Installing a Linux distribution almost always requires a bootable DVD or USB stick. Think, for example, of popular operating systems such as Linux Mint and Ubuntu. With CD/DVD drives increasingly forgotten, the USB stick is more or less the only installation option left. How do you prepare such a bootable USB stick so that you can smoothly install the intended Linux distribution?
There are all kinds of operating systems under the Linux umbrella. They are quite different in appearance and functionality. Yet all those different Linux distributions also have something in common, namely the installation method. By booting a PC or laptop from a prepared USB stick, you can complete the installation of the operating system.
Which USB stick?
For most Linux distributions, a USB stick of at least 8 GB is fine. There is no need to pre-format the USB stick. The Rufus program discussed below automatically provides the USB stick with the correct file system.
Keep in mind that all existing files will be deleted. If necessary, first create a back up that data.
Find installation file
To prepare a bootable USB stick, you first need the correct installation file. Publishers of Linux distributions usually use an iso image for this. Download the necessary iso file from the target operating system’s website. For example, for the Linux distribution Ubuntu, you can go to www.ubuntu.com/#download. Click the download link for the latest version number. An iso image is usually several gigabytes in size. Therefore, take a moment to download the installation file from the web.
Rufus
There are several programs to create a bootable USB stick. The small Windows tool Rufus works quickly and supports the most popular Linux distributions. Do you have a suitable USB stick and is the correct installation file on your computer? Then surf to https://rufus.ie/nl and scroll down a bit to show the program download links. Through Rufus 3.17 Portable save an exe file of the program.
At the time of writing, Rufus 3.17 is the latest version, but the tool will get a higher version number in the future. Click away from the ad pop-up. Then double click rufus-3.17p.exe and confirm with Yes. No further installation is required. The Dutch language user environment of Rufus appears.
Prepare USB stick
You are now going to create the bootable USB stick. Plug the USB stick into a free USB port on the Windows computer. You select under Device then select the correct USB storage medium. Make sure the correct drive letter is selected. click on SELECTING and locate the iso file you just downloaded. You now click on the file name, after which you confirm with To open.
Most computers use UEFI as system software. In that case, select under Partition Layout the option GPT. If your machine is already old (roughly ten years or older), it probably still has the BIOS. Then choose MBR. You leave the other settings unchanged. click on START / OK and wait for the process to complete. Finally click Close. You can now safely eject the USB stick.
Load a bootable USB stick
Now go to the PC or laptop where you want to install the Linux distribution. Before you switch on this system, first plug the bootable USB stick into a free USB connection. During the boot process, press a specific key to enter the UEFI (or BIOS). Depending on the system used, this is, for example, F2, F12 or Delete.
The UEFI is system software in which you can control all kinds of things from the computer. Locate the boot menu. This is usually indicated by Boat or Boat Menu. Select the correct USB stick as the boot drive. Now reboot the system. If all is well, the logo of the relevant Linux distribution will appear. You can now complete the installation.
