Linux Newbie Tips & Tricks Post 1

BACK UP, BABY!  BACKUP!!! - Before you take the plunge with trying Linux on your Laptop, PC or workstation, be sure you either have a spare machine with your Windows OS installed on it and all of your important files backed up.  (There's nothing worse than trying something new and having something go wrong during the process of trying something new and not being able to go back to how it was before.)

TRY A LIVE CD, DVD OR USB - Before you install something new to your treasured Laptop, make sure you feel comfortable with the look and feel of using the new OS.  Both Ubuntu (Download Ubuntu) and Linux Mint (Download Linux Mint) give you the options of using a Windows installer (Wubi) or an ISO file.  The ISO file is a container storing all of the programs necessary to run the OS all compressed in one file that is represented with a Disc image graphically and with the extension .iso (i.e. myfile.iso)

• What you need to do is download the ISO file of the version of Ubuntu or Linux Mint you want to use based on whether your hardware is 64-bit or 32-bit onto your Laptop.  
• Then you need to download this program called Universal USB Installer (Download UUI) to create the LIVE CD, DVD or USB. 
• Follow the instructions of the UUI site to create the LIVE CD, DVD or USB OR you can use the Wubi from either the Ubuntu or Linux Mint Download sites.  
• After you are done creating the LIVE CD, DVD or USB.  Shut down your Windows Laptop. 
• Plug in your CD, DVD or USB.
• Turn on your Laptop.
• Hit whatever key brings you to the BIOS on your Laptop.  Mine was <F12>.

The Linux Mascot (aka TUX)

• Select the Linux Distro you downloaded from the Options menu and Voila!!! You're off and running Linux.

DUAL BOOT LINUX AND WINDOWS - You know that CD, DVD or USB you created in the step ABOVE  You can use that same media to install a dual boot of Linux alongside Windows.  That way, if you are playing conservative and don't want to end up in the deep end being a newbie and all with Linux, you can at BOOT UP decide which OS you want to use.  This allows you to gain some experience in using Linux, its free Office and other applications and see how they compare to Windows and its commercial applications.

In my next Linux Newbie Tips & Tricks post I will give you equivalent Linux applications that I currently use for Windows applications.  (i.e. LibreOffice for Linux versus MSOffice for Windows).  So STAY TUNED for more posts!!!  By the way, if you find my articles useful, please share them with your Friends.  I'll be happy to turn them to into very fulfilled Linux Converts!!!