Switching to Linux

[queer_scribbling]

I keep finding myself too busy to switch my main laptop to a Linux option, and Windows 10 ended support *mumble mumble* months ago. (I don't have enough space for Windows 11, and I'm not feeling very enthusiastic about what I've heard about it.) This weekend is when I need to make the switch. Right now, I'm thinking of Linux Mint (probably Cinnamon).

If there isn't a comment from me that I finally made the switch by Sunday, someone can leave something in the comments as a nudge.


Originally posted on Pillowfort on 15 January 2026 and cross-posted here on Dreamwidth on 21 January 2026 (comments will have 21st's date).

Comments

[queer_scribbling]

Step One-Half. Double check I'm actually ready to replace my current OS.

- Current back up.

- Maybe making a Mozilla account and syncing will help with transferring a bunch of add-ons and bookmarks?

- Is there anything I need to save from my Google Chrome browser?

- Make sure my USB has enough space before I start downloading things.

[queer_scribbling]

Past me: Don't worry about not switching over to Firefox just yet. Let's just separate a bunch of things by browser.

[Insert 'Ooh I've got plany of time' from Tumblr.]

[queer_scribbling]

Step One. Initial downloads.

I need something that will "create USB installation media from bootable ISOs", and Balena Etcher is going to be that thing.

Download: 1) sha256sum.txt file, 2) sha256sum.txt.gpg file, and 3) linuxmint-22.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso. 1 and 2 will be at the top; 3 is currently the World 'Linux Mint' mirror.

Edited: Put all three in a folder. Think of them like pair-bonded dogs; if you move one, you have to move them all.

[queer_scribbling]

Step Two. Verify the ISO.

This step is making sure all the stuff is there and correct. There's a forum post on How to verify the ISO image on Windows (posted in 2019).

First, I need to go back and put the files in their own dedicated folder instead of letting them chill at the top of the Downloads folder.

Then browse to https://www.gnupg.org/download/index.html and download and install the Windows installer for GnuPG. It is this download:

[Arrow pointing to the second Windows OS option: download sig -- Simple installer for the current GnuPG]

For the purposes of this guide it does not matter whether you install the program as administrator or not, so just click yes to install to install without administrator rights if it asks you.

Well, I need to get this sorted out before worrying about the commands.

_{Continuing in a reply}

Now find the folder containing the files you downloaded in the first step, hold Shift while right-clicking it (the folder, not the files in it). Select to open a command window:

[Arrow pointing to option in menu: Open command window here]

Depending on your version of Windows it is also possible that the option is called like this:

[Open PowerShell window here]

Use whichever you've got available but if you used the PowerShell option then type cmd followed by Enter into the window.

Shift, left click, and 'Open PowerShell window'. cmd, Enter. Great.

Integrity Check
Type this command into the command window while replacing the filename.iso part with the actual name of the .iso file you downloaded:

CertUtil -hashfile filename.iso SHA256

Press Enter to run the command.

CertUtil -hashfile *linuxminut-22.3.cinnamon-64bit.iso SHA256 [Enter]

A string of numbers and letters! (Sarcasm redacted in favor of just editing above comments to note to keep all the files together in the requisite folder.) Open sha256sum.txt and confirm that string matches the string next to *linuxmint-22.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso.

_{Continuing in a reply}

See: Authenticity check

There are so many strings of numbers in this part that I just copied and pasted from the linked page.

gpg --keyserver hkp://keys.openpgp.org:80 --recv-key 27DEB15644C6B3CF3BD7D291300F846BA25BAE09 [Enter]

gpg --list-key --with-fingerprint A25BAE09 [Enter]

The output should contain 27DE B156 44C6 B3CF 3BD7 D291 300F 846B A25B AE09 and look like this:

pub rsa4096 2016-06-07 [SC]
27DE B156 44C6 B3CF 3BD7 D291 300F 846B A25B AE09
uid [ unknown] Linux Mint ISO Signing Key <root@linuxmint.com>

Finally:

gpg --verify sha256sum.txt.gpg sha256sum.txt [Enter]

The file signature is good and that 27DE string is back.

[queer_scribbling]

Step Three: Time to get the USB

Get USB situated.

Create the bootable media: We've already downloaded Balena Etcher. Click to Open so it'll install.

The instructions say that we should see Select Image, but I'm seeing Flash From File. Either way, I was able to select the ISO file. For Select Drive, the USB appeared as the only option on the list. Flash! successfully brought up the progress bar.

[queer_scribbling]

Step Four: Boot from the USB.

It felt like it took forever to get this to happen, but I finally got to the BIOS page where I could choose to boot from the USB. The last time I put a Linux distro on a laptop, the start up page took a little more time and didn't seem so reluctant to accept F12.

I chose a live boot in compatibility mode. I showed the screen to the rest of my family, since my plan was to put the same distro on the family desktop as well. However, that's probably not going to be happening.

Theoretical Step Five: Install.

I double-clicked the Install icon on the boot desktop, chose my language within the installer, and then I found out that I need 0.1 more GB of space to install Linux Mint Cinnamon on my laptop. I logged out of the live session, and now, I'm back in Windows 10, considering my next step.

I keep running into mention of Linux Mint XFCE needing less space, so I may need to see if that would work instead of Cinnamon.