I’d like to point out there is indeed a learning curve coming over to Linux, it isn’t a big learning curve, and those who switched can ask questions here.
By the way, ignore all those people who tell you that you can install Linux from Windows XP using something called Wubi, don’t let them cheat you from the experience… also, Wubi hasn’t been working for a while, as far as I know…
Few things to notice before installing Linux:
0. Organize your hard disk
I highly recommend installing Linux on a separate hard drive or partition from your Windows drive, if you wish to keep your Windows drive (for now I recommend keeping it).
You’ve owned this computer for a long time, chances are your hard drives are full.
Try to organize it so that you have at least 10GB of spare space on hard drive (the more the merrier).
Actually Ubuntu only needs 4.5GB and other distros probably needs even fewer, but you probably want to install other things, so that’s why I recommend more than 10.
I’ll talk about how to create the partition in the installation section.
1. Figure out if your target computer has a 32bit or 64bit CPU.
On your Windows XP, the only way you can find out is by going to Control Panel -> Systems (Shortcut: Windows Key + Pause)
If it says Windows XP 64 bit, then you have a 64bit CPU, otherwise copy your CPU model, paste it into google and loop up whether it’s 32bit or 64bit.
There’s a good chance your XP machine has a 32bit CPU, since you probably bought it awhile ago, but sometimes it might be a 64bit CPU with a 32bit OS installed. So looking up your CPU model is a good way to make sure.
2. Go to lubuntu.net or ubuntu.com to download an appropriate ISO
Now you know if your CPU is 32bit or 64bit, download the right ISO for Desktop version.
When in doubt, get 32bit ISO, it runs on both, but why waste your 64bit CPU if you have one?
The Ubuntu download process will ask for donation, there’s a small “Not now, take me to the download” link at the bottom, you can donate when you discovered that you love it.
You can use bitTorrent to download the ISO, it would speed things up a bit,the file is 700MB
3. Download the Pen Drive Linux USB creator
There is a giant blue Download UUI button half ways down that page.
You can follow Ubuntu’s Create a LiveUSB Stick on Windows page to create the liveUSB.
It basically involves pointing the Pen Drive software to the ISO file you have downloaded.
This software works with any Linux. Once you’ve installed Linux, there are other easier ways to create a liveUSB though.
4. Plugin your new liveUSB to the target computer, then reboot into the liveUSB
Usually your computer BIOS is setup to boot with USB if a bootable USB exists.
If it goes straight to Windows, then you need to figure out if your BIOS is set correctly/if the liveUSB is created correctly
To enter your BIOS, stare intensely at your screen when it first boots, and see what key it says to press… or just random press ESC/DEL/F1~F12 like a crazy person on every reboot
Since this should be an old computer, you shouldn’t have UEFI issues, but if you do, let me know, the key is disabling the so called “Secure Boot” option in the BIOS.
5. Click Install Linux
Assuming none of the above is a challenge to you, now you are halfway in the Linux world.
Most of the things are pretty straight forward for the installation menu, except for 2 things:
A. Which installation mode to choose (By the way, this is only an issue if you wish to be able to dual boot into your Windows XP)
B. How to allocate hard drive space
6. Which installation mode to choose (First timers choose A)
The choices…
A. Install along side your Windows XP
B. Replace your Windows XP
C. Something Else
Usually these are the 3 choices, but some versions offers more choices.
The simple answer is if you want to dual-boot to Windows, select A
If you all the files you wish to keep are on a separate partition or hard drive from your “C:” drive, and you want the space eating monster that is Windows XP to be gone, select B
You will see something like this when you select A. You can change the size to your Windows and Linux partitions by dragging the separate in the middle.
If you selected either A or B, skip to 8.
7. Unless you wanted C, allocate hard drive space time…
If you selected A or B, you can ignore this section.
If you are advantageous, this is the first learning curve. Things to know
i. Your drives and partitions are called C: D:… under windows. In Linux, each SATA interfaced hard drive is labeled as “sda, sdb, sdc…” Each partition gets a number, so the first physical partition on your 1st hard drive would be sda1, second one would be sda2. There are also logical partitions, which will be labeled in the same way.
ii. You should be able to recognize your C: drive (assuming you want to keep it) by its size and usage pattern
iii. On Linux the equivalent of “C:\Windows” is your root drive, which is marked as /
iv. The equivalent of “My Documents” and all that My xxx stuff is your home drive, which is marked as /home
v. Although swap space isn’t mandatory, I recommend having a 3GB swap anyway
For now what we want to see is:
A. Your old Windows XP in sda1, with enough space to contain all your old files, you can create a new partition from your sda free space, create volume from the rear is a good way to go. Don’t change the filesystem setting of this one.
B. Your Linux root, mount point /, should be either in sda2 or other sda partitons, or another hard drive sdb or sdc all together. This should be at least 8GB, File system should be EXT4.
20GB of / root file system, choose end of space if it shares the same hard drive as your old Windows XP
C. Your home, Mount point /home, in another partition. Keep your home away from your root is a good practice, when you upgrade or install other linux, it won’t mess up your things. This should be as large as you can make it. File system should be EXT4.
D. 3GB of swap, File system should be SWAP.
Then click next, and if you do it right, things are going to be fine, otherwise, just wipe the whole thing and you will have a Linux standalone computer!
8. Login/Password
Choose a good and easy to type user name for login, and give your new computer a short and snappy computer name.
Many Windows XP users can’t get used to using passwords. I say get used to it. Set a good password for your new machine. Use it when you logon, return from hibernation. This is what keeps your computer safe! also why Windows security is such a disaster. Windows 7 and 8 asks for passwords all the time as well.
Congrats, you know have a Linux machine.