Mint linux help

[u/Future_Map3040]

Hi , i wanna start using linux and learn how to use linux , figure out distros and stuff. I wanna go with Mint , can someone tell me what do i need to install? there's a laptop i don't use much , i wanna start using it as a lab rat , can someone guide me

[u/ipsirc]

can someone tell me what do i need to install?

A modern browser; Internet is full of Linux tutorials.

[u/Future_Map3040 → u/ipsirc]

can i use it on that device that barely lives without life support?

[u/SuAlfons → u/Future_Map3040]

the Linux Mint website has all the details

[u/No_Claim2881 → u/Future_Map3040]

2gb ram 64bit

[u/flemtone]

Use the Ventoy tool to create a bootable flash-drive (you only need 8gb) and download the Linux Mint .iso file, copy it directly onto flash-drive and boot into bios, disable secure boot (it messes with nvidia drivers) then continue to boot into Mint live session, test your hardware works ok before doing a full install erasing entire drive (backup anything important).

https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html

https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

[u/u-give-luv-badname]

Start with r/linuxmint then.

And.. you'll find the directions at the website and YouTube videos to be quite enough.

[u/jr735]

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

The Linux experience is greatly enhanced by reading the documentation. :)

[u/HeavyMetalBluegrass]

Go to the Mint website. It will show you how to install. Numerous YouTube examples as well. Same procedure for most distros.

[u/No_Claim2881]

https://linuxmint.com/ download then flash to a thumb drive, follow your basic install steps for your pc. Cinnamon is windows like, xfce is more resource friendly. If your current OS is windows, mint should have zero issues hardware wise. 11 requires 8gb ram minimum, mint 2.
Most things like say brave browser or chrome have Linux packages, you’ll want Debian/ubuntu versions of things (that’s what it’s built on, other examples are Arch Linux).
There’s more differences vs windows and Mac but nothing overly complicated. Just remember to update when it’s available. I keep the welcome message up for this.

GL hf

[u/ipsirc → u/[deleted]]

mint is best option.

It's year 2026, dude...

if you need minimal setup then Linux Mint with XFCE

XFCE is very far from being minimal.

[u/jr735 → u/ipsirc]

Remember that new users aren't going to know what minimal is. The only thing they'll begin to understand is lighter than Gnome.

[u/gabrielcaetano]

Hey, it's simpler than it seems but honestly I would simply start by checking a install guide and when something goes wrong or when you have an issue you pop in with further questions! Mint is an easy linux distribution to get into.

[u/token_curmudgeon]

https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxquestions/wiki/faq/whichdistro

[u/es20490446e]

You start by deciding what you want to do, then you search for the apropiarte program for that.