Linux Mint is an Operating System, like Windows 7 or Mac OS (just a lot better and free).
Excerpt From DistroWatch.com:
Linux Mint is one of the surprise packages of the past year. Originally launched as a variant of Ubuntu with integrated media codecs, it has now developed into one of the most user-friendly distributions on the market - complete with a custom desktop and menus, several unique configuration tools, a web-based package installation interface, and a number of different editions. Perhaps most importantly, this is one project where the developers and users are in constant interaction, resulting in dramatic, user-driven improvements with every new release. DistroWatch has spoken to the founder and lead developer of Linux Mint, Clement Lefebvre, about the history of the distribution.
STEPS
- First backup your files, if you have any. Although you don't necessarily have to do this, its safe, just in case you get something wrong below.
- Download and burn Linux Mint to a CD. Go to the official Linux Mint website at http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php and download the .iso for the most recent Main Edition. (Use either the 'direct download' or torrent.) Now use your favorite cd burning software to burn a 'bootable' disk from the .iso file. If you have the option, use a low write speed (more computers can read these, but this is not essential).
- Boot from the CD and try it out. NOTE: this will not harm or change your computer in any way. Insert the CD into your computer and restart. If nothing new happens, restart again and select CD as the first boot device. This can be done through BIOS (hit del just after the computer starts) or by finding another key (often Esc) that lets you select the CD as a boot device.
- Linux Mint may take anywhere from 30 secs to 5 mins to load, depending on your computer. Give it time - once installed, your linux will be much faster. When everything has loaded, feel free to try out anything you like - you can't do anything permanent. If you restart and remove the CD, everything will be as it was before.
- Install Just click the link on the desktop, or find it in the menu. Go through the process, i.e. select the keyboard layout, language, etc. You can always change these options later. When you get to the partition screen, be careful as this is the most important step. Here you can completely wipe your hard drive(s) and install Linux Mint on it/them. If you want to keep Windows or any other OS, select 'install side by side' and adjust the slider. Linux Mint only needs 4GB to run, but I recommend giving it at least 10GB so you still have room for extra software and your personal files. Click next, fill in your user data and finish. Let the installer do it's thing. This is generally a very quick process. Where Windows can take several hours to install, Linux Mint should only take about 20mins. On some fast computers, this can go down to only 5mins, but others may take around half an hour. When it finishes, click reboot and take the CD out.
- To configure Linux Mint to be as elegant and useful as possible, check out the 'Make the Perfect Desktop article.' You can change so much, and very easily, if you know how to.
TIPS
- If you get stuck, go to the downloads section on LinuxMint.com and read the User Guide (pdf), or search for your problem on Google.
- The live CD itself will not affect your computer in any way, unless you decide to install or browse files already present on the computer. The OS only loads onto your RAM. Any changes you make (eg. downloads or settings) will be lost when you shut down or install. Therefore, this is a good time to check out what the OS has to offer. You can 'install' programs, etc. but none of this is permanent and it may make your system slower. Don't forget that all this is only running from your CD, so will be slower than normal anyway.
- Linux Mint is one of the most community driven distributions. You could literally post an idea in the forums today and see it implemented the week after in the "current" release. Don't hesitate to use the forums for help or to pose suggestions to make Linux Mint even better.
When installing, you can wipe all or just part of your hard drive. If you're carefull and use some common sense, you won't get anything wrong. Just bear in mind that if you're not careful, you can potentially lose data.
Source : WikiHow
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