Old pc without an OS?!

[chips.]

So I just got a free PC that is older than me. But I just realized that it doesn't have an OS! 

At first, I thought of Linux Mint XCFE, because it's great for PCs that only have 3GB of RAM.

But then I realized, how am I going to access the USB if I didn't even have an OS?!

So please tell me what to do. :((

 

 

[Poinkachu]

6 minutes ago, ChipsTHING101 said:

So I just got a free PC that is older than me. But I just realized that it doesn't have an OS! 

At first, I thought of Linux Mint XCFE, because it's great for PCs that only have 3GB of RAM.

But then I realized, how am I going to access the USB if I didn't even have an OS?!

So please tell me what to do. :((

 

 

You mean to make the thumbdrive installer ?
Borrow someone else's PC to make it

[chips.]

What do you mean by borrowing someone else's PC?

8 minutes ago, Poinkachu said:

You mean to make the thumbdrive installer ?
Borrow someone else's PC to make it

 

[Donut417]

4 minutes ago, ChipsTHING101 said:

What do you mean by borrowing someone else's PC?

 

You need another computer to create a bootable USB so you can install the OS on the machine in question. 

[chips.]

Just now, Donut417 said:

You need another computer to create a bootable USB so you can install the OS on the machine in question. 

well I do have another pc (specs in my profile)

ANND I know I need to make a bootable USB, I just don't know how!

[Average Nerd]

Just now, ChipsTHING101 said:

well I do have another pc (specs in my profile)

ANND I know I need to make a bootable USB, I just don't know how!

I use rufus to create bootable USBs (https://rufus.ie/en/)

[chips.]

3 minutes ago, Average Nerd said:

I use rufus to create bootable USBs (https://rufus.ie/en/)

Should I install the portable version or the standard version?

And after I finish downloading the app, what steps will I have to make to install Linux Mint OS?

[Average Nerd]

Just now, ChipsTHING101 said:

Should I install the portable version or the standard version?

And after I finish downloading the app, what steps will I have to make to install Linux Mint OS?

Standard should do it.

You'll also need to get a ISO of your desired OS (For Linux Mint XCFE: https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=317), which you'll then flash to the USB drive using Rufus.

 

[chips.]

19 minutes ago, Average Nerd said:

Standard should do it.

You'll also need to get a ISO of your desired OS (For Linux Mint XCFE: https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=317), which you'll then flash to the USB drive using Rufus.

 

If it's from the official site, why am I supposed to verify it? Is it really necessary? 

Also, where do I install the ISO? (Yeah, I'm not joking. I'm that dumb)

[Average Nerd]

11 minutes ago, ChipsTHING101 said:

Is it really necessary? 

No.

12 minutes ago, ChipsTHING101 said:

Also, where do I install the ISO?

Open Rufus and then follow the instructions (there should be a "Select" button somewhere)

[jaslion]

13 minutes ago, ChipsTHING101 said:

If it's from the official site, why am I supposed to verify it? Is it really necessary? 

Also, where do I install the ISO? (Yeah, I'm not joking. I'm that dumb)

You use rufus.

 

Instructions are on the website right above the downlaod

[Brando212]

1 hour ago, ChipsTHING101 said:

If it's from the official site, why am I supposed to verify it? Is it really necessary? 

Also, where do I install the ISO? (Yeah, I'm not joking. I'm that dumb)

nothing wrong with that, gotta start somewhere to learn

 

instead of asking back and forth on a forum like this though that gets slow replies, I'd highly recommend looking up a couple tutorials to follow or use an AI chat like CoPilot to help guide you step by step

 

AI chat bots are far from perfect, but they're great for this kind of thing to help start your learning.

 

here's one to help you get started, shows how to create a Xubuntu usb with Rufus https://www.hackingsimplicity.com/how-to-create-bootable-thumb-drive-with-rufus-to-install-xubuntu-linux/

[RollyShed]

You download Linux Mint iso file.

You then, using Rufus, burn the iso file to the USB stick.

If you look at the stick it appears that you have an iso file but it is a burnt-to-the-stick version.

 

When the computer boots up, one of the icons is Install. Click on that and go through the steps and install Linux. Before you start, think of a name for the setup and a password. Where you put in the password twice, there is a box below it which if ticked allows the computer to boot up without needing to input the password.

 

Verification of the downloaded file? I've downloaded near a dozen iso files and not verified any so you should be OK.

 

How old is the computer you are going to install on? Is it 64 bit? 3GB of RAM isn't a  great deal but I have one laptop running Linux Mint with Cinnamon desktop with only 2GB.