How To Try Linux Without Making Any Changes To Your PC

Linux has many features and appearances that others usually don’t offer or have limited choice.

You can start experimenting with a Linux operating system without making any harmful changes to your desktop.

But reading an article would not seriously help you if you don’t do it practically or if you fear that it will injure or damage your desktop.

Firstly erase the concept of getting your p.c damaged and the rest of the process will be smooth.

The idea of traditional booting has come a long way, but not anymore. I would suggest you to go for a bootable live USB and you can try the Linux operating system directly from a USB stick.

In this article, I will demonstrate how to create a live USB on your Windows PC, so that you can figure out how a Linux distribution system works and behave.

No changes will be there in your hard drive if you run from a live USB. You can browse the web if you want and check the interface.

Without wasting any more time, figure out how to Try Linux without making any changes to your P.C with the help of live USB.

Coming down to the steps in detail

Step 1: Start from formatting your USB Stick

Standing in 2019, very few people have access to CD/DVD drives fro installation. The best option is using a USB drive to install Linux. Using USB can be completely risk-free and there are tools in Windows for creating USB drive smoothly.

Or any USB with at least 8GB memory can definitely do your job. You have to make sure that you copy and import all the important and sensitive data on your desktop to avoid data loss.

Try attaching it in any USB port and if it has a blue tip that indicates USB 3.0, you have to insert it in the blue port for better transfer speed.

After backing up your important data, make sure you format your USB stick for better compatibility.Just download and launch Spotlight. The next step is to select your USB stick on right and select “Erase”.

Step 2: Download UNetBootin

This is a very useful and simple tool to go for. This is being chosen due to its size, usefulness, and compatibility with Windows, macOS and also Linux

Download the Windows version by clicking here.

Download the version of macOS by clicking here.

Choose a download location that you won’t forget and there is a chance the download will start automatically. You will find it in the download folder later. Now launch UNetBootin from its download location and you have almost come half the way

Rolling down to the next step

Step 3: Select your Linux Distribution

You can start by creating a live USB in UNetBootin and can navigate directly to a distribution’s website. Then it uses the resulting ISO file to flash into the USB stick.

You will get too many options here, just select your preferred operating system from the dropdown distribution list. Just try one of these for practical understanding,

  • Ubuntu 18.04 – It is a very simple, unique and user-centered model of Linux and is known to be the most popular.
  • Linux Mint – You can also go for Linux Mint if you are comfortable in Windows 7,8, or 10.

Once you select one of these, the dropdown menu on the right will appear with multiple versions of each OS. It is supposed to select the default version of 64 bit. Or you can manually select any latest 64 Bit USB version. 

Step 4: Configure your desktop for USB booting

We first need to figure out if the USB stick is being read by the P.C because Window and macOS both can boot from CD drive or hard drive before accessing the BIOS. 

This step can seem a little complicated because instructions basically depend on your motherboard.

Let’s see how it goes for Windows PCs

After you start your P.C, you will definitely need to press certain key as advised. Bios setting or Setup options will come up and you may need to press anyone among DEL, F11, F12 OR F10.

Whatever the P.C suggests, choose that key and select your USB drive. BIOS screen can vary on different P.Cs. Your next step is to find the “BOOT” section and then when it asks for which device to use, choose USB from the choices you will be given.

If you have come so far, then probably everything is going in the right direction.

Press the F10 button now and select “Save settings and Reboot”.

Trying with the macOS

The macOS is comparatively much simpler and is quite consistent and is very easy to Boot.

Now power on your Mac first. Instantly hold the option key even before the Startup Manager shows up. Once you do it, the USB stick will appear after a few seconds.

Now, select the USB stick and your job is almost done.

If everything worked out as I said, then you are doing completely fine.

The next job you are left with is to test the OS and check if everything is running fine.

Step 5 Test your OS to confirm

Power up your P.C first.

Now, you will be asked to install Ubuntu if you had chosen Ubuntu before,so you can click on “Try”.

And if you went for the Linux Mint, a menu will appear with the “Start Linux Mint” option.

Now you can start browsing the web, analyze how the system is working and check out your configuration and the softwares.

For Ubuntu, go for the file preservation menu you had created while booting live USB.

Now you can install additional softwares as you prefer. The operating system will preserve any major or minor change you make and you could even run it on different P.Cs.

I hope you feel new and fresh now

Wrapping things Up

Now you know how to try Linux without making any changes in your PC.

If you are a tech geek, it would be very easy for you to successfully pull the method I suggested.

And the rest of you could follow the instruction properly and do it by yourself.

Once you try and do it by yourself, please let us know whether it worked or not.

I definitely hope you will enjoy the new version of your OS.