How to install Linux Mint from a USB: everything you need to know

Pablo Aparicio

4 minutes

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If in our comparison of Linux Mint vs. Ubuntu In the end you have opted for Linux Mint, then we are going to show you how to install it from a USB.

Although finding a Linux distribution that we love is not an easy task, many users stop looking when they try Linux Mint. In fact, many advanced users recommend that those who have never tried Linux start using this popular Ubuntu-based operating system. If you are one of these users, in this post you have explained how install Ubuntu from USB and everything you need to know about Linux Mint.

Linux Mint is available in 4 versions

Cinnamon

  • Cinnamon is Linux Mint's own graphical environment and is a fork from GNOME.
  • It is elegant and functional.

MATE

  • MATE is another fork from GNOME and has an almost exact image of the one Ubuntu used until the arrival of Unity.
  • It is lightweight, or should be when using a graphical environment that Ubuntu left in 2010.
  • Especially suitable for those who prefer a classic graphic environment.

Xfce

  • Xfce is even lighter than MATE. In Linux Mint it is very elegant.
  • It is the best option for low-resource PCs.

KDE

  • KDE is one of the most complete graphical environments.
  • It offers many options and has a very attractive image.
  • It is more suitable for more modern computers. Personally, I would say that I love KDE, but I don't usually use it on my laptop because I usually see more bug notices than I would like to see.

Linux Mint system requirements

  • 512MB of RAM. 1GB is recommended for smoother use.
  • 9GB of RAM. 20GB is recommended if you want to save files.
  • Resolution 1024 × 768.
  • The 64-bit version can work in BIOS or UEFI mode, while the 32-bit version will only boot in BIOS mode.

Steps to follow to install Linux Mint from a USB

  1. Let's go to the official website and download the ISO image of the operating system. We can choose between downloading it directly from the web or using a client to download torrent files. Personally, I find it easier to do it using one of the many mirrors offered by the web. What I usually do is try to download directly from the web and, if I see that it will take a long time, I download the torrent and download it with Transmission.
  2. Next we have to create the bootable USB. There are many tools available for any operating system, but I recommend using UNetbootin because it is free and available for Linux, Mac and Windows. In addition, its use is very simple:
    1. If we don't have it installed, we install it. On Linux we can do it using the command "sudo apt install unetbootin" without the quotes. For Mac and Windows we can download it from THIS LINK.
    2. We open UNetbootin.
    3. We look for the ISO image that we downloaded in step 1 by clicking on the 3 dots (…).
    4. We choose the drive where the bootable USB will be created. It is advisable to make sure that we have backed up the important data on that USB.
    5. We click OK and wait for the process to finish.

UNetbootin

  1. We start from the USB we just created.
  2. Now we have to install Linux Mint as we would any other Ubuntu-based operating system:
    1. In the first step, I would recommend connecting the PC to a power outlet and to the Internet, either by cable or Wi-Fi.
    2. We double click on the icon that says «Install Linux Mint».

Tutorial to Install Linux Mint

  1. We choose the language and click on «Continue».

Tutorial to Install Linux Mint

  1. On the next screen we can choose if we want to install third-party software such as flash, MP3, ETC. I usually install it. We choose whether we want to or not and click on «Continue».

Tutorial to Install Linux Mint

  1. In the next step we will choose how we want to install. Of all the options, I would highlight three:
    • Install the system next to another (dualboot).
    • Delete the entire disk and install Linux Mint from 0.
    • More, from where we can make partitions such as root, personal and swap. This is the option that I usually choose.

Tutorial to Install Linux Mint

  1. Once the desired option has been chosen, we click on "Install now" or "Continue" and accept the notice that it shows us.

Tutorial to Install Linux Mint

  1. Now the installation will start for real. In the first step, we choose our time zone and click "Continue".

Tutorial to Install Linux Mint

  1. We select the layout of our keyboard. For the Spanish of Spain we only have to choose «Spanish», but we can make sure if we click on «Detect keyboard layout», which will ask us to press some keys and will configure it automatically. I have to admit that, although I already know what will come of it, I feel calmer if it is automatically detected with this option.
  2. We click on «Continue».

Tutorial to Install Linux Mint

  1. We create our user account. We have to enter:
    • Our name.
    • Name of the team.
    • Username.
    • Enter password.
    • Confirm Password.
  2. We click on «Continue».

Tutorial to Install Linux Mint

  1. Now we have to wait for the installation to take place. When the process is finished, we click on "Restart now" and we will enter Linux Mint.

Tutorial to Install Linux Mint

Do you have any questions about how to install Linux Mint from a USB?