Linux for beginners: choosing a distro, trying it safely and learning the basics

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Linux runs most of the world's servers, Android phones and countless devices, and it makes a perfectly good desktop for everyday use. It is free, it can breathe new life into an old laptop, and it teaches you a lot about how computers work. Here is how to start without losing your files or your patience.

What a "distro" is

Linux itself is the kernel, the core of the operating system. A distribution (distro) packages the kernel with a desktop, software and tools into something you can install. Hundreds exist; a beginner only needs to look at a few.

Ubuntu: the best known desktop distro, with a large community, so almost any problem you have has been answered online. Long-term support releases are a sensible choice for stability.
Linux Mint: based on Ubuntu, with a desktop that feels familiar to Windows users. Often recommended as the gentlest first step.
Fedora: tends to ship newer software and a clean, modern desktop. Popular with developers.
Debian: very stable and conservative, the base that Ubuntu and many others are built on. Slightly more hands-on to set up.

Any of these is a fine choice. The skills you learn transfer between them.

Try it before you install

Most distros let you make a live USB: you download the installer image, write it to a USB stick with a USB-writing tool, and boot your computer from it. Linux runs straight from the stick without touching your hard drive. This lets you check that your Wi-Fi, sound, screen and trackpad work before committing. To boot from USB you usually press a key at start-up (often F12, F2, Esc or Del, depending on the manufacturer) to open the boot menu.

Dual booting: proceed with care

Dual booting means keeping Windows and installing Linux alongside it, choosing which to start each time. It works well, but:

Back up everything first. Resizing partitions is usually safe, but not always.
Install Windows first, then Linux, if you are setting up from scratch.
On some laptops you may need to adjust Secure Boot or disk settings in the firmware; mainstream distros generally support Secure Boot.
Windows updates have occasionally interfered with the boot menu. Know how to boot from your live USB to repair it.
If you have a spare old computer, installing Linux on that alone is the simplest and safest way to learn.

The terminal, without fear

You can use a modern Linux desktop without ever opening a terminal, but learning a handful of commands makes everything easier. The basics, in plain words:

pwd shows which folder you are in, ls lists what is in it, and cd followed by a folder name moves into it.
mkdir creates a folder, cp copies, mv moves or renames, and rm deletes. Be careful with rm: there is no recycle bin.
cat and less show the contents of a text file.
sudo in front of a command runs it with administrator rights and asks for your password. Only use it when needed, and never paste a sudo command from the internet that you do not understand.
man followed by a command name opens its manual; adding --help after most commands gives a short summary.
The up arrow repeats earlier commands and the Tab key completes file and command names.

Installing software

The software centre in your desktop is the app-store way: search, click, install.
The package manager does the same from the terminal: apt on Ubuntu, Mint and Debian, dnf on Fedora. It installs software from your distro's trusted repositories and updates everything at once.
Flatpak and Snap are universal package formats that bundle apps with what they need, so the same app works across distros. Flathub is the main source of Flatpak apps.
Avoid downloading random install scripts from websites; prefer your distro's repositories or the project's official instructions.

Getting help

Search with your distro name and the exact error message.
Your distro's forums and wiki are usually the best sources. The Arch Linux wiki is useful even if you do not use Arch.
When asking for help, say which distro and version you run, what hardware, what you did and the exact error.

Common first-week surprises

Some games and apps are Windows-only. Many games now run through compatibility layers, but check before switching your main machine.
NVIDIA graphics may need an extra driver step; most distros offer it during or after installation.
Microsoft Office does not run natively; the web version or LibreOffice covers most needs.

Which distro did you start with, and what tripped you up? Share your questions or tips in the comments.