How to Install Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an operating system like Windows 7 and Macintosh. It is appealing to a lot of people as compared to other computer operating systems because it is free and less vulnerable to viruses and Trojans. Initially launched as a variant of Ubuntu, it has come a long way. Now it boasts of a custom desktop and menus, several unique configuration tools, a web-based package installation interface and a number of different editions. If you have decided that Mint is the operating system you want, follow the steps mentioned below to install it.

Before we know how to install Linux Mint, let us take a list of its hardware requirements. Please note that these are generalized computer hardware requirements, Mint can work well with a variety of setups.

• 512 MB Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Pentium II 350 MHz
• Graphics card capable of 1024x768 resolution
• Sound card

So if you have a computer which has all these specifications, you can start installing Linux Mint.

Installing Linux Mint

1. The first thing you need to do is to download and 'burn' Linux Mint into a compact disc (CD).
2. Insert the CD in your computer and select CD as the first boot device.
3. Allow the Linux Mint to load on your computer. It will take anywhere between 1 to 5 minutes to load. Once the CD has loaded, you can try out different things as it will not make any change to your computer.
4. Once you have tried out various things like keyboard layout, language settings etc. come to 'Partition screen'.
5. In 'Partition screen' you need to choose whether you want to completely wipe out your hard drive or you want to keep Windows operating system as a backup. If you decide on having both Linux Mint and Windows, click on 'install side by side' and adjust the slider.
6. Click 'next' and fill in all your user data.
7. After you have filled all the required details, click on 'finish'. It will take anywhere between 15 to 20 minutes for Linux Mint to get installed.
8. Once the installation process is complete, click on 'Reboot' and take the CD out.

Installation Through USB

You need a USB flash drive which has a space of more than 2 GB.

1. Get the USB installer and run the program.
2. Format the USB drive as the standard format is FAT32 formatted.
3. Select the level of 'Persistence' from the drop down box.
4. Click on 'Install' and let the installation process continue.(Please note that the option of "Persistence' may not be available on all the versions of Mint)
5. Once it is finished, remove the USB stick and you have a boot-ready USB stick

Upgrading Linux Mint

A new Linux Mint version is released after every six months or so. It generally has some improved features. One good advantage that Linux Mint has is that it comes as a live CD, that is, you can try out the new version on your computer and see if the hardware supports the version. But if your current Linux is working fine, then there is no need to upgrade. The latest Linux Mint, Linux Mint 10 a.k.a. "Julia" was launched on 12th November, 2010. Linux Mint today has 10 versions in total.

Installing Linux Mint is easy and doesn't take much time. Linux Mint is the cheapest operating system and unlike Windows XP or Windows Vista, you do not need to spend money to buy an original CD to install it. If one of your friends has it, you can just copy it and install it on your computer. It also comes with many preloaded applications and as I mentioned earlier, if you run it from a CD or a USB, it doesn't change the original settings of the hard drive.