Linux Install Guide

Created Tuesday 30 September 2025





If you like VIDEO, this goes into detail on most everything - Videos
(The virtualbox.org site is cleaner looking now, but the fundamentals are the same)


If you prefer READING and going on your own, see the below.


Default method: Virtual Install.


A "virtual install" is a completely non-destructive, completely reversible way to do "real Linux" on your computer. It's not much different from installing an app, though the process is a little more involved:


For a virtual install, you will need VIRTUALIZATION SOFTWARE and A LINUX DISTRIBUTION


VIRTUALIZATION SOFTWARE

Most of you can still use https://www.virtualbox.org/ - roughly


  1. Download AND INSTALL Virtualbox
  2. Download, but DO NOT DOUBLE CLICK a Linux ISO file. It's big.
  3. Run Virtualbox, and at the right time, navigate to your downloads and use that as the install file.

Fancy M1 mac people, you can't, but you can use https://mac.getutm.app/ - This is free.


(VMware and others are also acceptable; https://www.ubackup.com/enterprise-backup/linux-vm-on-windows-10.html)


LINUX DISTRIBUTION

A "distribution" or "distro" is just a version of a full Linux Operating system, and there are a bunch of them:
Presently I recommend one of the following — but LITERALLY ANY WILL DO.
https://mxlinux.org/
https://linuxmint.com/
https://ubuntu.com/ as a last resort for new computers?


Or again — ANYTHING here, check the leaderboards!
https://distrowatch.com/


If you end up unable to get the above working:


Mac users: You may use the native Mac terminal
Windows users: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install


Or, the following
Tech Guides:Linux


Backlinks: FSU Courses:LIS3353