Install Debian Linux by creating Flash Drive on Windows

Install Debian from USB on Windows

Debian is a free Linux distribution which users can install to operate their computers. You can install Debian Linux on a computer using a bootable flash drive with Debian Linux setup files on it. This article describes the process to install latest version Debian Linux as a Single Boot Host Operating System on a Computer by creating a bootable Debian Linux USB Flash Drive on an existing Windows System while replacing the existing operating system. You can use a Flash Drive of 4 GB or more to make it Debian Linux bootable Flash Drive.

To create a Debian Linux bootable Flash Drive (in other words Pen Drive or USB Drive) on a Windows system and install it as a single host operating system follow the Five easy steps below:

Step 1: Download Debian Linux ISO File

Login to your Windows System, open a web browser and navigate to official website of Debian Linux Operating System. On the Home Page, click on “Getting Debian” menu to navigate to download page of current release of Debian Linux Operating System.

On download page, scroll down the page and click on “complete installation image” link to navigate to CD-DVD ISO image page. On the CD-DVD ISO image page click on “Download CD/DVD images using HTTP” option to navigate to Downloading Debian CD/DVD images via HTTP/FTP page. On this page, click on “Official CD/DVD images of the stable release” link to navigate to page for downloading stable release’s ISO file. There will be two section on the page viz. “CD” and “DVD”. It is better to use a DVD as the capacity of CD is too low for ISO image files and you will need multiple CDs for the purpose. Thus, it is better to use a single DVD instead of multiple CDs.

Under the DVD section, there will be links for different computer architectures such as 64-bit, 32-bit, etc. Most modern computers are built on 64-bit architectures nowadays. Thus, click on “amd64” link to navigate to ISO file download link page.

Scroll down the page to check the link for DVD-1. It will in the format “debian-version-architecture-DVD-serial_number.iso”. For example, “debian-10.2.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso”. Click on the link to download Debian 64-bit DVD–1 ISO file.

Debian Linux DVD-1 There would be options for DVD-2 and DVD-3 iso files as well. These additional DVD-2 & DVD-3 ISO files shall not be required for installation as these contains additional packages which can be downloaded and installed over internet later.

Click on latest version Debian Linux ISO file to download ISO file. The browser will prompt to save the ISO file. Save the ISO file to your computer. Wait for the download to finish.

Step 2: Download Rufus Flashing tool

In the meantime, while the Debian Linux ISO file is downloading, navigate to official web site of Rufus to download Rufus flashing Software tool for creating a bootable Flash Drive. Scroll down the page and click on the link to download latest version of Rufus tool under download section. Wait the download to finish and close the web browser.

Step 3: Flash Debian Linux ISO to USB Flash Drive

Go to the download location and open Rufus tool by executing downloaded Rufus file. The “Device” dropdown box will be empty. Insert a Flash Drive in the USB slot of your computer. Rufus will detect the Flash and display in “Device” dropdown box. Now browse and select the Debian Linux ISO file from download location by clicking on “Select” button. Type in Label for the flash drive of your choice or continue with default label. Keep other options with default values and click on “Start”. Click “Yes” to allow Rufus to download additional system files for compatibility with the given ISO file. Click “OK” and continue with recommended option to “Write in ISO Image mode”. Ensure that there is no important data on the Flash Drive (as it will be erased) and click “Ok” to continue flashing the drive. Wait for the flashing to finish. Click “Close” when Rufus window display “Ready” as status to close the Rufus Tool on successful flashing of Flash Drive.

Step 4: Set and Boot from bootable Flash Drive

On system boot, press a designated key (F10, F12, F2, Del, Esc, F9) to enter BIOS or UEFI Setup. It could be different on different make and model. Try other keys as per Make and Model of your computer. Search for the booting device settings and select USB Drive as the Booting Device. Save and Exit BIOS / UEFI setup. The system will restart. While booting, press the designated key (F9, F10, F12, F2, Del, Esc) to display Boot Menu. It will display the list of booting devices. Select USB Drive as Boot Device and Hit Enter.

Step 5: Install Debian Linux

If the system will boot from the flash drive, it will display Debian splash screen on your computer screen. Press “Enter” on “Graphical Install” option to begin installation of Debian Linux.

On the installation wizard select Language, Location, Keyboard Layout and click on continue to proceed on each wizard screen. Then type in a host name and domain name of your choice and click on continue to proceed. You can leave domain name as blank if not available. Then, enter and re-enter root password and click on continue to proceed. Type in the Full Name of the main user and click on continue to proceed. Type in a username for the user and continue. Enter and re-enter user password and click on continue to proceed. Ensure that root password and User password are different for security purposes. Select your time zone to set system clock and continue. Choose “Guided – use entire Disk” and continue. Select the hard disk and continue. Select single or multiple partitions as per your choice and continue. Select “Finish partitioning and write changes to disk” and continue. Select “Yes” option and continue. Wait till installation process is on-going.

The installation wizard will ask whether you are using multiple or single DVD for installation. Select “No” as you will be using only single DVD and continue. Ensure that your system is connected to internet and select “Yes” to use network mirror for downloading additional system files. Select a mirror nearest to your geographical location and continue. Wait till installation process is on-going. Select ‘Yes’ to participate in package usage survey or “No” as per your choice. Wait till installation process is on-going. Choose pre-defined collections of your choice or continue with default. Wait till installation process is on-going. Select “Yes” to install Grub on Master Boot Record to automatically boot in Debian upon restart. Select the Primary Hard Disk and continue. Wait till installation process is on-going. Remove Flash Drive and click on “Continue” to reboot the machine. The system will reboot. Wait while system is rebooting.

Upon reboot, boot loader screen will display various options to load operating system on your computer. Press Enter to load Debian Linux from your Hard Disk. Enter Login password and hit enter or press Sign In button to Login to the fresh installed Debian Linux. Debian Linux OS will be ready for your use. Use it as per your requirements.

Watch the practical demonstration of the above process in following video:


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