failsafe version (think Windows Safe Mode) or into your normal installation, which will be the default.

And here you login with your credentials you've previously set. Notice that the mint login in screen is much prettier then Ubuntu (in my opinion). Oooo pretty...

You're into your new install! Congrats. Notice here we see some differences between Ubuntu and Mint Linux. The Menu button is on the bottom in the same place as a Windows Start menu. Welcome to Linux!