Linux Lite OS is a light weight Linux Operating System for PCs (laptops and desktops) with low hardware configuration. You can install Linux lite on a computer using a bootable flash drive with Linux Lite setup files. This article describes the method to install latest version Linux Lite 5.11 as a single boot host operating system by creating a bootable Linux Lite Flash Drive on Windows PC and replacing the existing Windows operating system.
Most importantly, before installation make sure your system has the minimum configuration in compliance with Linux Lite recommended minimum system and hardware requirements. The same are given in table below:
| Processor: | 1 Ghz |
| RAM: | 768 MB |
| Disk Space: | 8 GB |
| Resolution: | 1024 X 768 |
| Flash Drive: | 2 GB or more |
To create a Linux Lite bootable Flash Drive (in other words Pen Drive or USB Drive) on a Windows system and install Linux Lite as a single host operating system follow the six easy steps below:
Login to your Windows system. Open a web browser. Navigate to official website of Linux Lite Operating System. On the Home Page, click on “Download” option from download menu to navigate to Linux Lite Download page of current release of Linux Lite OS.
On download page, click on the Linux Lite download button.
The browser will navigate to the download source page and prompt to save the ISO file. Save the ISO file to your computer.
Important Note: There is no 32-bit ISO download link for Linux Lite OS. That is to say only 64-bit Linux Lite ISO download link is provided. It means Linux Lite can be installed only on the 64-bit machines. Anyways, the system architecture type is 64-bit nowadays on almost all modern computers after 2007. If you have an old PC with 32-bit architecture you may try some other flavor of Linux such as Linux Mint.
In the meantime, while the Linux Lite ISO file is downloading, navigate to official web site of Balena Etcher to download Balena’s Etcher flashing Software tool to create a bootable Flash Drive. The etcher web page will automatically detect your native Operating System to choose the suitable download file for your system. In case automatic detection does not work, you can choose the native operating system by clicking on the drop-down arrow in right corner of download button. Choose the Operating System and click on the download button to proceed with Download.
Save the executable file on your computer.
It is very important for you to verify the Integrity of the ISO file that you are going to use for installation of latest version of Linux Lite Operating System. Thus, you must check the integrity of ISO file before using it for creating a Linux Lite bootable flash drive for installation.
What is Integrity?
Integrity means that the ISO image file was properly downloaded and that the downloaded local file is an exact copy of the file present on the download server. An error during the download may result in a corrupt file and trigger random issues during installation. Any attack by intruders over the network may even modify the ISO file while traveling over network from download server to your PC.
To check integrity, scroll down the Linux Lite download page to navigate to MD5 SUM checker section. Click on the “Drop File Here” button area.
Browse to the download location. Select Linux Lite ISO file and click on open. The online MD5SUM checker will start calculating the MD5SUM. Wait till the MD5SUM is calculated.
Now, open a blank sheet in Microsoft Excel. Go back to MD5 Sum section on web browser. Select the MD5 Sum. Right click and copy the sum. Then, again go to Excel sheet and paste the MD5 sum in an appropriate cell.
Now, again go back to web browser and scroll up the download page. Check for MD5 Sum provided under the current release section. Copy the MD5 sum provided on the website for Linux Lite OS.
Paste the sum in an appropriate cell in Excel sheet. Use “=” (equal to) operator to compare the MD5 sum already provided on Linux Lite website with the MD5 sum generated in MD5 Sum checker section. For example, in new cell type “=F1=F2”, where F1 and F2 are excel sheet’s cell each of which contain the two MD5 sums.
If both the sum will match, then the “equal to” operator will give “True” as an output. Else “equal to” operator will give “False” as an output. If the output is True then proceed to next step. Else, download the Linux Lite ISO file on some other computer with a reliable internet connection and repeat above steps. It is too important to ensure that the ISO file is not malicious and is the same copy that is provided by Linux Lite official website.
Go to the download location and execute the setup file of Balena Etcher to install it on your computer. Proceed with default installation options during installation process. After successful installation, the Balena Etcher software will run automatically for the first time. Or else, you can open Etcher software by executing the shortcut created for the software during installation. Balena Etcher works in three steps as shown in the figure below and mentioned as following:
Click on “Select Image”, browse to the download location and select the Linux Lite ISO image file from the download location. Now, insert a Flash Drive in USB Slot of the computer. Etcher will automatically detect and display the flash drive when it is ready and focus will shift to “Flash” button. Ensure that there is no useful data on the flash drive as Etcher will wipe it off while flashing. Now, click on “Flash” and wait for Flashing to Finish. Upon complete flashing, the flashed drive would be validated by Etcher for any error. If there is no error displayed at the end of flashing, the flash drive would be successfully flashed. If some error is displayed by Balena Etcher software, repeat the above process. The flash drive will now act as Linux Lite Bootable Flash Drive.
The successfully flashed flash drive could be used to install Linux Lite on any computer. Remove the flash drive and close Etcher software. If you want to install Linux Lite on the same computer then Restart the System. Else if you want to install it on any other computer then insert the Linux Lite flash drive in that computer and turn on the computer.
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. Turn off secure boot. 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.
If the system will boot from the flash drive, it will display Linux Lite boot screen on your computer screen. Use arrow to select “Install Linux Lite now” option and hit Enter Key.
Linux Lite installer will open and begin installation process. During the installation follow on-screen instructions. Choose Language, Region, Zone, and Keyboard Layout as per requirement. Else proceed with default options if no specific requirements are there by clicking on “Continue” button.
Most importantly, in the “Updates and other software” section, select the check boxes for “Download updates while installing Linux” and “Install third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware and additional media formats”.
Otherwise you may need to download supporting software from command line mode which is complicated task for beginners.
In “Installation Type” section, choose the option “Erase disk and install Linux”. It will delete all your programs, documents, photos, music and any other files in all operating systems on the entire disk. Ensure there is no data on the system disk before selecting this option as it will deleted. If there is existing data, then ensure Data Backup Before Proceeding. If there is no useful data click “Install Now” to proceed.
The screen may display a warning to write changes to disk. Press “Continue” to proceed. Select your geographical location from the map in ‘Where are you’ section. In “Who are you” section, type your name, computer’s name, user name, and user password. Then click on “Continue” to proceed further. The Installation process will begin.
Wait for the installation to finish. On successful installation installer will display a message “Installation is complete. You need to restart the computer in order to use the New Installation”. If it does not display this message. Or if the installation is interrupted in between you may need to repeat the installation steps. Finally, when installer displays success message, click on “Restart Now”. The system will display a message to remove the installation medium i.e. Linux Lite Flash Drive from the system. Remove the Flash Drive from the system and hit ‘Enter’. The system will restart.
Upon Restart, Your Linux Lite operating system will be ready for use. Login with your password and use your Machine with latest version Linux Lite Operating System.
Watch the practical demonstration of the above process in following video:
We hope the above information was useful for you. Alas! Information keeps on updating. Follow us on social media, subscribe to our blog or subscribe our YouTube Channel to receive latest updates.
This website uses cookies.
Privacy Policy