Get Minty | Install Linux Mint - a 'set & forget' tutorial

We support Linux Mint:

The following guide is for those of you brave enough to work on your own computer.

For those of you would rather that done right, we have a promo offer from now till October.

Send us your PC, and we will install & setup Linux Mint for $100.

Linux Mint Promo

Before we begin... You should know:

You can just test it without installing it!

No seriously, the USB installer we create in this video is a "Live OS".

Boot from it and just test things out first. See if things work before you install it.

Linux Mint is awesome. It's free and open source software. An operating system that just gets out of your way and lets you work.

No Pop-ups
No Advertising ID
No "Windows Recall" (Microsoft is recording your screen with AI)
No forced Cloud integration (OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive)

Most stuff "Just Works":

Printers just auto-connect (as long as they are on the same network).
There's no "drivers" to install (everything is built into the Linux kernel).
Software is all managed from a simple app-store.

Everything "Just Works".... unless it doesn't:

Some companies HATE open source. (thankfully most of them don't).

NVIDIA
Broadcom
Apple

Are all examples of anti FOSS manufactures. NVIDIA provides software that will allow their products to run in a Linux environment. But this requires you to install their proprietary drivers.

Note: I cover all this in the tutorial video. NVIDIA will work with Linux Mint. You just have to install the proprietary drivers. It's as simple as clicking 3 buttons.

Products made by Broadcom and Apple may or may not be supported in Linux.

Reasonable Expectation:

"If the hardware is at least 3 years old and was widely popular. It's probably been added to the Linux Kernel already."

(starting to see why it might be better to ask a pro?)

Get Minty 1:

Installing the OS on your PC.

Requirements & Recommendations:

You will need a USB Flash Drive that is at least 8GB in size.
- (recommended) don't use a POS drive that barely connects. In fact, it's best to just use a new USB Flash Drive.
Your current HDD/SSD will be wiped when you install Mint.
- (recommended) if you have an HDD (slow and old) take this opportunity to upgrade to an SSD: SATA SSD with 3yr warranty
- (recommended) Install a new SSD, and keep your old Windows SSD as a backup. That way, in case you don't like the change. Switching back to Windows is as easy as just reinstalling your old disk.
You will need a steady internet connection.

Download Mint:

https://linuxmint.com (pick Cinnamon Desktop... the first option).

Create the Bootable USB Drive:

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/burn.html

Get into BIOS:

If you have a working Windows PC you can hold down the Shift key while rebooting to bring up the recovery mode.

Otherwise you will need to press the (it depends on your manufacture): F2 or F7 or F12 or DEL key at boot.

Turn off `Secure Boot`:

You can leave this enabled. But in truth, it adds little to no benefit to Linux Mint.

Secure Boot checks software that is run at BOOT. If it detects that there is a software trying to start at boot and that software isn't "Signed". The Boot will fail.

This isn't necessary in Linux Mint because of how software is handled in Mint.

In Windows and Mac, you install software from random websites. (like that email from your Nigerian Prince friend).

In Linux, all your software is installed from the App Store. Which is a trusted repo that tests software before it's allowed in the store.

You should not install random software downloaded from random websites into your Linux Mint PC.

If you run NVIDIA, Secure Boot might cause problems (because NVIDIA graphics drivers must run at boot... and sometimes they just fail).

Change the Boot Order:

On most PCs you can just press the F7 at startup. And that will bring up a list of bootable disks. But for simplicity, you're already in the BIOS, so just permanently change the boot order now. (be sure to change this back after you have setup your Minty Fresh PC).

Boot it, and double click the "Install":

It's really just easy-peasy after you boot. Just chill for a bit and you'll have a nice new PC.

The SUPER IMPORTANT STEP at min 4:50:

Do NOT select "log in automatically".

You can change this setting after you install Mint.

The reason why... If you choose this option at install. You'll have to manually setup your "Keyring" password and password manager.

Every OS has a password manager (search Windows for "Credentials"). This is where things like Chrome's encryption key are stored.

Mint will automatically set this up for you and use the password you provide as the decryption password.

Get Minty 2:

Setting it up so you don't have to think about it for a few years.

Every 5 years a new version of Linux Mint comes out. That is the only time you'll need to do a manual update.

System Snapshots:

This feature will create "Snapshots" of your PC. So that anytime an update happens, a snapshot of the system gets taken. If an update causes a problem with your system, you can now just "roll back" to the previous version. (unlike Windows "Uninstall Updates" this feature actually works.)

Install Proprietary Drivers (if needed):

This will check to see if you need any non-opensource drivers. (NVIDIA)

Do your first update and reboot:

After reboot we will setup Auto-Updates.

Go back to the Update Manager:

Click on Edit > Preferences.

Go to Automation and turn everything on (now you're good for a few years).

Explore your Software Manager:

Everything in Linux should be installed via the Software Manager (app store). Only ever install software that isn't in the Software Manager if you really trust the source (Like TxTechnician or Synology).

It's all free. Some of it has subscription options that enable other features (Like Bitwarden or Obsidian). We call those "Feemium" apps.

Firewall:

Enable it.

Get Minty | Install Linux Mint - a 'set & forget' tutorial

We support Linux Mint:

Before we begin... You should know: