How to Test Drive Linux
Guide Overview
The following is a guide on how to use your Windows Computer to "Test Drive" a Linux OS.
Almost every version of Linux is available for test drive.
You can download a copy of any desktop distribution from any distributor's website.
I strongly recommend that you obtain any distribution directly from the distributor. That way you know you are getting.
One important thing to consider is support.
The Bleeping Computer Linux Forum is a good source of general knowledge.
If, however, you are looking for specific issues with a particular distribution, then you want use the distributors own support forum.
The more popular the Distro, the more likely you will find answers.
Please remember, that all of us who provide support in forums are volunteers.
We do it in our spare time. We get paid in "Thank You" posts, left by the people we help.
Tools Needed
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A Working Window Computer
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A Blank USB storage device
Instructions
Step 
: Selecting a "Distro" to download and try.
If you ask the question "What Distro should I use?", you will get a dozen different answers, from a dozen different people.
Everyone has their own preference, and none of them are wrong!
A Linux Distribution is a bundle of software, packaged for installation.
Each Distro will have one thing in common, and that is the Linux Kernel.
The Kernel is the machine interface, that allows software to interact with the hardware.
In addition to the Kernel, distributors will add different software packages, to meet different needs.
When these software packages are added to the Kernel, the Distro becomes an Operating System.
The Operating System is what users see on their screens.
Over the years of development, some software packages have become standard with all distributions.
You can load a Kernel onto a machine, and get a flashing cursor, but you would be limited only to the internal commands of the Kernel.
Things like Networking, File Sharing, and Printing are added to the common Kernel.
This is referred to as the "Core" software.
Over time, people have started to use the terms Kernel and Core to mean the same thing.
However, Kernel remains the basic IO (Input/Output) system, and Core is the minimal use software that accompanies it.
Different Distros are aimed at different users. The three most common types are Personal Desktop, Server, and Development.
Other types include DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) Server, and Monitoring and Security Systems.
Although any Distro can be adapted to any type of use, it is best to choose something that suits your needs right from the start.
The three main Cores you will find are Slackware, Debian, and Red Hat.
Distributors have taken these Cores and added software packages to make their own specific Distro.
Parted Magic, for instance, is a Distro based on Slackware, for managing storage devices, such as Disc Drives and SSD's.
It is not intended as a Personal Desktop. It is a hardware management tool.
Distros such as Linux Lite, Mint, and Xubuntu, to name a few, are Personal Desktop packages, aimed at the everyday user.
There are lots more, that you can try out, before you decide what you want. Many of them come in both 32bit and 64bit versions.
If you are curious, here is one reference list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_distributions
Step 
: Download the .iso or .img file.
There are generally two file formats to download. It can be either and .iso file, or an .img file.
The ISO file is a copy of the original disk that the software was stored on. Most Distros will come in the ISO format.
You may, however, encounter some that use the IMG format. The IMG file is a copy of all the files that were on the disk.
IMG files come in two forms, compressed and un-compressed.
There is no difference in the data stored in either type. They both have the exact same files.
Once you have selected a Distro to try, go the the Distributors web site to download it.
CAUTION: Be wary of misleading search results that offer things like "faster downloads" than the Distributor.
You may find that they have missing bits, along with some unwanted extras.
Once you have saved the Distro file, verify it before you use it.
The download site should publish a list of MD5 and or SHA strings for the file you have just downloaded.
Due to some vulnerabilities of the MD5 (Message-Digest) algorithm, I recommend the SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm) as the best and most secure method.
Every Distro will have the hash info available for their files.
Copy the SHA string for the file you downloaded. Paste it into a text file in your Download Folder.
I am using Xubuntu 22 LTS 64bit from the University of Waterloo, as an example. Substitute with the Distro that you are downloading.
http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/xubuntu-releases/22.04/release/SHA256SUMS
c7072859113399bef0e680a08c987c360f41642d8089ebb8928689066a9c9759 *xubuntu-22.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso
In Windows 10, click on your search tab and type CMD.
A search result will pop up displaying the "COMMAND PROMT" App.
Right click on the COMMAND PROMPT and select "Run as administrator". A command line interface, or DOS Window, will open with Admin privileges.
CD to your folder where you stored the download. For example:
cd \Users\username\Downloads
Enter the following Command:
certutil -hashfile xubuntu-22.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso SHA256
Don't forget the space between the file name, and the hash type (SHA256)
C:\Users\username\Downloads\certutil -hashfile xubuntu-22.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso SHA256
The output should appear on the screen similar to this:
SHA256 hash of xubuntu-22.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso:
c7072859113399bef0e680a08c987c360f41642d8089ebb8928689066a9c9759
CertUtil: -hashfile command completed successfully.
If the two numbers match, exactly, then congratulations! You now have a certified copy of your chosen Linux Distro.
If not, then your downloaded file is not the original, or has been corrupted. Try downloading it again.
Step 
: Copy your files to a USB drive.
Next, you will need a blank USB drive.
CAUTION: If the drive is not blank, then any files on it will be erased. Remember to back it up!
If you are using an ISO file, then the drive has to be bigger than the ISO.
In the Xubuntu example, xubuntu-22.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso is 2.9GB.
The minimum size USB would be a 4GB.
If you are using an IMG file, then the drive has to be much larger than the file.
That is because an IMG file may be compressed, and it needs room to expand onto the USB drive.
The simplest way to copy the files is to install a utility to do it for you.
Here are some suggestions, that I have used in the past, for Windows.
Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool This utility works very well with Windows 10, but, is no longer available from Microsoft.
However, several web sites to have copies available.
CAUTION: Because they are 3rd Party, download it at your own risk. Verify your source!
Pendrive UUI (Universal USB Installer) I have had good success with this working on Windows 7 and 10.
https://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/
Rufus Seems to be another popular one. Requires Windows 8 or later.
It has both a 32bit and an ARM64 version.
Raspberry Pi Imager Believe it or Not! This works! Select "Custom" at the bottom of the menu to use any IMG file.
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/raspberry-pi-imager-imaging-utility/
If anyone knows of any other simple to use utilities, let me know, and I will add them to the list.
Please remember that they are being used by inexperienced (Newbie) users.
Complicated commands only complicate the task.
Step 
: Configure you computer to boot from USB.
This is usually the step where inexperienced users are stopped cold.
That is because every manufacturer, with different BIOS or hardware set up options, has their own way of doing things.
I have one computer with an Asus main board that allows me to press <delete> to enter the BIOS Setup on boot.
It also allow me to press <f8> to select a boot menu. Either option gets me into a USB boot.
I also have a much newer computer that requires somewhat complicated changes to allow a Linux device to boot.
It has to have the The Intel RST, (Intel Rapid Storage Technology) feature disabled.
It also has to have AHCI boot enabled and a path set to the .efi file on the USB device.
Lastly, it has to have Secure Boot disabled.
CAUTION: If your Windows was set up to use Intel RST, and you change your BIOS to AHCI, then your Windows will no longer boot.
Start by turning off your computer. Then insert the USB drive.
If you have it available, use a USB 3.x port. It has a faster read/write time than USB 2.x.
Turn your computer on, and watch the screen.
If you see a prompt that says "Press <any key> for Boot Menu", or something similar, follow those instructions.
Your computer should then boot from the USB drive, and you will be able to select a "Try Without Installing" option.
You are now on your way to experiencing Linux. Have fun!
If there is no prompt to select a boot device, and your computer just goes back into Windows, do not dispair.
Restart the computer and enter the BIOS setup.
Things you are looking for in the BIOS setup are labelled like Boot Configuration, Boot Order, or Default Boot Device.
Different manufacturers have different labels for the same thing.
Before you make a change, make a note of the default settings. That way you will be able to change it back to it's original configuration.
Hint: Take a picture of the screen, with your phone!
If you still have issues with booting from a USB, I suggest a search.
"how to boot from USB computer make model".
Don't forget to include your computer manufacturer and model name.
As a last resort, post a message here with the exact make, model, and specs of your computer.
It is possible that someone has the same system as you and can tell you what to do.
Addendum: Alternative method for more experienced Windows Users.
As an alternative to using a USB drive, you can set up a VM (Virtual Machine) to test your chosen Linux Distro.
I have used Linux on both VMware Workstation and Oracle Virtual Box.
I currently use Virtual Box on my Linux computer to access Windows XP, because AutoCAD 2000 will not plot properly when running under Wine.
Please consult the VM software site for help on setting up a VM host in Windows.
If you need more help, try the Windows forum, here. They know more about Windows than we do.
The up side to this is that you can set up as many Distro's as you have drive space for.
This allows you to test more than one Distro at a time.
It also allows you to start your Distro without restarting your computer.
It gives you a better feel for how the Distro runs on your machine, and you can compare Distro's side by side, at the same time.
HINT: Map your Documents folder in your Windows Host to a short cut on your Linux VM.
You will be able to see how software like GIMP or Libre Office handles your files, as compared to MS Paint or Office.
The down side to it is that it can be a drive hog. A VM can take up to 30GB or more on your hard drive. You can delete the ones you don't want, to recover space.
If you have questions, please post a new thread in the Linux Forum. Myself, or another experienced user, will be glad to answer you.
Cheers!
Naught McNoone.
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