Test out Linux for Free before You Commit!
So, you’ve decided that you want to jump into Linux and you are just a little intimidated by all the different choices that you have between the different types of Linux including choosing apps. To keep it simple, we will go through the process of installing Linux and minimize as much of the choices as possible. I’ll leave details out as to not make the topic any more confusing than it should be. This is intended for non-technical people who work in an office setting using Windows. Obviously, a company uses a number of software tools but in order to maintain brevity and within scope of the topic that I am discussing, it will only be limited to a linux operating system and using an office suite.
This might seem confusing, but you want to start with familiarizing yourself to the alternative applications that are found on Linux that can also be used on Windows. A great starting point is to install Only Office(https://www.onlyoffice.com/download-desktop) because it looks and feels like Microsoft Office and there is no commitment to purchasing the office suite unless you are looking for more enterprise level support, otherwise it is available for free. Starting with using the office suite will help you determine whether or not making the switch will maintain as much of the existing workflow as you test it out instead of using Microsoft Office.
Once you feel comfortable with using an office suite and it meets the requirements for daily usage, you are now ready to consider a Linux operating system. The great thing is, you can “try” Linux without every fully installing it into a system drive and can test drive it just by having it on a thumb drive. The two best beginners Linux Operating Systems for Windows users are Pop!_OS(https://system76.com/pop/?srsltid=AfmBOop_75uv5bXpPIucUaqMV6xTtx_Rf_adXbJoVmoYNnbUeWKuva_Q) and Zorin OS(https://zorin.com/os/). The great part about these Linux distributions, they have an easy guide to install on your system when you are ready.
1. An operating system is typically stored as an *.iso or *.img file. When you are saving a operating system on to a thumb drive, it needs to be formatted so that that the operating system file takes up the whole thumb drive so it can start (boot) when you turn on your computer. You will need a tool that will format the thumb drive and install the Linux operating system file. The tool we are going to use is called Rufus(https://rufus.ie/en/).
- Once downloaded, run the executable file directly without installation, as Rufus is a portable tool.
- Insert a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage—16 GB or larger is recommended for modern operating systems—and ensure it is empty, as all data will be erased during the process.
- Open Rufus, and it will automatically detect the connected USB drive; verify the correct drive is selected in the Device dropdown menu.
- Click the “SELECT” button under Boot selection to browse and choose the ISO file of the operating system you wish to install, such as Windows or Linux. Rufus will automatically configure the partition scheme (MBR for older BIOS systems, GPT for newer UEFI systems), file system (NTFS for Windows, FAT32 for Linux), and other settings based on the ISO. Optionally, customize the Volume Label or enable features like persistent storage for Linux distributions. Click the “START” button to begin creating the bootable drive; confirm the warning that all data on the USB will be erased.
- The process typically takes 5–10 minutes, depending on the ISO size and USB drive speed, and will display a “READY” message upon completion. Safely eject the USB drive and use it to boot a computer by accessing the boot menu (e.g., pressing F12, Esc, or Del during startup) and selecting the USB device.
2. When you are ready to test out the operating you can connect the thumb drive with Linux on it, to another computer while it is shutoff. Turn on the computer and starting pressing “Delete” continuously until you get into the BIOS. Navigate through the BIOS and look for “BOOT ORDER” or “BOOT” section of the BIOS interface. Locate the thumb drive, by its label, and make that the first thing that starts up. Save and exit. Once it reboots, you should arrive at the Linux desktop! Congrats!
For Pop!_OS users and for any Linux user for that matter, as a bonus, I’ve already created a video on making a boot drive, using Pop!_OS’s tool called “Popsicle” that you can find at installing Garuda video.
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