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Installing Linux

Getting Linux onto hardware: bootable media, partitioning, dual boot, encryption, and the decisions worth making before the installer starts writing.

9 articles

How to Upgrade Ubuntu 24.04 LTS to 26.04 LTS Safely A step-by-step guide to upgrading Ubuntu 24.04 to 26.04 on desktops and servers: what to check first, how to handle PPAs and third-party repositories, running the upgrade over SSH, and what to do if it goes wrong. Ventoy Explained: One USB Stick for Every ISO Ventoy turns a USB drive into a boot menu for any number of ISO files: copy ISOs onto it and boot whichever you need. How to install it on Linux, add ISOs, use Secure Boot and persistence, and where it does not work. BIOS vs UEFI: What's the Difference? BIOS and UEFI are the firmware interfaces that initialize hardware before the OS loads. Understanding the difference matters for installing Linux, setting up dual boot, and configuring Secure Boot. This guide explains both clearly. Creating a Bootable USB Drive for Linux A bootable USB drive is the standard way to install Linux on a computer. This guide covers creating one on Linux, Windows, and macOS using dd, Balena Etcher, Rufus, and Ventoy -- and how to verify your ISO before you write it. How to Dual Boot Linux and Windows Dual booting lets you run Linux and Windows on the same machine, choosing which to start at boot. This guide covers the right order to install them, how to resize Windows partitions, how GRUB handles the boot menu, and common problems to avoid. Encrypting Your Linux Installation with LUKS Full disk encryption protects your data if your laptop is lost or stolen. Linux uses LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup) to encrypt partitions at the block device level. This guide explains how to enable it at install time, how it works, and how to manage it after installation. Full Disk Linux Installation: A Step-by-Step Guide A full disk installation dedicates an entire drive to Linux, giving you the simplest setup, best performance, and no dual-boot complexity. This guide walks through the complete process from booting the installer to a working system. Linux Partitioning Explained Partitioning divides a disk into sections that the OS treats as independent storage units. Understanding partition tables (MBR vs GPT), partition types (EFI, swap, root, home), and filesystems (ext4, btrfs, xfs) lets you make informed decisions during installation. Secure Boot Explained: What It Is and How Linux Handles It Secure Boot is a UEFI feature that verifies the digital signature of the bootloader before running it. Most major Linux distributions handle it transparently, but some setups require additional configuration. This guide explains how it works and what to do.

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