Hello,
Im a windows 7 user with linux mint downloaded on hdd and ready to burn it to disc but i just stopped as my dvd is not re-writable.sorry if u get annoyed that a layman(level of layman:used android custom roms with root and little idea of file system,partitioning and some more basic knowledge of android(as i think android=little sibling of linux)) is asking question or making fun but i thought this would be a better way to ask that did i downloaded the right distro and if yes then please tell me that im confused that what else should i do before installing linux like backups or check for drivers or any thing like that in detail(as im a true layman as compared to others of whom i hav read posts on many forums).i have secured 80 gbs in the end of my hdd and 100 gb in the middle (end and middle in the sence that how windows disk partition show the volumes in the graphical manner)for linux and my machine is a samsung notebook laptop (2012 manufactured and designed) with 4gb ram, intel core i3 2 or 3 generation ,1366x738 or similar resolution ,nvidea graphic card with 2 gb ram.sorry for my english.

You can image the ISO for Linux Mint on to a USB stick, and try it as a "live" system. Then you can get a good idea of hardware compatibility for your machine. It will also give you the option to install it. You can keep Windows as well if you want, you don't need to delete it to install Linux - they can coexist with each other. But you may and likely will need to install the relevant file system driver in Windows, if you plan on accessing your Linux partitions from Windows. Linux can read Windows file systems, and I think Linux Mint installs the ntfs-3g drivers by default, if not, you can install the ntfs-3g package from the package manager in Linux Mint.

See this for instructions on imaging the ISO image to a USB stick.

You may also benefit from reading this as well.

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First of all Thanku for ur precious time in reading and answering my query.

Yesterday i read this link and took most of the points in consideration while choosing the correct distro ie. Linux mint cinn.
I have a few more queries if u or anyone else would like to answer:

1: From which of the following storage media devices i can access live mode of linux distro:
a)DVD(recoardable).
b)DVD(re-recordable).
c)USB flash drive.

2:i have read on some(some=other than LQ) forums that in some distros sometimes live mode has compatibality issue with harware of machine but after installation distro works fine so can vice-versa not happen or it can.if yes then how to check or is there some other medhod.
3: If i use balenaEtcher to make my flash drive bootable do i have to just insert the stick>wait for recognisation by windows>select image to flash>flash>eject>install the os, or some more steps or should i use some other software(if yes for other software then please tell the software which is compatible with linux mint).
Thanku

I'd too suggest you use a USB Stick, 8GB, 16GB is well enough to use. If windows then using Rufus, or NetUbuntu either one should work in creating your Bootable Live then get to know your BIOS.

So you can boot your USB Stick via your USB Port. Boot listing, or boot options in your boot order, or what key to hit to give you the selection to boot from your USB Port. Mint is pretty good at compatibility.

I do not use Mint any longer but it is a good distro to use, and get around in whence you familiarize yourself with it. Be sure to search how to use the package manager, apt get is what they use. GUI package manager too is used in Mint, but I do not use them much.

as far a compatibility, trial and error is how that works. Just plug it in and boot it to see if it works.

1 members found this post helpful.

As far as your question 1 goes; any of them. "Live mode" is when you are running the operating system from removable media of some kind, in other words: you haven't actually installed it to fixed/internal storage medium, like a hard drive, SSD drive, etc.

As far as your question 2 does; what BW above said. So to add to that; the only way you are going to see if it works with your hardware once you have actually installed it, is as BW said; to actually install it and find out. But that said, if it works fine running as a "live" system, then it's very likely it will work just as well actually installed on your system.

There's probably a number of programs you could use, try what it suggests in the link I gave you first. If that doesn't work, then you should be able to find some more guides with a web search. Try Linux Mint's website first of all if the link I gave you doesn't work for you.

1 members found this post helpful.

Hello,
I hav a 2012 manufactured samsung notebook laptop: Intel-i3(2cores@2.4GHz)/4GBs RAM/750GBs HDD/BIOS with UEFI support(which i have disabled in BIOS).I wanted to replace windows with mint without erasing other drives as i have media and other personal files in Those(those= drives other than C drive) drives. so i chose "somehing else" during the install process but in the partitioning dialog box i was able to find only 2 partition which were:
a) /dev/sda1 :ntfs :218.63 GiB.
b) unallocated which is 480 GiB.
So i created a ext4 primary partition with 409600 MiB with mount point '/' and thought that i will delete windows c drive later(later=after installing mint)so everything got right(right=installation complete) and then setup asked me to reboot or stay so i taped reboot but when my machine restarted it loaded windows directly without leting me to choose the OS i want to boot and that too in a situation where my windows was unable to start and it asked me to startup repair but i had no backup so my machine is i think bricked but my mint USB drive is still bootable so plese tell what i have to do to now