Editing Linux distribution (section)

==Installation==
There are several ways to install a Linux distribution. The most popular method of installing Linux is by booting from a live [[USB memory stick]], which can be created by using a USB image writer application and the ISO image, which can be downloaded from various Linux distribution websites. DVD disks, CD disks, network installations and even other hard drives can also be used as "installation media".<ref name="JnYKa">{{cite web|url=https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch02s04.html.en|title=2.4. Installation Media|website=www.debian.org|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032431/https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch02s04.html.en|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the 1990s, Linux distributions were installed using sets of [[floppy disk]]s but this has been abandoned by all major distributions. By the 2000s many distributions offered CD and DVD sets with the vital packages on the first disc and less important packages on later ones. Some distributions, such as [[Debian]] also enabled installation over a network after booting from either a set of floppy disks or a CD with only a small amount of data on it.<ref name="Qp3Oj">{{cite web |url=http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/ |title=Network install from a minimal CD |publisher=Debian |access-date=July 29, 2011 |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728110619/http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

New users tend to begin by [[Disk partitioning|partitioning]] a hard drive in order to keep their previously installed operating system. The Linux distribution can then be installed on its own separate partition without affecting previously saved data.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot|title= WindowsDualBoot|access-date= 12 December 2021|work= ubuntu.com|date= 29 June 2015|archive-url= https://archive.today/20200302204031/https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot|archive-date= 2 March 2020|url-status= live}}</ref>

In a Live CD setup, the computer boots the entire operating system from CD without first installing it on the computer's hard disk. Many distributions have a Live CD ''installer'', where the computer boots the operating system from the disk, and it can then be installed on the computer's hard disk, providing a seamless transition from the OS running from the CD to the OS running from the hard disk.

Both servers and [[personal computer]]s that come with Linux already installed are available from vendors including [[Hewlett-Packard]], [[Dell]] and [[System76]].

On embedded devices, Linux is typically held in the device's [[firmware]] and may or may not be consumer-accessible.

[[Anaconda installer|Anaconda]], one of the more popular installers, is used by [[Red Hat Enterprise Linux]], [[Fedora (operating system)|Fedora]] (which uses the [[Fedora Media Writer]]) and other distributions to simplify the installation process. Debian, Ubuntu and many others use [[Debian-Installer]].

The process of constantly switching between distributions is often referred to as "distro hopping".<ref name="dCnRp">{{cite web|title=How I stopped distro hopping|url=http://www.linuxtoday.com/upload/how-i-stopped-distro-hopping-140807140017.html|website=Linux Today|access-date=July 10, 2016|archive-date=September 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919054001/http://www.linuxtoday.com/upload/how-i-stopped-distro-hopping-140807140017.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Proven |first=Liam |title=Thoughts on Linux distro-hopping |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/05/03/linux_distro_hopping/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=[[The Register]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Virtual machine|Virtual machine software]] such as [[VirtualBox]] and [[VMware Workstation]] virtualize hardware allowing users to test live media on a virtual machine without installing to the real system. Some websites like [[DistroWatch]] offer lists of distributions, and link to screenshots of operating systems as a way to get a first impression of various distributions.

===Installation via an existing operating system===
Some distributions let the user install Linux on top of their current system, such as [[WinLinux]] or [[Cooperative Linux|coLinux]]. Linux is installed to the Windows hard disk partition, and can be started from inside Windows itself.

Virtual machines (such as [[VirtualBox]] or [[VMware]]) also make it possible for Linux to be run inside another OS. The VM software simulates a separate computer onto which the Linux system is installed. After installation, the virtual machine can be booted as if it were an independent computer.

Various tools are also available to perform full [[dual-boot]] installations from existing platforms without a CD, most notably:
* The (now deprecated) [[Wubi (installer)|Wubi installer]], which allows Windows users to download and install [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]] or its derivatives into a FAT32 or an NTFS partition without an installation CD, allowing users to easily dual boot between either operating system on the same hard drive without losing data. Replaced by [[Ubiquity (software)|Ubiquity]].
* [[Win32-loader (Debian)|Win32-loader]], which is in the process of being integrated in official Debian CDs/DVDs, and allows Windows users to install [[Debian]] without a CD, though it performs a network installation and thereby requires repartitioning<ref name="lHWXD">{{cite web |author=Debian Webmaster|url=http://packages.debian.org/testing/win32-loader |title=Debian - Details of package win32-loader in Lenny |publisher=Packages.debian.org |access-date=July 29, 2011 |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605104509/http://packages.debian.org/testing/win32-loader |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[UNetbootin]], which allows Windows and Linux users to perform similar no-CD network installations for a wide variety of Linux distributions and additionally provides [[live USB]] creation support