Installing Debian
Introduction to Linux(Linux 4 n00bs)
Starting up the computer:
Place your imaged thumb drive or DVD in the computer intend to install Linux on
"WARNING" This instruction is for a full hard disk install. If you wish to dual
boot please reference the Debian official documentation.
When turning on the computer your bios boot order may not be set to recognize the
USB or DVD before the hard disk(or at all) and you may end up booting into an already
installed operating system if this is not changed. When booting your computer may display
a key to press to enter the BIOS menu or a boot menu. You can use the settings in
either of these menus to change the boot order. If fast boot is enabled and you can
not get this information from the display you may be able to press the delete key and
get to the bios menu or you may have to consult your manufacturers manual for the appropriate
key. Once the appropriate boot order is selected the computer will boot into the Debian
installation menu.
Installation:
Language Selection
This is the first option you come to. For most people this will be American English
Setting a Hostname
This can be anything you want it to be. It is essentially the name of your computer
Enter a domain name
If on a private network this can also be whatever you want
Root Password
This password is for the root user (this user has all administrative rights to this machine
and will not be what you are normally logged in as)
New User Real Name
This requests your real name but really it doesn't matter what you put
New User Name/Password
This is the username that you will normally log onto the computer with.
Time Zone
Select Eastern for EST
Paritioning(Guided-Use entire disk)
- select the hard disk which should be listed as /sda
- select all files in one partition
- select finish and write
- "Write changes to disk" select yes
at this point there will be a long pause while the file system is created and some files are copied
Scan another CD or DVD
Select No
Configuring Popularity Contest
This is essentially asking if you want to send data back to the developers. This is a personal decision
I usually choose no
Select package to install
This is a personal preference based on what you want the machine to do. I almost always recommend at least SSHD.
You can always install more packages later.
- Now there will be a very very long pause while Debian is installed
Installing the boot loader
since we are not dual booting select yes to install Grub to the MBR(Master Boot Record)
Choose the device /dev/sda (Your hard drive)
Installation complete
At this point you should take the installation media out of your machine and press continue.
Your machine will reboot into your new operating system.