Jump to content

How to Start Using Linux?

Tie Lightning
 Share
Posted

Hey guys, so what i have heard from everyone is that Linux is amazing and has a lot of customization. So naturally i would want to try it out. But when i look online, there seems to be no easy tutorials on how to use and customize a Linux OS bootable from a flash drive. Since the community here is fantastic, i though i would ask guys, how should I start?

 CPU: AMD FX-6300     COOLER: Hyper 212 EVO    MOBO: ASUS M5A97 R2.0    RAM: Team Vulcan 8Gb (4Gb x 2) , G-Skill Sniper (4Gb x 2)    PSU: Rosewill HIVE-750w    GPU: ASUS HD 7790 2Gb OC    CASE: NZXT Phantom 410    STORAGE: WD Black 1Tb , Intel 530 120Gb     AUDIO: HyperX Cloud , Sennheiser HD 518 , Audio Technica ATH-M30 , Sennheiser MM30G , Yamaha RX-V361 , Pioneer SP-BS22     PHONE: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge     PERIPHERALS: Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Classic , Logitech g502 ( Thanks Syntaxvgm <3 )

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Using VirtualBox to boot straight from the ISO would be easier.

 

Seconded on the VM option. Just give it 512MB RAM and a single processor then start playing; if you screw up just revert to a snapshot. Why not make a few and try some different distros out... My favourite one right now is Linux Mint.

The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/#findComment-2427393
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

"Starter" Linux distros appear to be (in no particular order) Mint (which is based on Ubuntu) or  Ubuntu (there is a bit of controversy about Ubuntu heading more in a strange direction so the even easier mint is growing in popularity)  There are a few step by step tutorials on how to get started with Linux remember though Linux is not really regarded as a 'gaming OS' (steam not withstanding) so turning your main machine over to it alone is NOT a good idea however as Linux is free (if your time is cost free) play with it to your hearts content.  You will learn more about your system 

 

Yes it can be a cheap way to try different systems, but it is NOT a gaming setup.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=live+usb+linux+tutorial&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb&gfe_rd=cr&ei=v8vCU86-K8PR8gfj7YGwCw

 

EDIT :- The advantage that I can think of of a "live" distro rather than running on a VM is that the hard drive is not involved, however this means that any drivers, settings etc have to be re-entered so perhaps a live distro at first then run a VM then dual boot.

 Two motoes to live by   "Sometimes there are no shortcuts"

                                           "This too shall pass"

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/#findComment-2427429
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

If you want the "true Linux experience", have a look at Arch Linux. This is a non modified version of Linux, and this is how you normally install Linux. When you install it, you have basically nothing. You need to install each component one by one.

 

If you want a "starter kit" experience as @soup mentioned, you have Ubuntu, and you have Mint. Ubuntu is trying to be different and that is fine and give Linux and itself its own identify, if you will. While Mint tries to be to the closest to Windows.

Personally, unless you trying to run a very old system more smoothly with Linux, OR just want to 'check it out', and just have an idea how it run and work, try Arch Linux or Ubuntu, else there is no point. Might as well install Windows. But that is just my opinion.

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/#findComment-2427471
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

-snip-

Why do you seem to think Arch is unmodified Linux? Unmodified Linux would just be a kernel...completely useless.

"You have got to be the biggest asshole on this forum..."

-GingerbreadPK

sudo rm -rf /

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/#findComment-2427492
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Why do you seem to think Arch is unmodified Linux? Unmodified Linux would just be a kernel...completely useless.

Sorry I meant that they keep Linux kernel unmodified, same for everything else it provides from its package manager.

Ubuntu for example highly modifies the kernel to achieve their goal in usability.

 

Arch Linux is not just a bare bone Linux kernel. It's an OS package. But nothing has been modified. It's the "true Linux experience" if you want to call it that, and it's great in learning Linux.

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/#findComment-2427566
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

An unmodified kernel from source would have no modules enabled and everything else set to default. Here is the config from Arch's current 3.15.5-1 kernel.

 

http://pastebin.com/RSAByCKn

 

As for the OS, it is quite different from Linux 1.0 and every other distro.

Yup. That is what I trying to explain.

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/#findComment-2427882
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Using VirtualBox to boot straight from the ISO would be easier.

 

 

Seconded on the VM option. Just give it 512MB RAM and a single processor then start playing; if you screw up just revert to a snapshot. Why not make a few and try some different distros out... My favourite one right now is Linux Mint.

I third this. I run multiple different distros in Hyper-V on my machine. It is much simpler than dual booting or having to mess around with live USB sticks, 

                                                                                                                                                      

CPU: Intel I7-4790k | MOBO: Asus Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 | Ram: Corsair Vengance 32GB 1600hz | GPU: EVGA GTX980 Reference

PSU: Corsair EVGA G2 850W  | SSD: Intel 730 Series 480GB, Kingston SSDNow V300 120GB | HDD: WD Black 1TB

 CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 | Case: Corsair 760T (White) | Peripherals: (2)Asus VS247H-P, Corsair M65, Corsair K70 RGB w/ Brown Switches

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/#findComment-2427904
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

So Arch's kernel is modified and I don't know if it's the "true Linux experience".

The kernel is the core of the OS. You have components surrounding it that interacts with it. modifying the kernel, means you are trying to do something that the core doesn't support or allow, to make it allow and/or supported.

 

For example, if we look at Windows (we can't compare Windows and Linux, they are made completely differently, its just that I can't find a nice simple Linux diagram)

This is the how Windows Vista and up look, simplified:

4186.Untitled.png_2D00_550x0.png

The real kernel is in yellow.

 

That component in the Linux based OS world, can be modified or not. Keep in mind once more, that you can't compare Linux and Windows kernel, they are drastically made different with a completely different approach.

I am using the above diagram to point and show the kernel, to give an idea of things.

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/#findComment-2427959
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

mess around with live USB sticks, 

Mess around with USB sticks?  Surely running a VM is MUCH more work than just booting yo a USN?

 Two motoes to live by   "Sometimes there are no shortcuts"

                                           "This too shall pass"

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/#findComment-2428096
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Mess around with USB sticks?  Surely running a VM is MUCH more work than just booting yo a USN?

I rather run a VM any day then have to run off of a live USB stick. To use a USB stick, you have to turn off your current session of windows, meaning you have to close out all your windows. Since I tend to leave my applications I use daily open, I find it an in convince to have to close down everything and then reopen it all. And there really is no work to running a VM, it is just a few clicks to get it initially setup, run the install and its there till you delete it. 

                                                                                                                                                      

CPU: Intel I7-4790k | MOBO: Asus Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 | Ram: Corsair Vengance 32GB 1600hz | GPU: EVGA GTX980 Reference

PSU: Corsair EVGA G2 850W  | SSD: Intel 730 Series 480GB, Kingston SSDNow V300 120GB | HDD: WD Black 1TB

 CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 | Case: Corsair 760T (White) | Peripherals: (2)Asus VS247H-P, Corsair M65, Corsair K70 RGB w/ Brown Switches

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/#findComment-2428134
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I rather run a VM any day then have to run off of a live USB stick. To use a USB stick, you have to turn off your current session of windows, meaning you have to close out all your windows. Since I tend to leave my applications I use daily open, I find it an in convince to have to close down everything and then reopen it all. And there really is no work to running a VM, it is just a few clicks to get it initially setup, run the install and its there till you delete it. 

 

Fair emough.  You may find it easier but not everyone has the memory to run a VM or leave their applications open.  Each to their own I suppose.  For me booting to a USB stick iwould be a lot easier than running a VM.  When I was investigating Linux (To get wife and kids to except it I had to make it so like Windows that there was no real point in running it so when I updated this system with an SSD didn't move the Linus OS or GRUB over). I dual booted, so neither the USB or VM route

 Two motoes to live by   "Sometimes there are no shortcuts"

                                           "This too shall pass"

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/180743-how-to-start-using-linux/#findComment-2428219
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing Linux, macOS and Everything Not-Windows

×