Linux , with its various distributions, is used by millions of people. In fact, the competing operating system of Windows and macOS boasts some features that make it, in some cases, preferred over the two giants. First, Linux is an open source operating system, which implies the free viewing, copying and modification of its source code. Furthermore, Linux is perfectly compatible with almost all hardware components, making it readily available for many computers. There are therefore many reasons why you might want to install Linux on your PC. However, not everyone is used to doing this type of operations and, therefore, some people may be confused and fearful in proceeding with installing Linux. You must know, however, that by following the various procedures carefully it is possible to succeed in your intent in no time at all, without particular hitches. All you have to do, therefore, is to carefully follow our advice and the various steps to follow, in order to install Linux correctly .
In addition, I also point out that on our site you can find many guides on Linux of all kinds.
Content index
- How to install Linux in a virtual environment
1.1. WSL (Windows)
1.2. VirtualBox (Windows / macOS)
- How to install Linux from USB
How to install Linux in a virtual environment
The first, simple way to install Linux on your PC is to use a virtual environment . In fact, following this procedure, you will not go to install Linux, but you will run it inside a virtual space to test it or to perform various operations.
WSL (Windows)
In case you are using Windows and would like to try a Linux-based operating system, you can take advantage of an integrated feature called WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Through it, in fact, it is possible to run Linux in a fully functional virtual environment.
- In the Windows search bar, type Windows Features and click on the relevant recommended application
- On the next screen, locate and tick the items Windows subsystem for Linux and Virtual machine platform , then click OK
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect
- Right-click on Start and continue on Windows PowerShell
- Inside the screen that opens, type wsl –set-default-version 2 and press Enter on the keyboard
At this point, all you have to do is download and install the Linux distribution of your interest, choosing from those available:
- Ubuntu ( 20.04 / 18.04 / 16.04 )
- Fedora Remix
- Kali Linux
- Debian
- Pengwin / Pengwin Enterprise
- openSUSE 15.1
Next, start the Linux distribution by clicking on its icon in the Start menu :
- Wait for Linux to be configured and, if prompted, enter your system credentials
- At this point, you will have access to the Linux-based operating system
- However, you will only be able to use the text shell , as WSL does not include the graphics components
- To do this, download and install Xming on your computer
- Still within the text shell, type export DISPLAY =: 0.0 and enter
- Next, type echo “export DISPLAY =: 0.0”> $ HOME / .bashrc and hit Enter again
In this way, you will finally have access to all the programs of a Linux-based operating system.
VirtualBox (Windows / macOS)
VirtualBox is another great tool for running other operating systems without the need to install them. In fact, thanks to this software you will be able to create a virtual computer, with an environment in which to perform different types of operations.
First, you will first have to choose the Linux distribution you intend to use:
- Ubuntu
- Fedora
- Kali Linux
- Linux Mint
- OpenSuSE
At this point, you will need to download and install VirtualBox:
- Go to the official VirtualBox website and download the software (click on Windows hosts)
- Install VirtualBox on your computer following the wizard
- Once inside the main screen, click on New
- Assign a name to the virtual machine and set the appropriate parameters within the sections Type and Version
- Then click on Next and set the size of the usable RAM memory (be careful to set the size of the RAM not greater than half of the one used)
- Click again on Next and check the item Create a new virtual hard disk immediately , then continue on Create
- In the next screen, click on the VDI format , then on Next (check the item Dynamically allocated )
- Indicate the size of the virtual disk and, once the appropriate configurations have been completed, click Create
At this point, all you have to do is start the virtual machine and use the Linux distribution of your choice.
- Inside the main VirtualBox screen, click on the name of the virtual machine you just created
- Continue by clicking on the yellow folder icon to select the startup disk
- Then select the Linux ISO image and click Start
- At this point, all you have to do is wait for the virtual machine to be initialized and configured
- On the next screen, the setup wizard warning should appear
- Once you have followed the wizard and set several parameters, all you have to do is restart the computer and start the Linux virtual environment
How to install Linux from USB
If, on the other hand, your desire is to physically install Linux on your computer, then you will need to be patient as the procedure in question requires an extra dose of attention and patience . To install Linux correctly you will therefore need to:
- First create a Windows backup , as this could compromise your data
- Retrieve a USB key and configure it correctly
- Set up Windows correctly
- Install Linux
As you may have already guessed, the procedure is not immediate and the right attention must be paid. To find out, therefore, the complete procedure to install Linux from USB, I suggest you read our guide , thanks to which you will not have any kind of problem and you will be able in a short time to use the operating system you have so desired on your computer.
