Getting Started, Linux Test Drive For Beginners

(If you are uncomfortable doing this and prefer to have someone help you with it or do it for you, join us online or in person at Nashville-Linux-Users-Group and/or you can email me)

--->> DON'T FORGET TO BACK UP / COPY YOUR FILES FROM YOUR OLD PC FIRST <<-----

These instructions are for 64-bit PC's and laptops with at least 6GB of RAM (4GB may be fine), that were new in 2007 or after (32-bit, new in 2006 or before, see below).  There are different flavors of Linux called "distributions", so for beginners, to avoid confusion, the first distribution I used is called Ubuntu (plenty others if this doesn't install for any reason) --> recently I installed OpenSUSE Leap twice when Ubuntu didn't install .. OpenSUSE wouldn't connect to internet at first, but I found the fix .. see below).  The current version is Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.  LTS stands for Long Term Support and 22.04 is supported through April 2027.

You can download it by clicking here:  https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Now you will need either a blank DVD (if your PC has a DVD burner) or an 8GB or larger USB Flash Drive.  Before installing, you can take it for a test drive first.  To burn it to DVD check Imgburn.com or search "how to burn an iso to dvd".  To image it to USB flash drive click --> https://linuxhint.com/run_ubuntu_usb_stick/

The first goal here is to get Linux installed, so if for any reason Ubuntu doesn't install on your computer, then we can try OpenSUSE Leap * or Fedora and lots of other options.  If your computer is 32-bit (new in 2006 or before)- try 32-bit OpenSUSE Tumbleweed, https://get.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/

You may need to search "change the boot order in BIOS" and/or "f key boot options" (http://www.disk-image.com/faq-bootmenu.htm) to boot from your USB or DVD.  Once you can boot from your new Linux ISO, you can try it out or install.  When you install, create a user account called "admin", then another non-admin "guest" user account; surf the web on the non-admin account- more secure .. for more important info click "After Installing Linux"  (feel free to contact me with questions).

*If you install OpenSUSE and you have issues connecting to the internet, I have the solution posted on the "After Installing Linux" page.