The Beginnings

So you're thinking of installing this critter called Linux on your PC.  Whatever brought you to this point, first of all, welcome to Linux.  I've been using the operating system for 5+ years.  As a result of this personal experience, I thought I'd summarize a few recommendations for you as you get ready to make this journey.  The following content is intentionally non-technical and hopefully speaks to some rather generic things to consider in pre-installation preparation  of Linux onto your PC.

First, and foremost, as has been stated in numerous quarters, Linux is not Windows!  If you are of the impression that Linux will be a direct plug-and-play replacement for Windows, stay in windows.  There are marked differences between the two platforms.   There are distinctive advantages for both operating system platforms - Linux and Windows.  Since you are interested in Linux, we're assuming for whatever reason, you're ready to move on from the Windows-only environment.

Before you start with Linux, there are a couple of things in general you should consider.  The Linux experience will require an investment of your time in learning how things are done in this environment.  You will be faced with a new style of desktop and a whole host of new applications with Linux.  Additionally, you will gain the ability to have a more direct control over what is going on in your computing experience than you will commonly find in Windows.  With this new power also comes new risks for really messing things up. 

Let's spend a brief moment discussing the applications in Linux.  Unlike the Windows world, the vast majority of applications found in the popular Linux distributions are free.  Linux applications rely on the concept of open source.  Simply put, the source code for the open source application can legally be modified and re-distributed by the public at large.  The people writing these applications generally do not derive a livelihood from their efforts. Any revenue they see is usually through donations from the user community.  Development in a lot of these applications is a collaborative effort between a lead developer and one or more co-developers.  Frequently,  general users also makes contributions to the overall development effort.

Preparations:

Ok, so we haven't scared you off so far and you're still willing to start this journey.  Here are a couple of general recommendations:

Check out a variety of Linux distributions (distros)  before narrowing your initial choice to one.  The easiest way to do this is to visit a  clearing house site like http://distrowatch.com/  . Spend some time checking out the various Linux distros featured in the site. 

When you've narrowed the initial search down to 2 or 3 candidates, spend several days haunting the distro's technical forum.  If offered, pay close attention to the "New User"   forum.  This will give you a good read on some of the problems experienced in the early days of installation and startup.  Also, note the speed at which user problems are addressed.

After you have narrowed your search and investigations down to one Linux distribution, it's time to download and make the CD you will use for checkout and installation.   I won't go into a great deal of technical discussion here, but there are a few general things that you should keep in mind while making the CD.  The first recommendation is to use the download facility set up at your intended Linux distro.  Usually, they have a number of options available such as version and platform-based installs.  I strongly recommend staying away from any "pre-release" versions of the operating system.  Use the "stable production" version versus an alpha or beta or RC (release candidate) versions.  If you are on a PC and not running 64-bit architecture, you will want a download geared to "i386".  Last, but not least, select a download site geographically close to your location.  Note the location where the download file has been deposited on your hard drive.

The next step in this process is to burn the image file you just downloaded to a CD (in some cases, this may be a DVD if noted at the download site).  To do this you will need CD burning software that is capable of burning a CD image file (iso).  Iso files are handled differently than data CDs.  You absolutely MUST burn the CD as an image.  Dragging and dropping the iso file to a CD burner and burning it as a data file won't cut it here.  If in doubt, consult the CD burning application manual or the website for the CD burning software for more specific help here.  

The final (non-technical) word on burning the download iso file is to burn it at a very slow speed.  If your CD burner has the capability to identify and check the "md5 checksum," let it calculate it before starting the burn.  Also use the "verify" option within the CD burning activity if it is available.  Why all this fuss about making your CD?  Basically, you have to have complete integrity between the download file (iso) and the resulting data on the actual CD.  If things are not 100% matched up, your bootup to the CD and/or eventual installation will fail.  You've got enough things that will be requiring your attention soon, so you don't need to deal with this issue also.

The LiveCD

Ok, hopefully you've burned a good CD.  It's now time to try out the Linux distribution .  The CD that you are about to boot to is called a LiveCD.  It fulfills two main functions.  The first is to provide the ability to actually boot to the Linux operating system and try it out without making any permanent changes.  A LiveCD will NOT change your existing PC setup, your hard drive or any data that resides on it.  The second function of the LiveCD is to serve as a platform for the operating system installer.  It is strongly recommended that you resist the urge to install the operating system until you have had a chance to check things out.  The Linux environment is strewn with past new users who bypassed this important step (especially when coming fresh from a Windows setting) and rushed headlong into an installation ill-prepared.

So, to kick off the startup of the LiveCD insert the CD into the CD drive. Once Windows recognizes the CD, restart your PC with the CD in the drive.  If you are successful, you should be greeted with some text initially on a black screen.  With most modern day Linux distributions, you should see some sort of a graphical interface announcing that you are booting up the distribution.  If install is an option on the menu, do not select it but rather select the startup of the operating system.  I'm being purposely vague here as each distribution has it's own interface and the wording and options will vary.

The initiation of the operating system takes appreciably longer than you will experience if/when you install the system.  Be patient as you will be rewarded.  

After the startup completes, you will now see your new desktop in front of you.  The placement and options differ by type of desktop system (commonly we have "Gnome", "KDE" ,and "X").  Within each distribution and within each major version the placement and capabilities vary (hey that's one of the beauties of open source).  With the help of your distribution's user manual and it's technical forum, now is the time to go exploring.  

Again, assuming that you are coming fresh from Windows, here's a short list of things I would recommend that you checkout  before deciding to install:

• Launch the internet browser and check out general browsing on the internet.  Most likely, you will not be using Internet Explorer, but rather an open source browser that is now fully W3C compliant. 
• If you are a user of the Microsoft Office package, you will definitely want to poke at the Open Office suite of applications.  The interface in Open Office is a tad bit different than Microsoft Office, but I have found that most of the core functionality is featured in the Open Office suite of products.  I've also found that, for my limited use, some things are just  easier to accomplish in Open Office.  I'll let you be the judge of that one though.
• If you are interested in digital music, Linux has a whole host of excellent audio players.  Again, each distro is different in the applications they include, so try out the players that come bundled with your distribution.  Remember, whatever the lineup of these players (and most of the other applications you will try out), there is a whole lot of other similar applications available if your individual needs aren't met with the install default applications.
• Checkout some of the utilities that come bundled with your distribution.  Chances are that you will find  a calculator, file browser, note taker and some administrative type of utilities.  Explore and become familiar.
• You probably have some basic games that came bundled with your distribution.  If you're interested in games, definitely check it out.
• The last area that I would strongly recommend that you check out in some detail is the system wide settings.  Chances are that, among other things, you will want to adjust the resolution on the screen a bit. You may also want to customize the basic desktop etc.  Again, play around with things.  If you really mess things up and can't seem to recover, all you need do is to reboot and come back into the LiveCD.
• Checkout anything else you're curious about in the system menu.  At this point you are exploring and playing with the capabilities of the Linux distribution. Don't expect to master everything that you try out and definitely don't over-think the whole experience.

When you are finished exploring the LIveCD, re-boot and remove the LiveCD to get back to Windows.  Also, it is probably a good idea to explore the LiveCD on several different occasions.  One hint, make a note of things you don't understand.  After each session, while in Windows, post your questions back to your intended distribution technical forum for further clarification and explanation.

Conclusion:

The intent of this paper is to provide you with a short list of some non-technical things to consider and do before you actually install a Linux operating system on your computer.  It is my hope that some of the preceding will provide you with some additional information so you can make an informed decision on your selection of your first Linux Operating System.

If you decide to continue this journey, you will most likely find a strong user community willing to assist  you.  After you do your installation, stay focused on learning the nuances of your new environment.  As you expand either the applications or other features of you Linux system,  do one thing completely before moving on to the next item.  This approach will give you the knowledge you need to effectively use the new application.  When you're comfortable with the new application or utility or feature, move on to the next one on your priority list. Avoid the temptation to go into Synaptic or Adept and download a whole lot of stuff that sounds interesting.

The other thought that I'd like to leave you with is to remain open-minded about your new experience.  If you find yourself getting frustrated over a specific problem with Linux and help is not readily available, walk away from it for a while.  Trust me, we've all been in this situation many times.  Sometimes a lag in time will turn on the light bulb of solution.

I intend to author a companion paper soon covering some more technical things that you may want to do in preparation and installation of your new operating system.  If your timing for installation is fast approaching and the article hasn't been published yet, consult with your Linux distribution for direct assistance.

Acknowledgements:

I'd like to thank MikeQ for his very able assistance in providing editorial support in the preparation of this paper.

 Again, welcome to Linux!

-Tim Bonesho 

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