How to install Linux from scratch on a newly formatted computer? Step by step guide

Linux has become one of the most reliable operating systems in existence today. This open source OS has a wide variety of distributions They are mostly available online for free.

This allows having an OS in the computer that adapts to the real needs of the user, thus generating a great acceptance in the world of technology.

One of the most outstanding benefits that Linux has is that can run on PC with few technological resources. Therefore, it is ideal for those people who want to recover old computers and have become obsolete due to its technical limitations. In this article We will teach you how to install Linux on a newly formatted computer.

Index:

Why install Linux on a computer? Main benefits

Among the main benefits offered by installing Linux on a computer we can name the following:

You can install Linux together with the Windows operating system. In this way it is possible to combine these two types of OS and obtain greater compatibility of resources. Especially in those software that Linux does not support. It will also allow users not so habitual to Linux to be able to incorporate the knowledge of this system without having to leave Windows abruptly.
Being an open source OS, Linux has considerable robustness regarding the vulnerabilities that are detected and corrected by the same users in a short time. A benefit related to the previous point is that is free. So updates can be accessed without paying a penny for patches.
Offers greater stability in computer performance, thus providing better reliability when working.
You have a significant number of distributions or “Distros”, so the operating system can be adapted to any computer that has few technical resources.
According to the latter, we can also say that an advantage is have the option to reuse an outdated Windows computer and get it working properly with minimal resources. For example, you can run Linux with RAM less than 1GB.

Installation requirements What do I need to have Linux?

As we told you in the last points of the previous topic, one of the most outstanding benefits that Linux has is being able to reuse an old desktop computer. This is especially due to the requirements that this operating system needs to run.

We indicate below what are the requirements that Linux requires for its installation:

Computer requirements

The requirements that you will need from the computer are practically minimal. This is because you can use Linux on a computer that has 1 GB of RAM, with a 100MB storage disk minimum and a processor that is Pentium II or Intel Celeron 256MB RAM.

These resources that we name are the minimum you need for particular distros, such as Puppy Linux. But in case you want to access one with more applications, you should consider a little more of the technical requirements of the PC.

Choose an OS distribution

One of the The most notable characteristics that Linux has is the number of distributions that exist in the market so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs. You will be able to make your decision based on the number of applications they can offer you and the level of necessary resources of the computer. Another way to choose a distro is by its interface, by the level of online support that you can have in different communities, by the ease of installation or by the level of difficulty they present in operating the OS.

Among the most important distros, we can highlight:

Ubuntu: Coming from the Debian architecture, it is especially intended for people who are just beginning with Linux. It is one of the most popular distributions.
Manjaro: It is a distro aimed at users with more knowledge in the operating system, it belongs to the Arch Linux family.
Raspbian: If you are a fan of the Raspberry Pi, you can find in this official distribution, all the necessary packages for the correct functioning of video games and other applications.
Arch Linux: This distribution is designed in the Ubuntu architecture, and at the same time Debian. It is ideal for users just starting out on the Linux path, since their desktop has similarities in the Windows interface.
Lubuntu: It is one of the lightest. It can be installed on computers with few resources and processors that today can be considered obsolete in other operating systems. Within the applications it uses, we can mention the OpenBox windows and the LXDE desktop.
Puppy Linux: This is another distribution aimed at those computers that are a bit old and do not have a lot of resources.
Zorin OS: It is a distro based on the Ubuntu family in which it provides a MacOS-like interface and is geared for hacking activities. You will have to pay for this distribution around € 14.

As there is a wide variety of distributions, we recommend that you visit the official pages of each one. This will allow you to know in more detail the technical requirements you need to obtain a better performance from your equipment.

Booting USB with the system

Before installing Linux, you need to boot a USB to host the OS distribution on this device and thus be able to install from the computer boot the chosen distro. The first thing you have to do is visit the website of the distribution you have chosen and download it in an ISO file.

Now you will have to download an app so you can “Create bootable USB”. There are a large number of applications that you can use to do this job, but the most outstanding in this type is “Rufus”.

Once you have found the latest version of Rufus, you will have to connect the USB to the computer and thus you will have to choose in the field “Device” the name of the removable memory and then you will have to click on “To select”. The name of the formatted Linux distribution file will appear “.ISO”. You will have to choose the same, click on “Open” and then in “Start”.

Next, an intuitive procedure will appear where the system will ask you if you want Rufus to select an earlier version to start syslinux. It will also indicate if you want to write in ISO image mode and then you will have to accept when asked if you want to erase all the data from the USB.

Download Rufus Linux

Steps to install Linux on your newly formatted computer

We teach you the necessary steps so that you can install the Linux OS without errors on a newly formatted computer:

Choose the Linux distribution

As we have already mentioned before, there are a large number of distros that you can use for the installation of the operating system. You can choose this one for:

User Linux knowledge level. You must bear in mind that a person who is just starting out in the ways of this open source operating system is not the same as a user who already has a certain ability in command lines.
Number of applications that you can find in each distribution. This has to do, especially with the desktop environment, windows that will open, as well as specific functions according to the type of activity that is required.
Goal to install Linux. You will have to know if it is to take care of your privacy, use in hacking activities, on a Raspberry Pi, reuse an old computer or to carry out specific activities such as gaming, audios, streaming, etc.

In our case, since the objective is to bring an obsolete computer to life, we will use Lubuntu.

Boot USB

Once you have chosen the distribution, you will have to download it from the website from the distro and proceed to install on a USB device. This you will do with an image ISO format. Then, you will have to prepare the external memory to be able to connect it to the computer and thus install from the Linux boot.

To do this you will have to use Rufus and follow these steps:

Connect the USB to the computer.
Choose “To select”.
Click on “Open”.
Click on “Start”.
Choose “Yes”.
Activate the option “Write in ISO image mode (recommended)” and select “Okay“
To finish click on “To accept”.

Start the computer

When you have connected the USB to your desktop computer, you will have to boot it and then choose with the unit selector, which will depend on the Bios that the PC has, the memory where you have the Linux distro lodged. You must select by means of the directional arrows and to finish the process you will have to press “Enter”.

Configure Lubuntu

Once you have chosen the boot drive and clicking on Lubuntu, you will have to select language (F2) that you want to use in the configuration. Then you will have to click on the first option, Start Lubuntu. At this time the OS will start through USB, you will see on the desktop an executable file of the application.

Install Linux on your computer

By clicking on the executable file, the system will welcome you to the Lubuntu installer. After choosing the language again, you must click on “Following”. Choose the location through the “Region” and the “Zone” that comes preset. Once you have everything, and you must click on “Following” to choose the keyboard layout.

Now, you will have to go to the tab “Partitions” and activate the third option, “Erase everything”. This will allow you to have only Linux as the operating system. You will have to press and again on “Following” to finish the installation of Lubuntu or any other distribution that you have chosen on your computer.

What are the best tools I can install to maximize Linux?

Linux allows you to download applications with which you can maximize your OS. Next, we will teach you tools that will increase the performance of your computer:

Autokey

Thought of those users who use the keyboard frequently and want to assign scripts and shortcuts to them to be able to speed up the times in writing and other tasks. You can edit these commands at any time, since they are saved in plain Python and you will see them in pop-up windows. It is also useful for assigning shortcuts to tasks that you can perform with the mouse.

Download Autokey Linux

Blender

You can use this function as calmly as you can, since it has an open source development reason why the weaknesses that this software presents are corrected by many users, allowing that their experience level is really very outstanding.

It is a free software And it is not only available for Linux but also on Windows and MacOS. Create 3D graphics and edit videos with very simple steps. It is ideal for architectural designs and also video game development. It has different tools with which you can customize it and thus you will save time in the controls.

Download Blender Linux

DarkTable

This dark graphical interface tool will allow you to work on photographs, generating an image edition with unique touch-ups. You will have access to controls with which you can have images with bright colors and in high quality. Its free license allows post-production of raw images, so it improves a user’s process regardless of the levels of knowledge they have. It is also available on Windows and MacOS and has different languages to choose from.

The advantage of this app is that Ubuntu comes with packages that include installation. To do this, you will have to run the command “Sudo apt-get install darktable”.