After the malware attack Linux becomes one of the popular OS among internet users. You may know that Linux is a freeware operating system available in deferent flavours. Like Windows and Mac OS, Linux OS can do various tasks and users can install several software’s on it. The nice feature of Linux is, Windows and Mac is available in one flavour, but Linux is available in different flavours like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Debian, CentOs, and so on…. Each flavour has there own user interface features, some resembles Windows, some like Mac. You can run what you like.
Installing Linux on your hard drive requires some space and need to configure to use some of the space to install Linux. Linux using different format than Windows, so the space allotted for Linux is specially intended for it’s use. You have to enable dual boot to run the two OS on same PC. You can simply overcome this difficulty by simply installing Linux on a USB drive, as the same is available at a low price. Now you will get a good storage usb drive at a nominal price.
Before you begin to install Linux, you need to download any version of Linux. You can choose Ubuntu (download Ubuntu),Linux Mint, Fedora, Debian, CentOs, and endless OS (download EndlessOS). You can find the download link of other Linux OS from the web. Recently I installed Endless OS on my 4GB USB drive, the Endless OS looks like MAC OS. The downloaded file is just 1.4GB. After installing it took 2.6GB space in the USB. Endless OS is a free, easy-to-use operating system preloaded with over 100 apps, the look and feel is good and the OS is equipped with a web browser, epiphany.
To run or install Linux from a USB stick, the first thing you need to do is download a copy of ISO file of Linux OS to your computer. You can check the above links to download Linux. After downloading Linux download a small software called Rufus (download Rufus). It is a small utility (just 932KB in size) that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives, such as USB keys,pen drives, memory sticks, etc.
- Insert a USB stick with at least 2GB of free space into your PC. Use a 4GB drive (minimum).
- Download and open Rufus and select your USB stick in the ‘Device’ dropdown (Check the Screenshot of Rufus). Your USB device will automatically be detected.
- Just check for CD Rom icon opposite of “Create a bootable disk using”. Click the CD Rom icon next to the ‘FreeDOS’ dropdown, select the downloaded Linux ISO and click ‘Open’.
- Select “Partition scheme and target system type” as “MBR partition scheme for BIOS and UEFI” from the drop down menu and then click ‘Start’ button.
- A Popup will display and click ‘OK’ to “Write in ISO Image mode (Recommended)”
- A warning box will now be displayed. Showing that the data in the USB drive will be destroyed. Don’t afraid, it your usb has any data just backup and do the entire process one more time. If no data in USB or a new device, confirm your USB stick is selected and then click ‘OK’ to continue
- Now the Linux is start to install to the USB drive. Just wait. After finishing, just restart your computer and start using Linux from USB stick.
You need to enter in your BIOS mode by selecting F2 or pressing Del button (depends on your BIOS, normally shows at the bottom at the time of boot up). Then show USB stick to boot from.
