Installing Linux
Created Thursday 22 January 2026
https://www.linux.com/what-is-linux/
https://opensource.com/resources/linux
This week will be a bit different, we will focus on getting you a working version of Linux.
If you like VIDEO, this goes into detail on most everything: ../../../Videos/VirtualboxInstall.mp4
(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/
New fancy M1 mac people, you can't, but you can use https://mac.getutm.app/ - watch for which type, usually you'll want the specific Ubuntu flavor
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