Linux Box

Alright, so I’ve gotten my hands on an older desktop and the previous user reformatted the hard drive. Therefore, there is no operating system at all! I want to install Linux onto this system but how do I do that? I heard something about installing Linux onto a thumb drive and having the BIOS boot with the thumb drive and it will install Linux? Could someone please help!

Like installing other operating systems, boot from CD
1.) Get a Linux (e.g. Ubuntu) CD (download and burn ISO, or order one)
2.) Power up the pc and get into bios
3.)Change the boot settings / boot order configuartion to boot from CD. Save and exit
4.)Put the CD in the tray. (you could have done it before, if you don’t make it and get an error about boot device, put it in and reboot)
5.)Your pc should boot from CD so you ‘ll see the screens with instructions on what you want to do. In case of Ubuntu, there should be two options like "Try Ubuntu" and "Install Ubuntu". To try it means it will run from the cd to give you a preview of what it is. No changes are made to the hard drive. You can install it any time or choose not to install.

6.) During install there are several screens that guide you, they ‘re pretty straightforward. If you fail to understand any of these, you can always go to the Linux distro’s you’re installing website and look for instructions. When you ‘re done installing remove the disk and reboot, and here you go!

The same can be done with a usb stick too, change accordingly what I said about CD with USB. However, take a notice: *some older motherboard may not have the capability of booting from a usb device or more changes must be made in bios*