USB requirements
You will need at least one USB drive.
Minimum
- 8 GB storage
Recommended
- 32 GB or more
- USB 3.0 if possible
Avoid very cheap or unknown brands. They can fail during setup.
Step 2 / 13
Prepare Your USB and System
Get everything ready before using tools or making changes.
You will prepare your USB drive and make sure your computer is ready for the process. This avoids problems later.
Recommended setup
If possible, use two USB drives:
- One for the Linux installer
- One for backing up your files
This makes the process safer.
Format your USB drive
Your USB drive should be formatted as:
exFAT
This works with both Windows and Linux and avoids file size limits.
Back up your files
Before you continue, copy your important files to a safe place.
At minimum, back up
- Documents
- Photos
- Desktop
- Downloads
You can use
- An external drive
- A second USB
- Cloud storage
Do not skip this step.
Power and internet
Make sure:
- Your laptop is plugged into power
- Your internet connection is working
Losing power during setup can cause problems.
Wi-Fi details
Write down your Wi-Fi name and password.
You may need this later after installation.
What happens next
You will create a system report using a built-in Windows tool.
This report will be used to recommend the correct Linux version.