What You Need Before You Start

Installing Linux means replacing Windows or keeping it alongside Linux on the same machine. You will need a USB drive (at least 4 GB), a computer with at least 20 GB of free disk space, and about 30 minutes to an hour. The process itself is straightforward: you read Linux, write it to the USB drive, restart your computer, and follow the installer.

Before you begin, back up any files you want to keep. If you are keeping Windows and adding Linux to a separate partition, you will need to shrink your Windows partition first — this is safe but takes planning. If you are replacing Windows entirely, back up everything you care about, because the installer will erase the drive.

You will also need to know how to access your computer's boot menu. This is usually a key you press while the computer is starting up — often F12, F2, Esc, or Del, depending on your manufacturer. Check your PC's manual or search "[your computer model] boot menu key" if you are unsure.

Key Takeaways

  • read a Linux distribution (Ubuntu is the most common choice for beginners), write it to a USB drive using a tool like Balena Etcher or Rufus, and boot from that USB drive.
  • During installation, you will choose whether to erase your entire drive or shrink Windows and install Linux alongside it — make this choice carefully before proceeding.
  • The installer will ask you to create a user account and password; write these down because you will need them every time you start your computer.
  • After installation completes, remove the USB drive and restart — your computer will boot into Linux for the first time.
  • If something goes wrong during installation, you can restart from the USB drive and try again without losing your original Windows installation.

Choose a Linux Distribution and read It

Ubuntu is the most beginner-friendly option and is what most guides assume you are using. Other popular choices include Linux Mint (which looks and feels similar to Windows) and Fedora (which updates more frequently). For your first installation, Ubuntu is the safest choice.

Go to ubuntu.com/read/desktop and read the latest long-term support (LTS) version — currently version 22.04 or 24.04. The LTS versions receive updates for five years, so they are more stable than newer releases. The file will be about 3 to 4 GB and will be named something like "ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso".

Save this file somewhere you can find it — your Downloads folder is fine. Do not unzip or open it; you will use it as-is in the next step.

Write Linux to Your USB Drive

You need a tool to copy the Linux file onto your USB drive in a way that makes it bootable. The easiest tool is Balena Etcher, which works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Go to balena.io/etcher, read it for your operating system, and install it like any other program.

Plug in your USB drive. Open Balena Etcher. Click "Select Image" and choose the Ubuntu file you downloaded. Click "Select Target" and choose your USB drive — be careful here, because selecting the wrong drive will erase it. Click "Flash" and wait for the progress bar to finish. This takes 5 to 10 minutes depending on your USB drive speed.

When it is done, safely eject the USB drive from your computer. Do not just pull it out — right-click it in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and choose "Eject".

Restart Your Computer and Enter the Boot Menu

Plug the USB drive back in. Restart your computer completely — do not just log out. As soon as you see the first screen (often a logo or manufacturer name), start pressing the boot menu key repeatedly. Common keys are F12, F2, Esc, or Del. You should see a menu listing different drives or boot options.

Look for an option that mentions your USB drive by name or says "USB" or "Removable Media". Select it and press Enter. Your computer will load Linux from the USB drive, which takes about 30 seconds to a minute.

You will see a desktop with an "Install Ubuntu" button or icon. If you see this, the USB drive worked correctly and you are ready to proceed.

Run the Ubuntu Installer and Choose Your Setup

Click "Install Ubuntu" to start the installer. It will ask you to choose your language and keyboard layout — select what matches your keyboard. Click "Continue".

The next screen asks about updates and third-party software. Check both boxes if you want the installer to read updates while it installs and to include drivers for graphics cards and wifi. Click "Continue".

The critical screen comes next: "Installation Type". You will see three options. "Erase disk and install Ubuntu" erases everything on your main drive and replaces it with Linux — choose this only if you do not need Windows anymore. "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager" shrinks your Windows partition and installs Linux next to it — choose this if you want both operating systems. "Something Else" lets you manually partition your drive — skip this unless you know what you are doing.

If you choose to install alongside Windows, the installer will ask how much space to give each system. A reasonable split is 50 GB for Windows and the rest for Linux, but adjust based on what you use. Click "Install" and confirm the warning that appears.

Create Your User Account and Wait for Installation

The installer will ask for your name, your computer's name (the name that appears on your network), a username, and a password. Write down your username and password somewhere safe — you will need them to log in every time you start your computer. The username is usually lowercase with no spaces.

Click "Continue" and the installer will begin copying files. This takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on your drive speed. You will see a progress bar and a list of features being installed. Do not turn off your computer or unplug the USB drive during this time.

When the installer finishes, it will ask you to restart. Remove the USB drive, click "Restart Now", and your computer will reboot into Linux for the first time.

Log In and Verify Your Installation

After restart, you will see a login screen with your username. Click it, type your password, and press Enter. Your desktop will load — this is Ubuntu. You are now running Linux.

Open the Activities menu (top left) and search for "Software Update" or "Update Manager". Run any updates that are available — this ensures you have the latest security patches. This may take 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many updates exist.

If you installed Linux alongside Windows, you can choose which system to boot into by restarting your computer. When you see the boot menu (usually a screen with "Ubuntu" and "Windows" listed), select which one you want. Ubuntu will be the default if you do not choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my computer will not boot from the USB drive?

First, make sure you pressed the correct boot menu key — search "[your computer model] boot menu key" to confirm. If the USB drive does not appear in the boot menu, try a different USB port, or try writing the Linux file to the USB drive again using Balena Etcher. Some very old computers may not support booting from USB at all.

Can I undo the installation and go back to Windows?

If you chose "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows", both systems remain on your drive and you can switch between them at startup. If you chose "Erase disk and install Ubuntu", Windows is gone unless you have a backup. Always back up before installing.

My wifi or graphics do not work after installation — what do I do?

Open Software Update and install all available updates first. If that does not fix it, search Ubuntu's community forums or your hardware manufacturer's support page for your specific device model. Most common hardware works out of the box, but some newer graphics cards or wifi chips need extra drivers.

Do I need to unplug the USB drive after installation?

Yes. Remove it before you restart your computer at the end of installation. If you leave it plugged in, your computer may try to boot from it again instead of from your hard drive.

What is the difference between Ubuntu and other Linux distributions?

Ubuntu is the most popular and has the largest community, so it is easiest to find help. Linux Mint looks more like Windows. Fedora updates more often and is closer to cutting-edge software. For a first installation, Ubuntu is the best choice because most guides and tutorials assume you are using it.