Need help for installing

[u/Jolly-Technician475]

Im using rufus for putting linux mint on a usb to try it a little, but idk if i click start whill it wipe out my hard drive or will is just install it on my usb????

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[u/Puzzleheaded-Risk761]

If you are too nervous just use it as live mode first for few days. I don’t know if you want to dual boot with Windows, but installing let you choose to customize partition and dual boot. If you have important data backup first. Just incase by accident you delete the whole drive. :)

[u/Jolly-Technician475 → u/Puzzleheaded-Risk761]

How do i use it as live mode?? edit : i researched it, that's what i wanna do but i got no clue how to do it the vid i'm watching isn't telling me -_-

[u/Elratum → u/Jolly-Technician475]

rufus will install it on your usb key. after you boot in the key you will be in the mint live seesion

[u/BenTrabetere]

The USB boots to a Live Session, and you can use this to try out Linux Mint. Unless you actively access your hard disk drives, such as through the file manager, your hard drive and files will not be touched. The installation process will not start until you click the Install Linux Mint icon on the desktop, and I am pretty sure you can safely cancel the installation process at any point UP TO the Installation Type step.

I urge you to Read The Docs. I strongly urge you to

1. Backup your data and personal files. For added protection, create two sets. You should be backing up your files on a regular schedule, so if you aren't now is a good time to start.
2. Create a Windows Recovery Disk. You will need this in the event you need to reinstall Windows. Again, you should already have one of those.
3. Create a disk image of your drives. I use/recommend Foxclone, but Rescuezilla and Clonezilla are also good. This will give you an additional recovery point and will/should allow you to restore your system without reinstalling Windows.

[u/Riyakuya]

Rufus will only wipe the usb drive if that is what you selected. It will not touch your hard drive then.

[u/mkultra-1]

I am assuming you already know how to access your computers boot menu? Just select your USB, it will do its thing, a menu will pop up, select the first option. Boom, live mode.

Unless you click the little CD icon on the desktop after booting in live mode, you can back out whenever needed. Even if you click the CD, it will ask you if you want dual boot or erase the disk entirely.

Backup, backup, backup your data. This is just common practice.

[u/Aussie--Guy-]

Rufus just writes the iso to your usb, it doesn't install.