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Live Linux environments work just like a typical operating system but run entirely from a CD or USB stick — the latter being the most common choice these days. Since nothing is written to the host computer’s local storage, when you’re done all you need to do is remove the media, reboot, and everything will be exactly as it was.
There are a number of uses to this, from simply test driving Linux to troubleshooting a Windows PC, or work on the go from someone else’s computer but running your own OS securely with all your personal files and settings.
There are basically two options when it comes to running Linux from a USB drive: from within Windows using virtualization software such as VirtualBox, or creating a boot disk. This quick guide details both methods in a few easy steps.
Running Linux from a USB drive in Windows
This option will come in handy if you want to run a Live Linux environment but need to retain access to Windows. Perhaps you just want to do something real quick without rebooting, or want to be able to hide the virtualized Linux instance. Our preferred weapon of choice here is a little tool called LinuxLive USB Creator.
It’s free, open-source software, and it has a built-in virtualization feature that lets you run a self contained version of VirtualBox from the USB drive. This means the host computer you’ll run Linux from doesn’t need to have VirtualBox installed.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Download and transfer the ISO image of your preferred Linux distribution to a USB drive.
- Download and install LinuxLive USB Creator.
- Launch LiLi USB Creator and follow the straightforward steps guiding you through the process.
- Step 1. Select the USB drive where you want Linux installed.
- Step 2. Choose the source ISO file of the Linux distribution you downloaded.
- Step 3. Choose Live Mode.
- Step 4. Leave the third box checked, the other two are up to you and self-explanatory.
You will need and internet connection to complete the process — mainly to download VirtualBox if you don’t have it installed. Once the process is finished, open your USB key in Windows Explorer and you should see a folder called VirtualBox containing two executable files: VirtualizeThisKey.exe and VirtualBox.exe.
Running VirtualizeThisKey.exe will launch your Linux distribution in Windows (inside VirtualBox), whereas VirtualBox.exe opens the full VirtualBox interface.
Boot Linux from a USB drive
If you’d rather load Linux without going through Windows first this is the way to go. There are a few different tools for creating bootable USB drives around the web but one I’m particularly fond of is YUMI — short for Your Universal Multiboot Installer.
This is the successor to our MultibootISO and can be used to install more than one distribution to run from your USB. It’s extremely simple to use, and all files from each Linux distribution are stored within the Multiboot folder, making for a nicely organized Multiboot Drive that can still be used for other storage purposes.
- Download the ISO image of your preferred Linux distribution.
- Download and install YUMI.
- Launch YUMI and follow three simple steps guiding you through the process.
- Step 1. Select the USB drive where you want Linux installed.
- Step 2. Select the Linux distribution you’ll be installing from the list.
- Step 3. Choose the source ISO file of the Linux distribution you downloaded.
Once YUMI is done you’re all set. To boot into Linux just plug the USB drive into the host computer, reboot, and press the required key during this process to enter the Boot Menu (usually F10). After choosing your USB drive you should see the YUMI boot menu where you can pick the desired Linux distribution in Live mode.
You can run YUMI’s boot drive creator again to add More ISOs/distributions to your drive as needed and they’ll all show up in this menu during boot.
Which Linux distribution should I install?
There’s no single right answer to that question. For a new user jumping into the world of Linux-based operating systems the amount of options available can be overwhelming. Finding the “right” distro for you can only be done though experience but there are plenty of resources online to help you figure it out.
Popular choices for newcomers include Ubuntu, Mint and PCLinuxOS. If you are looking for a secure operating system to take with you anywhere, you might also want to give Tails a try. The latter received a lot of press recently when it was disclosed that Edward Snowden was using it to avoid NSA snooping.
Are you a Windows user who is curious to try Linux (Ubuntu in particular) because you have heard so many good things about the OS from your geek friends?
There are two ways to use Linux on a Windows computer. You can either install the full Linux OS alongside Windows, or if you are just starting with Linux for the first time, the other easy option is that you run Linux virtually with making any change to your existing Windows setup.
The former option will offer the best performance because all your system resources will be available to Linux but the latter option is absolutely risk-free and therefore recommended for novice users. You’ll be able to test drive Linux but without changing a single file on your Windows computer.
Running Linux with Windows – Your Options
Let’s look at some of the easiest ways to use Linux on a Windows computer. Linux is available in multiple flavors (your friends may call them Linux distros) but here, let’s focus on the desktop edition of Ubuntu, perhaps the most popular and actively developed Linux distribution.
A: Test-Drive Linux Online as a Web App
Perhaps the easiest way to try Linux on your Windows Desktop is inside your web browser. Go to edubuntu.org, fill that simple form and within a minute, you’ll have the full version of Ubuntu Linux running on your desktop inside a Java applet.
There’s absolutely no need to download or install anything on your computer and a single session can last up to two hours. You get access to all the features that are available in the standard desktop edition of Ubuntu Linux including the ability to download and install new packages from the Linux repository.
B: Run Linux from a USB Stick or a CD
The most popular option to test-drive Linux on Windows is a LiveCD. Though it says “CD,” you can also use a USB Flash Drive as a LiveCD (without having to burn a CD).
To get started, download the latest version of Ubuntu to your desktop. This is an ISO file (also known as a CD image) that is around 650 MB in size. If you don’t have a great Internet connection, you can always borrow the Ubuntu CD from a friend (yes, its perfectly legal) or order a readymade live CD from OSDisc.com.
Once you have Ubuntu ISO image file, grab an empty USB disk and use UNetbootin to quickly turn that USB drive into a bootable Ubuntu disk for Ubuntu without having to burn a CD. Insert the bootable USB flash drive into your Windows computer and reboot. If this doesn’t work, go to the BIOS boot menu and change the boot sequence.
You should see an option at the boot menu that says “Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer” – choose that and you are good to go. Once inside Linux, you can install new programs, create files and everything else that you normally do at a computer though your changes won’t be written to the disk.
The Ubuntu portal has more details on creating and troubleshooting a LiveCD.
C: Run Linux in a Virtual Machine
The term virtualization may sound very geeky but in simple English, all it means is that you can another OS over an existing OS. For instance, you can run Windows on a Mac or you may install Linux on a Windows 7 machine using virtualization software.
To get started, download and install the free VMware Player on your Windows desktop. Then download the VMware image for Ubuntu and extract the zip file (I use PeaZip). Now double-click the Ubuntu.vmx file that you just extracted and the Linux virtual machine will load inside the VMWare Player. Simple!
Technically, Linux will be the “guest” operating system while “Windows” will be considered the host OS. And other than VMware, you may also VirtualBox to run Linux inside windows. The VirtualBox installer and the Ubuntu Linux images for VirtualBox for can be downloaded for free from oracle.com.
D: Install Linux like a Windows Software
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could install Linux like a native Windows app – something like Microsoft Office? For instance, if you have Office running on Windows, you can always uninstall the software later without affecting any other Windows programs or system settings.
Meet Wubi – short for Windows-based UBuntu Installer – a tiny utility that will help you install Ubuntu Linux alongside any other Windows application. Run the installer, choose a password for your Linux environment and the software does the rest.
It will download the necessary Linux ISO from the Internet and will install it on your machine. Alternatively, if you have previously download the ISO, you can just place the .iso file in the same folder as Wubi and it will pick it up.
Now the next time you restart / reboot your computer, it will offer you a choice of Linux (Ubuntu) and Windows. This is a real Linux installation and thus the overall performance should be good as well. If you ever want to uninstall Linux, simple boot into Windows, go to the Add-Remove problems and uninstall Wubi.
E: Run Linux inside the Web Browser
If you are just starting to learn Linux and are looking for an easy way to practice the various Linux commands, check out the very-impressive JSLinux project.
This is an emulator that lets you use Linux inside your web browser. You may write shells scripts using Sed and Awk, master regular expressions, play around with popular text editors like Vi and Emacs, look up man pages of various Linux command and much more – all inside your browser.
To Install PC Linux OS
PC Linux OS is an open source operating system that available with various desktop interfaces. The installation method of PC Linux OS is similar to the Debian systems. This article shows the installation process of the Linux OS .
Installation of PC Linux OS
Go to PC Linux OS official website to download the ISO file . Once the file is downloaded, burn it into the DVD or make it bootable with USB flash media.
Select ‘ Install PC Linux OS ‘ option to start installation process.
Choose your keyboard layout and click on Next option.
Again click on ‘ Next’ option.
The following steps will help you to create partitions.
Click on sda and select the Ext4 option.
Here you need to enter the size and mount point for the partition.
Again click on sda and select the swap option to create the swap partition.
Then enter the size and click on ‘ OK’ button.
Finally create the root (/) partition.
Set the size and mount point as required.
Click on ‘ Done’ option to accomplish the process.
Confirm the below option to format the partition.
After created the partitions, the installation will start automatically.
Once the installation is completed, select the path to install the boot loader .
Click on Finish option and restart your computer to take effect.
Select the first option to boot it.
Select your Timezone and click on ‘ Next’ option.
Set the root password.
Then create the user account.
Enter the admin credential in the Log on screen, which will appear as shown below,
In this article, you will learn how to install the dig command and nslookup command on Linux. These commands are used for network troubleshooting and gathering information about domain names.
Dig, short for Domain Information Gopher, is a DNS lookup utility used for probing DNS servers and troubleshooting problems associated with DNS servers. Due to its ease of use, system administrators rely on the tool to troubleshoot DNS issues.
Nslookup is used for handling DNS lookups and displays crucial information such as MX records, and the IP address associated with a domain name.
Newer Linux system ship both dig and nslookup utilities by default. However, older Linux systems may not. The two come bundled inside the bind-utils package.
Let’s see how we can install DNS troubleshooting utilities in Linux.
On this page:
- Installing dig & nslookup in CentOS/RHEL
- Installing dig & nslookup on Debian / Ubuntu
- Installing dig & nslookup on ArchLinux
- Using the dig command
- Using the nslookup Command
Installing dig & nslookup in CentOS/RHEL
On Red Hat Linux /CentOS, install dig and nslookup using the dnf command.
Install Bind-Utils in CentOS
Upon successful installation, verify the version using the command below.
Check Dig Command Version
Installing dig & nslookup on Debian / Ubuntu
On Debian and any of its derivatives including Debian, the installation is done using the apt command.
Install DNS Utils in Debian and Ubuntu
Again, to verify the installation, run the command.
Check dig Version in Debian and Ubuntu
Installing dig & nslookup on ArchLinux
For ArchLinux, the command for installing dig and nslookup will be.
Install dns-utils Arch Linux
To check the version of dig installed, run.
Check dig Version in Arch Linux
Using the dig command
dig command can be used to query a domain name and retrieve information as shown:
The command displays a host of information such as the version of the dig command utility, the DNS server, and its corresponding IP address.
Sample Output
To get more specific and display only the IP of the domain name append the +short argument as shown:
To check the MX record of the domain name run.
Using the nslookup Command
To retrieve information about a domain name using the nslookup utility, use the following command.
Sample Output
Conclusion
In this article, you learned how to install dig and nslookup command utilities in different Linux distributions and also the basic usage of the commands. We do hope that you can now comfortably install the utilities when confronted with a system without them.
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In this follow up to Replace the Retiring Windows XP with Linux we’re going learn the easiest and most foolproof way to install and run Xubuntu Linux 12.04 LTS on your old Windows XP computer. The only requirements are that your old computer has USB ports, and that it supports booting from a USB stick. If your computer is too old for USB, then it’s pretty darned old and you really need to think about getting a newer one.
There are but four steps: one, go to OSDisc.com and order Xubuntu Linux on a 32-gigabyte USB stick. Then insert the USB stick into your computer, boot up, and start playing with Linux. It is self-contained and doesn’t change anything on your computer. You can create and save files on the USB stick, install and remove Linux software, and it’s completely portable so you can plug it in and use it anywhere. If you ever get bored with Xubuntu you can delete it and use your USB stick for something else.
Booting to a USB Stick
Ideally your computer is already configured to boot from removable media like USB sticks, CD/DVDs, and even floppy disks if it’s old enough. Boot devices are listed in order in your computer’s BIOS (basic input/output system), for example CD/DVD, USB, and then hard drive. Your computer BIOS is a little program installed in a microchip on your motherboard, and it performs the initial startup before handing off to your operating system. The BIOS goes down this list of boot devices until it finds one that is present, and then uses that.
Watch the boot messages that appear when you first start up your PC and they will tell you how to enter your BIOS, like in figure 1. Then you can see how startup devices are configured. There is no standard way to do this, so you’ll need to press the F1, F2, F11, or Del key to get into your BIOS settings, or possibly even something else; but don’t worry, the startup messages will tell you. Then explore your BIOS settings until you see where to configure the boot device priority (figure 2).
Don’t worry if your screens don’t look exactly like my examples, because they’re all a little different. Save your changes, if any, and exit, and when your system re-starts it should boot to your Xubuntu stick. The first screen has two choices: Try Xubuntu and Install Xubuntu.
Click “Try Xubuntu” to run it from the USB stick. When it’s finished booting you’ll see something like figure four.
Xubuntu recognizes any other installed operating systems, like Windows and system recovery partitions, and there will be icons for them on your Xubuntu desktop. If you have a recovery partition leave it alone. You can click on the Windows partitions to see your files.
Click the little mouse at the top left to see your application menu (figure 5).
Hover your cursor at the bottom to see your Xubuntu dock (figure 6). This auto-hides itself when you move the cursor away. If you want it to always be visible, right-click anywhere on the dock, then left-click Panel > Panel Preferences and uncheck “automatically show and hide the panel.”
Now that you’re up and running, you’re ready to look at some documentation and learn how to run your nice Linux system. Linux uses right-click menus a lot, so remember this while you’re exploring Xubuntu. Visit for how to’s and other help resources.
Take your time and be patient. There is no such thing as a dead-easy, no-knowledge-required personal computer. It doesn’t matter what computer you use, whether it’s Microsoft, Apple, Android, Chromebook, Linux, or anything else. They all require knowledge and study. You should know basic computer terminology and components, and basic networking concepts. We still need keyboards, and there are lots of free typing tutors if you need a tune-up. There are zillions of great YouTube videos and online how to articles, and all kinds of books, and maybe some classes in your community. Linux and the free/open source software world offer a vast wealth of high-quality software for free. We’ve had affordable, sophisticated personal computers for over 30 years, and there is a world of knowledge literally at our fingertips. It’s not hard once you move past “I can’t do this.”
About Xubuntu
I chose Xubuntu because it is part of the excellent and popular Ubuntu family of Linux distributions. The 12.04 LTS (long-term support) release, codename Precise Pangolin, receives updates and security fixes until April 2017. The interim releases are supported only for 9-18 months. It’s nice and lightweight for older computers, and it has a good straightforward user interface. The Ubuntu installer is the easiest and most streamlined of any distro, and Ubuntu updates and upgrades are reliable. Ubuntu is popular and has the backing of its parent company Canonical, so it’s not likely to disappear anytime soon. Xubuntu doesn’t look much like Windows XP, but it has the same basic layout: an applications menu, and a panel that shows notifications and open apps. You can find everything with just a little bit of poking around and clicking stuff.
NodeJS is an open source, cross-platform, and lightweight JavaScript run-time environment that can be used to build scalable network applications. It is fast and efficient server-side software built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. Initially, JavaScript was primarily used for client-side scripting. But, Nodejs enables JavaScript to be used for server-side scripting, and runs scripts server-side to produce dynamic web pages. Another notable thing is Nodejs has a command-line utility called npm, a package manager to install, manage nodejs libraries and applications. Nodejs package ecosystem is the largest ecosystem of open source libraries in the world. In this tutorial, we will see how to install Node.js on popular Linux operating systems including Arch Linux, Debian, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS, Fedora etc.
Install NodeJS on Linux
There are quite a few ways to install Nodejs. Here I have listed 3 methods.
The first method is the recommended to install Nodejs. Especially, the first method is the best way to avoid permission issues while installing packages globally
The second method is for those who wants to use the stable NodeJS version.
And, the third and final method describes how to install Nodejs from source. This is suitable for those who wants to get hands on latest nodejs version.
1. Install Nodejs on Linux using NVM (Recommended method)
This is the recommended way to install Nodejs. Furthermore, it is the best way to avoid permissions issues. NVM (Node Version Manager) is a bash script used to manage multiple Node.js versions. It allows us to install, uninstall node.js, and switch from one version to another. Good thing is we can install to any available Node.js version of our choice, using NVM.
To install nvm, use the latest install script from here.
The above command will clone the nvm repository to
/.nvm and add the source line to your profile (
Sample output:
Restart your Terminal once before start using NVM. If you are on SSH, exit from the current session and log in again.
To verify whether NVM is installed or not, run:
Sample output:
It should output ‘nvm’ if the installation was successful.
Now, we can install Nodejs and npm.
First, run the following command to view the list of available Nodejs versions:
Sample output:
To install/update to the most recent Nodejs version, just run:
Sample output:
As of writing/updating this guide, the latest version was 15.0.1.
1.1. Install specific Node version
You can also install any specific version of your choice, for example v9.3.0, like below.
Sample output:
Similarly, you can install any number of versions you want.
To view the list of installed Nodejs versions, run:
Sample output:
The arrow mark in the above output shows the default node version. As you see in the above output, I have installed 15.0.1.
1.2. Check installed Node version
To view the currently installed and default Nodejs version, run:
Sample output:
Check npm version:
Sample output:
1.3. Switch between different node versions
If you have installed more than one version, you can switch between different Nodejs versions as below.
Or you can just run it to be more specific:
1.4. Set default Node version
To set a particular Nodejs version as the default, run:
Sample output would be:
1.5. Remove Node
Before removing Node, first make sure whether or not the version you are about to remove is the current active version using command:
If it is not currently-active version, simply remove it using command:
If you try to remove the currently active version using command:
You will see an error something like below:
You must deactivate the nvm first using command:
And then try to uninstall node:
Sample output:
2. Install Nodejs on Linux using your distribution’s package manager (Stable, but outdated versions)
Nodejs is available in the default repositories of most Linux distributions. It might not be latest version, but stable. If you want to have a stable Node.js on your Linux, you better install it using your distribution’s package manager as shown below.
On Arch Linux and its derivatives like Antergos, Manajaro Linux, run the following command to install it:
On Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint:
On RHEL, CentOS, you need to enable EPEL repository first.
And, then install Nodejs using command:
On Fedora:
Note: Since the packages from the default repositories are outdated, you will get the following error when you try to install any NodeJS modules using npm.
To solve this error, you need to create symlink as shown below.
3. Install Nodejs on Linux from NodeSource
Like I already said, nodejs is available in the default repositories, but it might be bit outdated. To install the most recent version, install the latest version from NodeSource.
Add the latest Nodejs repository as shown here depending on the Linux distribution you use.
On Ubuntu and derivatives:
Add NodeJs 15.x repository:
Nodejs 14.x repository:
After adding the repository, install Node.js using command:
On RHEL, CentOS:
Then install Nodejs using command:
For Fedora, follow the same instructions above.
Install build tools (Optional)
To compile and install native addons from npm repository, you may also need to install build tools.
To install build tools on Debian, Ubuntu distributions, run the following command:
On RHEL based systems:
Suggested read:
And, that’s all. You know now how to install Nodejs on your Linux distribution. As you can see, installing Nodejs is fairly easy. Anyone can install and setup the Nodejs within a few minutes.
Starting with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Microsoft is making some Linux distros, including Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, and OpenSUSE Leap 42 available in the Windows Store. Additionally, it’s no longer a prerequisite to enable Developer mode, which makes the installation of Linux distros a lot easier.
However, a number of users a seeing an error code 0x8007007e as they try to install any of the distros, but it’s not a bug in the software. Instead, users are seeing this error because the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), the compatibility layer to run Linux binary executables on Windows 10 is missing.
In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to successfully install Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, and openSUSE Leap 42 on your device.
How to install Windows Subsystem for Linux
Before you can install any version of Linux on Windows 10, you must install WSL using Control Panel.
- Open Settings.
- Click on Apps.
- Click on Apps & features.
Under “Related settings,” on the right side, click the Programs and Features link.
Click the Turn Windows features on or off link.
On “Windows Features,” check the Windows Subsystem for Linux (Beta) option.
After completing the steps, you can open the Windows Store to get the Linux distro you want to use.
Installing Windows Subsystem for Linux using PowerShell
If you prefer using the command line method, it’s also possible to install the Windows Subsystem for Linux using PowerShell.
- Open Start.
- Search for PowerShell, right-click the result, and click Run as administrator.
Type the following command to add the required module and press Enter:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux
Type Y to complete the installation and restart your computer.
How to install Linux distros on Windows 10
After adding the Windows System for Linux module to your computer, there are two ways to install Ubuntu or SUSE Linux distros on Windows 10: you can use Command Prompt or the Windows Store.
Installing Linux distros using Command Prompt
- Open Start.
- Search for Command Prompt, right-click the result, and click Run as administrator.
Type one of the following commands to install Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, or openSUSE Leap 42 and press Enter:
- ubuntu
- sles-12
- opensuse-42
As you execute the command, the required files will download and install automatically on your device. Then simply follow the on-screen directions to complete the setup.
Installing Linux distros using Windows Store
Perhaps an easier way to install Linux distros on Windows 10 is to use the Windows Store using the following links:
Once the installation completes, launch the app, and complete the on-screen directions.
Remember that you’re not limited to install just one version of Linux. If you want, you can also install all three, including Fedora Linux when it becomes available in the Store, and run them all simultaneously.
You can install Linux distros using the Store starting with the release of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. However, if you have a device enrolled in the Windows Insider Program running the latest test build for PC, you can try any of them immediately. Also, note that devices running the Windows 10 Creators Update only supports Ubuntu, which can be installed using these steps.
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Hands-on with Windows 10 build 21354 showcasing new changes and features
We’re back with another Windows Central build video walkthrough. Today, we’re taking a look at Windows 10 build 21354 that was just released in the Insider Dev Channel. It’s the first co_release build, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t new changes to check out.
Review: Outriders is a genuinely fun looter shooter in spite of itself
Outriders has been one of the most anticipated co-op games of 2021. Did People Can Fly manage to deliver a looter shooter that stands above its contemporaries? Here’s our review.
These are all our picks for the very best Windows laptops available
The HP Spectre x360 13 is our pick for the best overall Windows laptop you can buy, but there are a ton of other great options if you need something different. If you’re now working from home and need a quality device, you’ll find it here.
These external monitors go perfectly with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is an excellent laptop, but what if you want to project the display onto a larger screen? You’ll need an external monitor for that. Here are our favorite options.
Starting with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Microsoft is making some Linux distros, including Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, and OpenSUSE Leap 42 available in the Windows Store. Additionally, it’s no longer a prerequisite to enable Developer mode, which makes the installation of Linux distros a lot easier.
However, a number of users a seeing an error code 0x8007007e as they try to install any of the distros, but it’s not a bug in the software. Instead, users are seeing this error because the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), the compatibility layer to run Linux binary executables on Windows 10 is missing.
In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to successfully install Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, and openSUSE Leap 42 on your device.
How to install Windows Subsystem for Linux
Before you can install any version of Linux on Windows 10, you must install WSL using Control Panel.
- Open Settings.
- Click on Apps.
- Click on Apps & features.
Under “Related settings,” on the right side, click the Programs and Features link.
Click the Turn Windows features on or off link.
On “Windows Features,” check the Windows Subsystem for Linux (Beta) option.
After completing the steps, you can open the Windows Store to get the Linux distro you want to use.
Installing Windows Subsystem for Linux using PowerShell
If you prefer using the command line method, it’s also possible to install the Windows Subsystem for Linux using PowerShell.
- Open Start.
- Search for PowerShell, right-click the result, and click Run as administrator.
Type the following command to add the required module and press Enter:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux
Type Y to complete the installation and restart your computer.
How to install Linux distros on Windows 10
After adding the Windows System for Linux module to your computer, there are two ways to install Ubuntu or SUSE Linux distros on Windows 10: you can use Command Prompt or the Windows Store.
Installing Linux distros using Command Prompt
- Open Start.
- Search for Command Prompt, right-click the result, and click Run as administrator.
Type one of the following commands to install Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, or openSUSE Leap 42 and press Enter:
- ubuntu
- sles-12
- opensuse-42
As you execute the command, the required files will download and install automatically on your device. Then simply follow the on-screen directions to complete the setup.
Installing Linux distros using Windows Store
Perhaps an easier way to install Linux distros on Windows 10 is to use the Windows Store using the following links:
Once the installation completes, launch the app, and complete the on-screen directions.
Remember that you’re not limited to install just one version of Linux. If you want, you can also install all three, including Fedora Linux when it becomes available in the Store, and run them all simultaneously.
You can install Linux distros using the Store starting with the release of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. However, if you have a device enrolled in the Windows Insider Program running the latest test build for PC, you can try any of them immediately. Also, note that devices running the Windows 10 Creators Update only supports Ubuntu, which can be installed using these steps.
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Hands-on with Windows 10 build 21354 showcasing new changes and features
We’re back with another Windows Central build video walkthrough. Today, we’re taking a look at Windows 10 build 21354 that was just released in the Insider Dev Channel. It’s the first co_release build, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t new changes to check out.
Review: Outriders is a genuinely fun looter shooter in spite of itself
Outriders has been one of the most anticipated co-op games of 2021. Did People Can Fly manage to deliver a looter shooter that stands above its contemporaries? Here’s our review.
These are all our picks for the very best Windows laptops available
The HP Spectre x360 13 is our pick for the best overall Windows laptop you can buy, but there are a ton of other great options if you need something different. If you’re now working from home and need a quality device, you’ll find it here.
These external monitors go perfectly with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is an excellent laptop, but what if you want to project the display onto a larger screen? You’ll need an external monitor for that. Here are our favorite options.
In this follow up to Replace the Retiring Windows XP with Linux we’re going learn the easiest and most foolproof way to install and run Xubuntu Linux 12.04 LTS on your old Windows XP computer. The only requirements are that your old computer has USB ports, and that it supports booting from a USB stick. If your computer is too old for USB, then it’s pretty darned old and you really need to think about getting a newer one.
There are but four steps: one, go to OSDisc.com and order Xubuntu Linux on a 32-gigabyte USB stick. Then insert the USB stick into your computer, boot up, and start playing with Linux. It is self-contained and doesn’t change anything on your computer. You can create and save files on the USB stick, install and remove Linux software, and it’s completely portable so you can plug it in and use it anywhere. If you ever get bored with Xubuntu you can delete it and use your USB stick for something else.
Booting to a USB Stick
Ideally your computer is already configured to boot from removable media like USB sticks, CD/DVDs, and even floppy disks if it’s old enough. Boot devices are listed in order in your computer’s BIOS (basic input/output system), for example CD/DVD, USB, and then hard drive. Your computer BIOS is a little program installed in a microchip on your motherboard, and it performs the initial startup before handing off to your operating system. The BIOS goes down this list of boot devices until it finds one that is present, and then uses that.
Watch the boot messages that appear when you first start up your PC and they will tell you how to enter your BIOS, like in figure 1. Then you can see how startup devices are configured. There is no standard way to do this, so you’ll need to press the F1, F2, F11, or Del key to get into your BIOS settings, or possibly even something else; but don’t worry, the startup messages will tell you. Then explore your BIOS settings until you see where to configure the boot device priority (figure 2).
Don’t worry if your screens don’t look exactly like my examples, because they’re all a little different. Save your changes, if any, and exit, and when your system re-starts it should boot to your Xubuntu stick. The first screen has two choices: Try Xubuntu and Install Xubuntu.
Click “Try Xubuntu” to run it from the USB stick. When it’s finished booting you’ll see something like figure four.
Xubuntu recognizes any other installed operating systems, like Windows and system recovery partitions, and there will be icons for them on your Xubuntu desktop. If you have a recovery partition leave it alone. You can click on the Windows partitions to see your files.
Click the little mouse at the top left to see your application menu (figure 5).
Hover your cursor at the bottom to see your Xubuntu dock (figure 6). This auto-hides itself when you move the cursor away. If you want it to always be visible, right-click anywhere on the dock, then left-click Panel > Panel Preferences and uncheck “automatically show and hide the panel.”
Now that you’re up and running, you’re ready to look at some documentation and learn how to run your nice Linux system. Linux uses right-click menus a lot, so remember this while you’re exploring Xubuntu. Visit for how to’s and other help resources.
Take your time and be patient. There is no such thing as a dead-easy, no-knowledge-required personal computer. It doesn’t matter what computer you use, whether it’s Microsoft, Apple, Android, Chromebook, Linux, or anything else. They all require knowledge and study. You should know basic computer terminology and components, and basic networking concepts. We still need keyboards, and there are lots of free typing tutors if you need a tune-up. There are zillions of great YouTube videos and online how to articles, and all kinds of books, and maybe some classes in your community. Linux and the free/open source software world offer a vast wealth of high-quality software for free. We’ve had affordable, sophisticated personal computers for over 30 years, and there is a world of knowledge literally at our fingertips. It’s not hard once you move past “I can’t do this.”
About Xubuntu
I chose Xubuntu because it is part of the excellent and popular Ubuntu family of Linux distributions. The 12.04 LTS (long-term support) release, codename Precise Pangolin, receives updates and security fixes until April 2017. The interim releases are supported only for 9-18 months. It’s nice and lightweight for older computers, and it has a good straightforward user interface. The Ubuntu installer is the easiest and most streamlined of any distro, and Ubuntu updates and upgrades are reliable. Ubuntu is popular and has the backing of its parent company Canonical, so it’s not likely to disappear anytime soon. Xubuntu doesn’t look much like Windows XP, but it has the same basic layout: an applications menu, and a panel that shows notifications and open apps. You can find everything with just a little bit of poking around and clicking stuff.
