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Debian for beginners/Before install

< Debian for beginners
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To install Debian you first need to download and record it on a installation medium (USB flash drive, CD, DVD).

What installation image do I choose?

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Types

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  • CD images (or Network installs)
    • up to 700MB
    • only the basic installer and a basic system, no desktop environment
    • installing desktop environments and programs needs an internet connection
    • old installer
  • DVD/USB images
    • up to 4.7GB
    • functioning system
    • optional programs
    • old installer
  • Live install images
    • up to 3.4GB
    • run the system from your installation medium
    • functioning system
    • friendly installer
    • can test it without installing
      • do the same things you do on an installed system
      • no files or settings are saved

Architecture (64-bits or 32-bits)

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Before downloading the installation image, check if your system is 64 or 32 bit. It is likely to be 64-bit but in the case you don't know, check it in your motherboard's BIOS. Remember that live images are only for 64-bit PCs.

  • 32-bit – download i386
  • 64-bit – download amd64

Download image

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Download the live image. If your computer is 32-bit, install the 32-bit DVD image. If the memory of your storage device is below 3.5GB, download the CD image. You can also buy official Debian CDs, DVDs and USB drives from a vendor.

Recording installation image

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You need to record (or flash) the image on your installation medium. To do that you need to install a special program. We will use Rufus.

Backup data

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Before installing Debian, copy any important files, from your target drive, to another drive.

Glossary

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desktop environment
a visual representation of your system, how your system will look, like KDE Plasma or GNOME
installation image
a computer file that has everything to record on your installation medium
iso image
see installation image
target drive
the storage device you will install Debian on, like a HDD or SSD
installation medium
the storage device you will record the installation image on and install Debian from, like a CD, DVD or USB drive
drive
a storage medium, like a hard disk drive (HDD), soft state drive (SSD) or USB drive
to flash
to record an iso image on an USB drive
to burn
to record an iso image on a CD or DVD, sometimes permamently
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