I need help on installing linux..

dantel

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My mom's friend wants me to install linux in his laptop because he "thinks that the windows organization are demons and he can't open his files on his computer" so I have downloaded linux kde on his flashdrive and when I've unzipped it, there was no .exe file in the extracted file and I've been searching for answers in the internet, but unfortunately I cannot find any. Any tips on how to install linux would help me "ALOT" have a good day to all of you! :D

PS: i really need answers pronto
 


I think you should boot from the flash drive, There isn't an executable file from windows !
 
You don't unzip the file. You put it on a USB stick in a special way which creates a Bootable Linux USB.

@captain-sensible is pushing Ventoy. https://www.ventoy.net/en/download.html

You could download the Windows version in Windows.

Unzip and install Ventoy to the USB stick...
Copy/Move the ISO you downloaded to the USB stick...
Change the Boot Order so it boots from the USB stick first (before the Hard Drive).
 
You don't unzip the file. You put it on a USB stick in a special way which creates a Bootable Linux USB.

@captain-sensible is pushing Ventoy. https://www.ventoy.net/en/download.html

You could download the Windows version in Windows.

Unzip and install Ventoy to the USB stick...
Copy/Move the ISO you downloaded to the USB stick...
Change the Boot Order so it boots from the USB stick first (before the Hard Drive).
Hopefully the OP is not referring to this;

otherwise, this may help;
 
I did spend good money on an advanced diplomacy course for Yorkshire men , to polish off some rough edges but it still seems if i subtly mention ventoy it seems it comes across as pushing. The only thing i'm pushing om here is Slackware according to rms GNU/Linux
 
Here's another longggg description....a 'how to do it'....it needs to be read a few times....

**How to install/try Linux Mint on your Windows PC**

First, you can -- __and should__ -- try Linux Mint before switching to it. Fortunately, unlike other operating systems, Linux distros like Mint make it easy to give them a test run before installing it.

First you'll need to download a copy of Linux Mint, which comes with three different desktops: MATE, Xfce, and its default desktop, Cinnamon. If you have a 2012-or-newer PC, I recommend you download the 64-bit version of Mint with Cinnamon and multi-media support.

If you don't have an __ISO burner program__, download one. I recommend freeware programs ImgBurn for optical drives and Yumi for Windows for USB sticks. Other good choices are LinuxLive USB Creator and UNetbootin. These are also free programs.

((( I use unetbootin. I download the iso file separately....I don't use unetbootin to download it for me. I then use the area at the bottom of the unetbootin window to locate the iso on my pc, select the USB stick to write it to....select 4gb of persistence (so that after a reboot most/all the changes i have made will still be there)....and away we go !)))


**Giving Mint a try**

Once you've installed the burner program and have the latest Linux Mint ISO file in hand, use the burner to put the ISO image to your disc or USB stick. If you're using a DVD -- __Mint is too big to fit on a CD__ -- check your newly burned disc for errors. Over the years, I've had more __problems with running Linux and installing Linux from DVDs__ from bad discs than all other causes combined.

You can set it up a USB stick with persistent storage. With this, you can store your programs and files on the stick. This way you can carry Linux and use it as a walk-around operating system for hotel, conference, and library PCs. I've found this to be very handy and there's always at least one Linux stick in my laptop bag.

**Next, you place your disc or USB stick into your PC and reboot**. During the reboot, stop the boot-up process and get to your PC's UEFI or BIOS settings. How you do this varies according to the system.

Look for a message as the machine starts up that tells which key or keys you'll need to press in order to get to the BIOS or UEFI. Likely candidates are a function key or the "esc" or "delete" keys. __If you don't spot it the first time, don't worry about it. Just reboot and try again.__


Once you get to the BIOS or UEFI, look for a menu choice labeled "Boot," "Boot Options," or "Boot Order." If you don't see anything with the word "boot" in it, check other menu options such as "Advanced Options," "Advanced BIOS Features," or "Other Options." Once you find it, set the boot order so that instead of booting from the hard drive first, you boot from either the CD/DVD drive or from a USB drive.

Once your PC is set to try to boot first from the alternative drive, insert your DVD or USB stick and reboot. __Then, select "Start Linux Mint" from the first menu. And, from there, you'll be running Linux Mint.__

Some Nvidia graphics cards don't work well with Mint's open-source driver. If Linux Mint freezes during boot, use the "nomodeset" boot option. You set this to the Start Linux Mint option and press __'e'__ to modify the boot options. Then, replace "quiet splash" with "nomodeset" and press F10 to boot. On older PCs using BIOS, press 'tab' instead of 'e.'

__MINT WILL RUN SLOWER THIS WAY, BUT IT WILL BOOT AND RUN__. If you decide to install Mint, you can permanently fix the problem with the following steps:

Run the Driver Manager
Choose the NVIDIA drivers and wait for them to be installed
Reboot the computer

SO **FAR YOU HAVEN'T INSTALLED ANYTHING ON YOUR PC, BUT YOU WILL BE RUNNING LINUX MINT. USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY WITH IT TO SEE IF YOU LIKE IT..**

Using a DVD drive Mint will run slowly, but it will run quickly enough to give you an idea of what it's like to use Mint. With a USB stick, it runs fast enough to give you a good notion of what working with Mint is like.

P__LEASE...play with it...explore everywhere....you CANNOT break it...remember it is on a thumb drive....if it goes up in smoke, just reboot and away you go again. No harm done.__

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The rest is for later reference....if you ultimately decide to Install Linux, you should read the rest of this tome

Advice : Have a look at **'Timeshift'** it is similar to windows system restore.....just MUCH better. It actually works.

A good tutorial can be found : https://www.linuxliteos.com/manual/tutorials.html#timeshift

While you are //playing with Linux// on a thumb drive //you will not need Timeshift//.....but after you have **actually INSTALLED Linux...then i HIGHLY recommend you give Timeshift a run**. If you have an __external hard drive as well, this is the ideal set up.__ You are able to send a 'snapshot' of your system to the external hard drive via Timeshift' ....it serves as a 'safe spot' which you can restore from with one click.
In the case of a (HIGHLY unlikely) bad update, where your normal __Linux__ would not boot.....simply boot the pc to the external hard drive...select the 'snapshot' you wish to run (usually the one made before the bad update)....click on 'restore'....go make coffee.
It will be done by the time you have made it. __Simple.__


=+==================================================================================================


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My mom's friend wants me to install linux in his laptop because he "thinks that the windows organization are demons and he can't open his files on his computer" so I have downloaded linux kde on his flashdrive and when I've unzipped it, there was no .exe file in the extracted file and I've been searching for answers in the internet, but unfortunately I cannot find any. Any tips on how to install linux would help me "ALOT" have a good day to all of you! :D

PS: i really need answers pronto
I usually download a virtual machine and install linux on there
 
this may sound harsh, and far be it from me to not encourage someone to use Linux, BUT
1) if you're going to install and maintain a Linux machine SOMEBoDY is going to have to be willing to take the time and exert the energy to read and study so that they know what they're doing
2) if you Mom's friend thinks that Microsoft is engaged in a conspiracy against him to keep him from opening his files.....he never be happy or productive with ANY operating system. I suspect you could save yourself a lot of grief by figure out what his problem is with his Windows install and fixing it. Then run away.....

keith
 
Yes that is harsh.

For all we know the friend may have a similar sense of humour to my own....any opportunity to give msoft a blast, I take it....every time.
He is more than likely encountering some drama with win 10 that millions of others have encountered and he is not sufficiently educated/trained to fix it. So he takes his frustration out by uttering the first put down he can think of....which in this case is "the windows organization are demons and he can't open his files on his computer".....my retort has been much stronger (around 5 or 6 years ago.
The OP is 30 years old.....there fore it is a reasonable supposition to assume his mums age is around 50+....and mums friend at least the same age or possibly older. Chances of him having half a clue about the vagaries of win 10 are next to zero.
It is fair to say that it is equally sure that he will have even less than half a clue about Linux too !

That is where we come in. He has expressed the desire to try it out, and he knows that his girlfriends son has some idea at least.....not much....but at least more than him !!

Our usual response is to baby him......help him choose a distro, etc etc etc....

Yes it may be wise to advise Dantel to sit at the PC with him and do the reading and doing together.

We are a friendly crowd here Keith
 
Gee. I didn't really think I was being harsh. I'm a friendly bloke too and I meant my post to be a constructive one. But what I hear is, as you say, probably a 50ish man who can't (or won't) figure out how to access his files in windwoes, so the girlfriend's son, who admits that this stuff isnt really his thing, wants to quickly install Linux for the boyfriend. Doesn't sound like anybody involved really is interested in Linux per se. It sounds like desperate people trying to solve a windows problem by going with another OS that is usually a bit more 'hands on' (at least in my experience). I guess I'm just not sure that in this situation, with these players, that Linux is the solution for the problem at hand. That's all I was trying to say...

keith
 
@dantel -- which laptop are you speaking of, friend? Harware info as to make and model, plus how much RAM is in it and whether or not it has a CD burner in it would be most helpful and assist in eliminating assumptions we have to make due to lack of specifics. Burning an ISO has always been easier for me than making a live USB that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

@khedger -- the truth can often be harsh, but what you said was a logical assumption given the lack of specifics noted already. However, we all know what ASSumptions do . . . (LOL).

@everyone -- the written language has its limitations and anyone using a forum (this one is actually tame compared to others) must somehow develop a thick skin and not let egos get in the way, in either asking for or giving instructions, IMHO.
 
@dantel ...there a few answers/vids etc on how to do it......etc etc

It's your turn !

Tell us where you are up to

Made a start ?...success ?
 
Well, I was also thinking this effort is a bit misplaced. New linux users are great. Love em. But when the OP posted asking where the exe file was, I wasn't enthusiastic about the chances of this ending well.

Linux requires its users to take a bit more responsibility, for good or ill. So I sent a link to a video that should answer all his questions.

After he sees that, he will understand he has to burn an iso to usb and figure out how to boot it. Not a very high bar. Then he'll get all the help he needs.

I cant help but notice after condobloke's very well meaning post, we haven't heard back from the op.

My reaction was the same as khedger I just decided a one minute search with link to informative video was the appropriate response.
 
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Give him time.
I'd be a lttle leary of answering, too, if I were him.
(I thought I was hard-core! LMAO!)
PCLinuxOS Community Openbox edition is what I'd recommend for a newb
 


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