To install desktop Linux on a PC, download a distribution’s ISO from its official site, write it to a USB drive with the recommended media-creation tool, boot the PC from that drive, and follow the installer. Back up important files first, and read the installer’s disk-change summary carefully: installing alongside an existing system, erasing it, and manually partitioning have very different consequences. If available, start with a live USB session to check how the distribution works on your hardware before installing.
Choose how you want to use Linux
Decide what you want to happen to the PC before creating installation media. The right choice determines what you do when the installer asks about storage.
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- Try Linux without installing: Boot a live USB and use the desktop temporarily. Ubuntu and Fedora document live sessions that let you test the system without making permanent changes.
- Install alongside your current operating system: Keep both systems available, if the installer detects a supported setup and offers that option. You will need to choose which one to start when the PC boots.
- Replace the current operating system: Erase the existing installation and use the disk for Linux. This can remove existing files and systems, so proceed only after backing up what you need.
- Use a virtual machine: Run Linux inside virtualization software rather than changing the PC’s main operating system. Ubuntu’s download page links to a virtual-machine route.
This guide focuses on installing a desktop distribution on a PC from USB. Server installs, Apple Silicon, encrypted disks, and complex dual-boot layouts need instructions specific to that hardware and configuration.
Choose a distribution and download the right image
Use the chosen project’s official download page, and check its current release instructions before you begin; release names, support periods, requirements, and installer screens can change. At the time the official pages were reviewed in 2026, Ubuntu’s download page listed Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS, while Fedora’s Workstation page listed Fedora Workstation 44, released April 28, 2026. These are dated examples, not a recommendation to install those versions without checking what is current.
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Match the download to your computer’s processor architecture. Fedora’s page provides separate x86_64 and aarch64 images. Ubuntu recommends certified hardware where possible; if your device is not listed, trying the desktop in a live session can help you assess it. Neither certification nor a successful live session guarantees that every component will work perfectly after installation.
Requirements are distribution-specific. Fedora says 40 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM are recommended for most Fedora variants, and that doubling those amounts may provide a better experience depending on use. Those figures are not universal Linux requirements. Ubuntu’s current LTS download page described five years of free security and maintenance updates, extendable up to 15 years through Ubuntu Pro; check the page for current release and support terms.
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Back up files and prepare a USB drive
Make a recent backup of files you cannot afford to lose before changing partitions or installing an operating system. Use a USB drive whose contents can be erased: writing installation media deletes the data on the selected drive.
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Capacity recommendations differ by distribution. Ubuntu’s current installation tutorial recommends a flash drive of 8 GB or more. Fedora says 4 GB is sufficient for its Fedora Media Writer workflow. If you want one reusable drive for different distributions, 16 GB or larger is a convenient general-purpose choice, not a minimum published by either project.
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An ISO is a disk image, not a file to copy onto a USB drive like a document. Use the distribution’s documented image writer or instructions to write the image as bootable media. Ubuntu’s USB guide warns that selecting the wrong disk or file can damage the running system, so confirm the target drive before starting.
Verify the downloaded image
Follow the verification method published by the distribution for the release you downloaded. Fedora explains how to validate its checksum file using a Fedora Project OpenPGP certificate and then compare the download’s SHA256 value with the published value. Signature-backed validation checks that the checksum file is authentic; checking only that a checksum matches can detect accidental corruption but does not provide the same authentication. Ubuntu’s reviewed installation passages do not establish an equivalent procedure, so do not assume Fedora’s method applies to every distribution.
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Boot from USB and test the live session
- Insert the prepared USB drive and restart the PC. If the existing operating system starts, restart again and open the machine’s one-time boot menu.
- Select the USB drive. The key varies by computer. Ubuntu lists F12 as common and Escape, F2, and F10 as other common keys; the startup prompt or the computer maker’s instructions are the best guide for your model.
- Choose the live or try option if it is offered. Fedora documents booting its live USB to try the desktop without permanent changes; Ubuntu also describes testing its desktop this way.
- Check the essentials before installing. Try the display, keyboard, trackpad or mouse, network connection, sound, and any hardware you rely on. A live session is a useful compatibility check, not a promise that every driver or device will behave identically after installation.
Choose the installer’s storage option carefully
Installer choices depend on the distribution and on what it detects on your PC. Ubuntu’s documented flow offers alongside, erase-and-replace, and advanced manual partition options where applicable. Read the storage summary before confirming anything, and make sure it matches your intention.
| Choice | What it means | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Install alongside | Keep an existing operating system and add Linux to the disk, if the installer detects and supports the arrangement. | People who want to keep both systems available and understand the proposed disk changes. |
| Erase and replace | Remove the existing system and use the selected disk for Linux. Existing data may be deleted. | People intentionally replacing the current installation after backing up needed files. |
| Manual or advanced partitioning | Choose or configure disk partitions yourself. Ubuntu labels this route for advanced users. | People who understand their disk layout and the specific distribution’s partitioning requirements. |
If you need to preserve files or another operating system and do not understand the changes shown in the summary, stop rather than guessing. Consult current dual-boot instructions for your distribution and device before proceeding. A generic partition recipe is not safe to apply to every disk, firmware mode, encrypted drive, or dual-boot configuration.
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- Dual USB-A & USB-C Bootable Drive – works with almost any desktop or laptop computer (new and old). Boot directly from the USB or install Linux Mint Cinnamon to a hard drive for permanent use.
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Complete setup and start the installed system
Follow the prompts for the distribution you chose. Ubuntu’s installation walkthrough includes choices such as keyboard layout, network, storage, location, and account information; other distributions and releases may present different screens. When installation finishes, follow that project’s current first-boot and update instructions rather than assuming another distribution’s steps or labels will match.
Quick Recap
Official instructions and downloads
- Ubuntu Desktop download page
- Ubuntu Desktop installation tutorial
- Ubuntu guide to creating a USB stick
- Fedora Workstation download and verification instructions
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