Part 1: Install Linux
2. Make a Linux USB stick#
What you'll do: download Debian and copy it onto a USB stick so the old computer can start from it. Time: 20 minutes. Done on: your other computer (Mac or Windows).
flowchart LR
A["Download<br/>Debian file (.iso)"] --> B["Check the file<br/>is not damaged"] --> C["Write it to<br/>the USB stick"] --> D["USB ready"]Step 1: Download Debian#
- Go to https://www.debian.org/download.
- Click the big download button. You get a file named like
debian-13.x.x-amd64-netinst.iso(about 700 MB).
Tip
"amd64" is correct for both Intel and AMD processors. "netinst" means it downloads the rest during installation, so the server needs internet while installing.
Step 2: Check the download (recommended)#
This proves the file isn't damaged or tampered with. On the download page, open the folder link and find the file SHA256SUMS. Open it and keep it open.
shasum -a 256 ~/Downloads/debian-*-amd64-netinst.iso
Get-FileHash $env:USERPROFILE\Downloads\debian-*-amd64-netinst.iso
You get a long code of letters and numbers. It must exactly match the code next to the same file name in SHA256SUMS. Compare the first 6 and last 6 characters. If they don't match, download again.
Step 3: Write it to the USB stick#
Stop: the USB stick will be erased
Copy anything you need off the USB stick first.
- Download and install balenaEtcher from https://etcher.balena.io.
- Plug in the USB stick.
- Open Etcher and click Flash from file. Choose the
.iso. - Select target: choose the USB stick. Check the size (8 GB, 16 GB…) so you don't pick another drive.
- Click Flash! and enter your computer password if asked.
- Wait for Flash Complete!
- Download Rufus from https://rufus.ie.
- Plug in the USB stick. In Rufus, choose it under Device.
- SELECT the
.iso, then click START. - If asked, choose Write in DD Image mode.
- Wait for READY.
Check
After writing, Windows may say "You need to format the disk". Click Cancel. That message is normal and formatting would destroy the stick.
Done when:
- Etcher or Rufus finished without errors
- You safely ejected the USB stick