Preparation: Getting Ready to Install
Before touching any settings, we make sure your data is safe, download the right files, and get your USB drive ready. This is the most important part — don't skip it.
What You Will Need
- A USB flash drive — at least 4 GB, preferably 8 GB or larger
- A spare SSD for Linux Mint (250 GB or larger recommended)
- Your current Windows computer with internet access
- About 30 minutes of free time
- An external hard drive or cloud storage for your backup (recommended)
Back Up Your Important Files
Even though this guide keeps Linux on a completely separate drive, it's always smart to back up your important files before making any changes to your computer. Hard drives can fail at any time — not just during installs.
Do This First — Seriously
Copy your Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos, and Downloads folders to an external drive or cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.) before proceeding. This takes 15 minutes and could save you years of memories.
You don't need to back up programs — you'll reinstall those on Linux. Focus on your personal files: photos, documents, spreadsheets, and anything irreplaceable.
Download Linux Mint 22 Cinnamon
Linux Mint is completely free. You download it as an ISO file — think of it as a digital disc image that we'll copy to your USB drive.
Which Edition to Download?
Always download the Cinnamon edition. It's the most polished, most Windows-like, and the one this guide is written for. Avoid MATE or XFCE unless you have a very old computer.
- Go to linuxmint.com/download.php
- Click on Cinnamon
- Choose a download mirror close to your country
- Save the file — it will be about 2.7 GB and named something like
linuxmint-22-cinnamon-64bit.iso
The download will take a few minutes depending on your internet speed. While it's downloading, move on to the next step.
Download Rufus (USB Creator Tool)
Rufus is a free Windows program that turns your USB drive into a bootable Linux installer. It's the simplest and most reliable tool for this job.
- Go to rufus.ie
- Download the latest version (the standard version, not portable)
- Run the installer — it's small and installs in seconds
No Install Needed
Rufus also comes as a "portable" version that runs without installing. Either version works fine.
Create the Bootable USB Drive
Now we'll use Rufus to write the Linux Mint ISO onto your USB drive. This will erase everything on the USB drive, so make sure it doesn't have anything important on it.
Your USB Drive Will Be Erased
Rufus will delete all files on the USB drive. Copy anything important off it before continuing.
- Plug your USB drive into your computer
- Open Rufus
- Under Device, make sure your USB drive is selected (check the size matches)
- Under Boot selection, click SELECT and choose the Linux Mint ISO file you downloaded
- Leave all other settings at their defaults — Rufus is smart enough to configure everything correctly
- Click START
- If asked about ISO mode vs DD mode, choose Write in ISO Image mode
- Click OK to confirm you understand the drive will be erased
- Wait for the progress bar to complete — this takes 5–10 minutes
How to Know It Worked
Rufus will show "READY" in green at the bottom when it's done. The USB drive is now a Linux Mint installer.
Install the New SSD (If Not Already Installed)
If you haven't already installed your new SSD, now is the time. Linux Mint will be installed on this drive, completely separate from Windows.
| SSD Type | When to Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| M.2 NVMe (PCIe) | Newest computers (2018+) | Fastest option, plugs directly into motherboard |
| M.2 SATA | Mid-range computers | Slower than NVMe but still fast, same physical slot |
| 2.5" SATA SSD | Older computers or laptops | Needs a SATA cable and power connector |
Not Sure What Your Computer Has?
Check your motherboard manual or look up your computer model online. Most computers built after 2018 have at least one M.2 slot. If you're unsure, a 2.5" SATA SSD works in almost every desktop and laptop.
Once the SSD is physically installed, your computer will detect it automatically. You don't need to format it or do anything in Windows — the Linux installer will handle everything.
Check Your BIOS Boot Key
When you restart your computer, you'll need to press a specific key to enter the BIOS or access the boot menu. This key varies by manufacturer. Find yours in the table below.
| Manufacturer | BIOS Key | Boot Menu Key |
|---|---|---|
| ASUS | F2 or Delete | F8 |
| MSI | Delete | F11 |
| Gigabyte | Delete or F2 | F12 |
| ASRock | F2 or Delete | F11 |
| Dell | F2 | F12 |
| HP | F10 or Esc | F9 |
| Lenovo | F1 or F2 | F12 |
| Acer | F2 or Delete | F12 |
Write It Down
Write down your boot menu key before restarting. You'll need to press it quickly right after the computer powers on — before Windows starts loading.
Part 1 Complete!
You now have a bootable Linux Mint USB drive, your new SSD is installed, and you know your BIOS key. You're ready to install. Move on to Part 2 when you're ready.