Just use the Linux desktop normally and get a feel for it. Your Linux distribution of choice probably allows you to use it in a “live” environment, meaning it runs entirely off the disc or USB drive and doesn’t actually need to be installed to your computer’s hard drive. (Secure Boot has been a headache for many Linux users.) Most of the larger Linux distributions will boot normally with Secure Boot enabled, but others won’t.

On younger Windows PCs running Windows 10, you may have to disable Secure Boot before booting Linux.

If you’ll be using Fedora, we think the Fedora Media Writer is by far the easiest way to go. Many Linux distributions recommend using Rufus, UNetbootin, or Universal USB Installer. To burn an image to USB, you’ll need a specialized program. Note that booting from USB 3.0 is faster than booting from DVD these days, and more versatile given that most laptops and many desktops no longer include a DVD drive. You can now either burn that ISO image to a DVD or USB. You can use the Universal USB Installer to easily create a bootable thumb drive using an. Head to the Linux distribution’s website and download the ISO disc image you’ll need. Just choose a fairly popular one like Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Fedora, or openSUSE. The Cinnamon desktop environment running on Linux Mint 18.2.Ĭhoosing the single best isn’t your first priority, though. Many Linux users now prefer Linux Mint, which ships with either the Cinnamon or MATE desktops-both are a bit more traditional than Ubuntu’s Unity desktop.

Ubuntu strives to eliminate many of Linux’s rougher edges. DistroWatch offers a good, in-depth summary of all the major Linux distributions you might want to try. Ubuntu is a fine place to start for former (or curious) Windows users.

How to install linux on a new computer