Part 1: Install Linux
3. Start the computer from the USB#
What you'll do: make the old computer start from the USB stick instead of its own disk. Time: 10 minutes.
Plug the USB stick and the charger into the old computer, and connect the Ethernet cable if you have one. Then follow the tab for your computer.
- Shut the Mac down completely.
- Press the power button, then immediately press and hold the Option key (Option, also labelled Alt).
- Keep holding until icons of disks appear (10–20 seconds).
- Choose the yellow/orange icon called EFI Boot using the arrow keys, then press Enter.
You will see disk icons such as Macintosh HD (the old system) and EFI Boot (your USB). Pick EFI Boot.
Keyboard or trackpad doesn't work in the installer?
Some MacBook models aren't recognised by the installer. Plug in a USB keyboard (with an adapter if needed) and carry on. Don't erase anything until you can control the installer reliably.
- Shut the PC down completely. On Windows, hold Shift while clicking Shut down for a real shutdown.
- Press the power button and immediately tap the boot-menu key repeatedly:
| Brand | Boot-menu key (try in this order) |
|---|---|
| Dell | F12 |
| HP | F9, then Esc |
| Lenovo | F12, or the small "Novo" button |
| Asus | F8, then Esc |
| Acer | F12 |
| MSI | F11 |
| Other / custom PC | F12, F11, F8, Esc |
- In the menu, choose the entry with your USB stick's name. If there are two, pick the one starting with UEFI.
No boot menu or USB isn't listed?
Enter the setup screen instead (usually F2 or Del at power-on). Find Boot settings, enable USB boot, and put the USB first in the boot order. Debian works with Secure Boot, so leave that on.
What you should see#
The Debian menu:
Choose Install (text mode, keyboard only) or Graphical install (same questions, with mouse). This guide shows the text version, but every question is the same.
Done when: you see the Debian installer menu.