Notes on loading Linux Russell Bateman May 2024 last update:

How I load up Linux Mint from scratch...

...when I build a new piece of hardware, launch a new VirtualBox VM, etc.

These are my personal notes. My practices change from time to time. These notes are for my reference and aren't likely useful to very many others.

For installation directly on the hardware...

...create an ISO on a DVD or a thumbdrive, boot the hardware from the spindle or from the thumbdrive.

For a VM on VirtualBox...

1. Install VirtualBox on the host operating system.
2. Create an ISO of the latest Linux Mint from Linux Mint Downloads; choose the Cinnamon Edition.
3. Copy the ISO to a path on the existing host OS, for instance:
   • in Linux, choose /home/russ/Downloads
   • in Windows, choose C:\Users\Russell Bateman\Downloads
   • Note that, once the target OS (Linux Mint) is installed, I install the VirtualBox Guest Additions by...
     1. Launching my new target OS VM in VirtualBox.
     2. Choosing from the window menu Devices, the item Insert Guest Additions CD image....
     3. Choosing from the window menu Devices, the item Upgrade Guest Additions....
     4. To sharing the clipboard between the host and target OSes, I choose from that window menu, Devices → Shared Clipboard → Bidirectional.
     5. To sharing a drag and drop capability between the host and target OSes, I choose from that window menu, Devices → Drag and Drop → Bidirectional.

Linux Mint installation from ISO

Linux Mint comes up a desktop with an icon thereupon. Right-click that icon and choose Open. Follow the instructions; this happens in several gulps:

1. The usual installation including choosing language, keyboard, time zone, user/owner, username, shell, etc. Also, an offer to install a filesystem over the top of whatever is already there.
2. Much file-copying.
3. If on hardware, remove the DVD or thumbdrive and press Enter to reboot when asked. If installing a VM in VirtualBox, just press Enter (it will forget about the ISO, so no need to mimick that aspect).
4. More (and longer) file-copying.
5. Your system is up at this point, however, you'll need to click the Update Manager from the panel (task bar) and install an extensive number of updates.
6. At this point, your (naked) system is really up and ready for you to customize it.

Linux Mint configuration

Set Power Management and Screensaver
1. From the Main menu, ...
   1. ...choose System Settings.
   2. Under Screensaver → Screensaver Settings, Delay before starting the screensaver, set to 1 hour.
   3. Under Screensaver → Lock Settings, uncheck Lock the computer after the screensaver starts.
   4. ...choose Hardware, choose Power Management.
   5. Under Power Options, choose this strategy:

      	On AC power		On battery power
      Turn off the screen when inactive for	Never		30 minutes
      Suspend when inactive for	Never		Never

Set up Timeshift
2. Under the Main menu → Administration, ...
   1. ...click the Timeshift icon.
   2. Enter your password and click Authenticate.
   3. Click Next. (It estimates filesystem size needed.)
   4. etc.

Application installation

Use the default Firefox shipped with Linux Mint to install the Chrome browser. Then, get busy installing needed software for development.

1. JetBrains
   1. IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate and a launcher into the panel
   2. PyCharm Professional and a launcher into the panel
2. Atom editor
3. Postman HTTP tester

Appendix: Notes on various installations and configurations