installguide.html

<h1 data-number="1" id="introduction">
  <span class="header-section-number">1</span> Introduction
</h1>
<p>
  This is a concise guide to install Linux. It can be used as a standalone
  guide, although we recommend that you attend our Install Events during the
  LinuxDays so that experienced users can help you with your installation.
</p>
<p>
  The guide help you to create an install stick, prepare your existing operating
  system and finally install Linux. We also included some links to
  distribution-specific installation resources, for the most up-to-date
  instructions.
</p>
<p>At the end of the guide, we include some software recommendations.</p>
<h2 data-number="1.1" id="overview">
  <span class="header-section-number">1.1</span> Overview
</h2>
<p>Installing Linux is done in three steps:</p>
<ul>
  <li>Flash an USB Stick with the Linux installer</li>
  <li>Prepare your existing operating system</li>
  <li>Install Linux</li>
</ul>
<p>
  We will help you at each step. If you encounter problems or have suggestions
  how to improve this guide feel free to reach out!
</p>
<h2 data-number="1.2" id="linuxdays-install-event">
  <span class="header-section-number">1.2</span> LinuxDays Install Event
</h2>
<p>
  <em
    >You can skip this part if you do not physically attend the install
    events</em
  >
</p>
<p>Welcome to the LinuxDays Install Event! We are happy you could make it.</p>
<h3 data-number="1.2.1" id="staff">
  <span class="header-section-number">1.2.1</span> Staff
</h3>
<p>
  Our staff is easily recognizable by their blue T-Shirts. Feel free to ask them
  about Linux, TheAlternative, Free Software or anything else.
</p>
<p>
  We will help you if you are unable to proceed with the install guide or have
  any other questions. If we do not have an immediate answer, we know who to ask
  or where to look it up.
</p>
<p>Also, feel free to stay and just chat :)</p>
<h3 data-number="1.2.2" id="demolaptops">
  <span class="header-section-number">1.2.2</span> Demolaptops
</h3>
<p>
  We have prepared some laptops with different distribution and desktop
  environments. You can try them out, and decide what you like best.
</p>
<p>
  If you do not really care or can not decide, we will try to recommend
  something based on what you want to use Linux for.
</p>
<h3 data-number="1.2.3" id="usb-install-sticks-install-guide-copies">
  <span class="header-section-number">1.2.3</span> USB Install Sticks &amp;
  Install Guide Copies
</h3>
<p>
  We have prepared USB Install Sticks so you can get started right away with
  installing Linux.
</p>
<p>
  Further, we have printed copies of the Install Guide if you rather have a
  printed version than look at it on you phone.
</p>
<h3 data-number="1.2.4" id="anything-else">
  <span class="header-section-number">1.2.4</span> Anything else?
</h3>
<p>We have adapters (like USB to LAN), hubs, mouse and keyboards, …</p>
<h1 data-number="2" id="flash-stick">
  <span class="header-section-number">2</span> Flash Stick
</h1>
<p>You will prepare a stick from which you can install Linux from.</p>
<p>
  <em
    >If you are at one of our Install Events, we already prepared USB sticks.
    Choose a distribution (read on) then come to the welcome desk to get your
    stick.</em
  >
</p>
<h2 data-number="2.1" id="choosing-a-distribution">
  <span class="header-section-number">2.1</span> Choosing a distribution
</h2>
<p>In the words of Richard Stallman:</p>
<blockquote>
  <p>
    What you’re referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I’ve
    recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating
    system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning
    GNU system &gt; made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital
    system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX."
  </p>
</blockquote>
<p>
  In simpler terms: Linux by itself is not a full operating system (rather than
  a vital technical part of it). You need to choose a distribution (a “wrapper”
  around Linux) which will define to a large extend how you as a user will
  interact with the operating system (like installing new programs, how the
  desktop looks by default, …).
</p>
<p>
  As choosing a distribution is heavily opiniated, we describe it here very
  short. Feel free to reach out to us for a personal recommendation based on
  your specific needs.
</p>
<p>
  If you “just want Linux”, we recommend you go with
  <a href="https://ubuntu.com/">Ubuntu</a>. As a more open but also very stable
  alternative we recommend <a href="https://getfedora.org/">Fedora</a>. Truly
  Free (as in Freedom!) is <a href="https://www.freebsd.org/">FreeBSD</a>.
</p>
<p>
  For each of these distributions we give you starting points for a successful
  installation. If you want to install other distributions feel free to do so;
  and we will do our best to help you. If you are an enthusiast and want to try
  to install something more advanced (like
  <a href="https://www.archlinux.org/">Arch Linux</a>) come join us :).
</p>
<h2 data-number="2.2" id="download-iso">
  <span class="header-section-number">2.2</span> Download ISO
</h2>
<p>
  You need to download an image containing the operating system installer. Visit
  the webpage of your favourite distribution and download it.
</p>
<p>
  If you have to choose from multiple versions, here some guidance of commonly
  used terms:
</p>
<ul>
  <li>
    <code>amd64</code>, <code>i386</code>, … refers to the architecture of your
    device. If you have a laptop / PC, it is very likely that you need
    <code>amd64</code> (else you’d probably know it).
  </li>
  <li>
    <code>LTS</code> stands for long term support; meaning this specific version
    of the distribution will receive security updates for much longer than other
    versions.
  </li>
</ul>
<h2 data-number="2.3" id="create-install-usb-stick">
  <span class="header-section-number">2.3</span> Create install USB Stick
</h2>
<p>
  Get a USB stick of at least 8 Gb (make sure you do not need the data on it
  anymore!). Flash (=“Put”) the .iso file you have just downloaded on the USB
  stick.
</p>
<p>
  On windows, you can use <a href="https://rufus.ie/">rufus</a>. On macOS, you
  can use <a href="https://www.balena.io/etcher/">etcher</a>.
</p>
<h1 data-number="3" id="prepare-windows-mac">
  <span class="header-section-number">3</span> Prepare Windows / Mac
</h1>
<p>
  If you want to keep your existing operating system (Windows or macOS) you need
  to prepare it. This will allow you to “double-boot”, hence choose at startup
  which operating system to run.
</p>
<p>
  If you do not want to keep your existing operating system, you can skip this
  section.
</p>
<h2 data-number="3.1" id="about-partitioning">
  <span class="header-section-number">3.1</span> About Partitioning
</h2>
<p>
  Disk partitioning is the separation of different regions on a hard drive or an
  SSD. This separation is used to install two different operating systems on a
  computer or simply to have different regions for different purposes (like a
  partition for your data and one for the programs).
</p>
<p>
  We recommend to have at least 40GB of space partitioned for Linux. If you know
  you need programs for your studies (e.g. Matlab, which is around 30GB), please
  have enough free disk space to install the desired programs and probably some
  extra, just in case.
</p>
<p>
  Be aware that repartitioning later is practically impossible, so try to be on
  the safe side. If you do not have space constraints, with 100Gb all you
  wildest wishes should be fulfillable.
</p>
<h2 data-number="3.2" id="windows-10">
  <span class="header-section-number">3.2</span> Windows 10
</h2>
<p>If you have Windows (and want to keep it) follow on.</p>
<h3 data-number="3.2.1" id="making-space-for-linux">
  <span class="header-section-number">3.2.1</span> Making Space for Linux