Your Ultimate Guide to Installing LMDE 7 ‘Faye’
Looking for a stable, fast, and user-friendly Linux experience that isn’t based on Ubuntu? Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) 7 offers the elegance of Linux Mint built directly on the rock-solid foundation of Debian. This provides a robust and reliable system, making it an excellent choice for both new users and seasoned veterans seeking stability.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through how to install LMDE 7 (codenamed ‘Faye’) on your computer, step by step. We’ll cover everything from preparing your system to the final installation, ensuring a smooth and successful setup.
Before You Begin: Essential Prerequisites
Preparation is key to a flawless installation. Before you download anything, make sure you have the following in place:
- A Complete Backup of Your Data: The installation process can erase your hard drive. It is absolutely critical to back up all your important files to an external drive or cloud service before you proceed.
- System Requirements: While LMDE is efficient, your computer should meet these minimum specifications:
- 2GB of RAM (4GB recommended for a smooth experience).
- 20GB of disk space (100GB recommended).
- A display with 1024×768 resolution.
- A Blank USB Drive: You’ll need a USB flash drive with at least 4GB of storage. Note that all data on this drive will be erased.
- An Internet Connection: While not strictly required for the installation itself, it’s highly recommended for downloading updates and software.
Step 1: Download the Official LMDE 7 ISO
First, you need the installation file, known as an ISO image. For security and stability, always download the ISO directly from the official Linux Mint website.
Navigate to the LMDE download page and choose the 64-bit version. Once the download is complete, it’s a good security practice to verify the ISO’s integrity by checking its SHA256 sum against the one provided on the website. This ensures your file wasn’t corrupted or tampered with during the download.
Step 2: Create a Bootable USB Drive
You cannot simply copy the ISO file to your USB drive. You must use a special tool to “flash” the image, which makes the USB drive bootable.
A highly recommended, free, and easy-to-use tool is BalenaEtcher. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Download and install BalenaEtcher from its official site.
- Open the application.
- Click “Flash from file” and select the LMDE 7 ISO you downloaded.
- Click “Select target” and choose your USB drive. Double-check that you have selected the correct drive!
- Click “Flash!” to begin the process. This will take a few minutes.
Once completed, you will have a bootable LMDE 7 installation drive.
Step 3: Booting and Starting the Installation
Now it’s time to boot your computer from the USB drive you just created.
- Insert the bootable USB drive into your computer.
- Restart the computer.
- As the computer starts up, you need to open the Boot Menu. This is usually done by pressing a specific key, such as F2, F10, F12, DEL, or ESC. The correct key is often displayed on the screen for a moment during startup.
- From the Boot Menu, select your USB drive and press Enter.
Your computer will now boot into the LMDE 7 live environment. This is a fully functional version of the operating system running directly from the USB. It’s a great way to test hardware compatibility and explore the system before committing to the installation.
On the desktop, find and double-click the “Install Linux Mint” icon to begin the setup wizard.
Step 4: The Installation Wizard – A Detailed Walkthrough
The installer will guide you through the final steps.
- Language and Keyboard: Select your preferred language and keyboard layout.
- Multimedia Codecs: You will be asked if you want to install multimedia codecs. It is highly recommended to check this box. These codecs are needed to play common media formats like MP3s and certain videos.
- Partitioning Your Disk: This is the most important step. You will be given a few options:
- Erase disk and install Linux Mint: This is the simplest option for most users. It will completely wipe the selected hard drive and automatically set up LMDE 7. This is the ideal choice for a clean installation on a dedicated machine.
- Something else: This is the advanced option for users who want to create custom partitions or set up a dual-boot system alongside Windows. Only choose this if you are comfortable with manual disk partitioning.
- Timezone and User Account: Select your geographical location to set the correct time zone. Afterward, you will create your user account. Choose a username and a strong password. You also have the option to encrypt your home folder for added security.
After confirming your settings, the installation will begin copying files to your hard drive. You can sit back and relax as the process completes.
Step 5: Finalizing and Rebooting
Once the installation is finished, a pop-up will appear. You can choose to continue testing the live environment or restart the computer.
Click “Restart Now”. You will be prompted to remove the installation media (your USB drive) and press Enter. Your computer will then reboot directly into your brand new LMDE 7 installation.
Welcome to LMDE 7: Your Post-Installation Checklist
Congratulations! You have successfully installed Linux Mint Debian Edition 7. To get the best experience, here are a few recommended first steps:
- Update Your System: The first thing you should always do is check for updates. Open the Update Manager (look for the shield icon in your system tray) and apply all available updates to ensure your system is secure and has the latest software.
- Install Drivers: Go to the application menu and search for Driver Manager. This tool will scan your hardware and help you install any proprietary drivers needed for things like graphics cards or Wi-Fi adapters.
- Explore the Software Manager: Discover and install thousands of free applications from the Software Manager. It’s an easy-to-use, centralized place for all your software needs.
- Set Up System Snapshots: LMDE 7 includes a powerful tool called Timeshift. It creates snapshots of your system, allowing you to easily restore it to a previous state if something goes wrong. It’s like a system restore point for your entire OS and is an invaluable safety net.
Source: https://www.linuxtechi.com/how-to-install-lmde-7-step-by-step/
