Installing Linux Mint

Installing Linux Mint - Page 1

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Booting into live CD session & beginning of installation

Before you begin, make sure you have everything ready for the installation:

You have downloaded and burned the Linux Mint 4.0 Daryna .iso to CD.
You have allocated the required hardware resources (dual boot, second machine or a virtual machine).
(Optional) You have installed and configured the VMware Server and created a Linux Mint virtual machine.
You know how to boot from CD (regardless of the installation platform).

If you have troubles with the above stages, you really should read the other Linux articles ...

Insert the CD and boot. Choose the first entry to boot into the live CD session.

Linux Mint first boot

After a few minutes, you will reach the live desktop. Just like the latest Ubuntu release (7.10 Gutsy Gibbon), Daryna boots into a desktop with a somewhat awkward 1680x1050px resolution. If your monitor does not support this resolution, the live CD will change it to fit the highest available resolution that your monitor can allow.

Personally, I found this resolution to be too big for my taste. However, manually changing the resolution does not work at this stage. For this reason, most of my screenshots will show a truncated section of the desktop centered around relevant windows.

Daryna features a pleasant black-and-green desktop. Windows users will appreciate the location of the would-be Start Menu in the left lower corner, which is more typical for the KDE rather than Gnome.

Linux Mint live CD desktop

This is a good opportunity to get accustomed to the menus and features, check the hardware compatibility and test some of the installed programs.

The Start Menu is progressive (similar to SUSE 10.2); in other words, it will change as you hover your mouse over different sections, allowing you to reach the required entry without too many clicks. It also allows quick access to some of the most important functions - different locations on the machine, applications, and system functions, like the Terminal, Control Center, or the Package Manager.

Linux Mint menu

To begin the installation, click on the Install icon. You will first have to select the installation language.

Linux Mint install

The next step is to choose your location. Amsterdam looks like a good choice. Be aware that the location choice will determine the local time on your machine as well as which servers will be used to download updates; the closer the better.

Linux Mint location

Next, select your keyboard layout.

Linux Mint keyboard

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