Complete starters' guide for Linux Mint and Ubuntu: both are "Linux made easy", or even "Linux for dummies". They are eminently suitable for beginners with Linux, and have become very popular because of that. Both are entirely free, so they won't cost you anything!

Tip: beginners with Linux usually find Linux Mint even easier than Ubuntu.

Are you visiting this website with Chrome or Chromium? Then you might see an unjustified warning.

The simple and effective how-to's and tips on this website, will help you to have a smooth experience with (maybe) the best Linux available at this time: Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus and Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa (which is built upon Ubuntu 14.04).

Tip: you can also visit this website by means of this shortened web address: tinyurl.com/easylinuxtips
That's easier to remember....

One of the main objectives of Linux is fun. So above all: have fun!





Note: you have to burn the .iso file on a DVD in a special way:

- How to burn a Linux Mint iso on a DVD

- How to burn an Ubuntu iso on a DVD

You can get the 32-bit editions of Linux Mint 17.3 by clicking the links below (but please read this selection help first):

32-bit Linux Mint 17.3 with Mate

32-bit Linux Mint 17.3 with Cinnamon

32-bit Linux Mint 17.3 with Xfce



A. Installation of Linux Mint

1. Linux Mint: ease of use above all. Select the right flavour for you!

2. Burn Linux Mint on a DVD in the right way

3. Computers with Windows 8.x or 10: first configure them for dual boot

4. Install Linux Mint alongside Windows (dual boot)



B. Right after the installation of Linux Mint

1. Round off your Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon neatly: do these 10 things first

2. Round off your Linux Mint 17.3 Mate neatly: do these 10 things first

3. Round off your Linux Mint 17.3 Xfce neatly: do these 10 things first

4. Make Mint run faster

5. How to clean Linux Mint safely


More tips and how-to's for Linux Mint 17.3 are in the column on the right (the sections J to N)



C. How to upgrade Linux Mint 17.2 to 17.3

1. How to upgrade Linux Mint 17.2 quickly and safely to Linux Mint 17.3



D. Linux Mint Xfce: for older computers

1. For older computers: Linux Mint Xfce

2. For even older computers: Linux Mint 17.1 Xfce

3. Round off your Linux Mint 17.1 Xfce neatly: do these 10 things first



E. Installation of Ubuntu

1. Choose the right Ubuntu version for you

2. Burn the Ubuntu image on a DVD in the right way

3. Computers with Windows 8.x or 10: first configure them for dual boot

4. Install Ubuntu 16.04 alongside Windows (dual boot)



F. Right after the installation of Ubuntu

1. Round off Ubuntu 16.04 neatly: do these 10 things first

2. Speed up your Ubuntu!

3. Multimedia: install full audio and video support for Ubuntu

4. How to migrate your e-mail from Windows to Linux

5. Want a more traditional desktop for Ubuntu?



G. Re-installing and upgrading Ubuntu

1. Upgrade smoothly from previous Ubuntu versions to 16.04

2. How to re-install Ubuntu easily


More tips and how-to's for Ubuntu are in the column on the right (the sections J to N)



H. Xubuntu: a lightweight family member of Ubuntu

1. Xubuntu 16.04 LTS: a classic beauty

2. Round off your Xubuntu 16.04 neatly: do these 10 things first

3. Adapt the panels of Xubuntu 16.04



I. Lubuntu: an extra lightweight family member of Ubuntu

1. Lubuntu 16.04 LTS: the king of the mini's

2. Round off your Lubuntu 16.04 neatly: do these 10 things first


Get help

Need help? Get it for Ubuntu (*Click*) or for Linux Mint (*Click*)

(Continued in the column on the right)

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Search this website?

Tip: you can find the how-to's you need, by using the search box in the upper right corner of this website (next to the button "Search this site").



1. Avoid 10 fatal mistakes

2. How to install applications

3. Printers and scanners: how to install them

4. Security (about viruses and firewalls)

5. Wireless security (four popular myths and 11 tips)

6. How to create a good password

7. The Linux file system

8. 27 frequently asked questions (FAQ) - part one

9. 27 frequently asked questions (FAQ) - part two

10. 32 tips and tweak (part one)

11. 32 tips and tweaks (part two)

12. How to clean Ubuntu safely

13. How to clean Linux Mint safely



1. Install Samsung printers (all models)

2. Install HP printers (all models)

3. Install Brother printers (all models)

4. Install Canon PIXMA printers



1. Dual boot install seems impossible

2. Solutions for 17 bugs in Ubuntu 14.04 and Linux Mint 17.3

3. Linux Mint: easy generic solutions for some problems

4. Display problems

5. Sound problems

6. Internet connection problems

7. Boot loader Grub: how to repair, adapt or remove it

     7.1. Repair Grub for Windows 8 computers (EFI or UEFI)

8. Forgotten password: what to do

9. Windows 7 won't boot anymore

10. Windows 8.x or 10 won't boot anymore

11. Software sources list: how to repair it



1. Java: how to install it in Linux Mint, Ubuntu and Debian

2. Firefox: tweak it right

3. Chrome and Chromium: make them even better

4. Libre Office: configure it well

5. Network Manager: how to connect to a VPN

6. Wine: use Windows applications in Linux (discouraged!)

7. Gigolo: access your network disk (NAS)

8. Thunderbird: how to use it for Gmail

9. Linux Mint: how to change Update Manager



1. Give the Grub menu a holiday picture for background

2. SSD: optimize your Solid State Drive for Linux Mint, Ubuntu and Debian

3. Install the latest microcode for your CPU

4. Turn your Ubuntu 16.04 into Xubuntu 16.04

5. How to install the latest Nvidia driver for your video card

6. System hacks for advanced Linux Mint users

7. How to install a free legal Windows in VirtualBox

8. Conky: monitor your system

9. Run your web browser from within a secure sandbox




1. Oracle (Sun) Java JRE for openSUSE and Fedora

2. Solid State Drive (SSD): optimize it for openSUSE

3. Tips for all Linux distro's

4. Android: improve security with five measures

5. Install a new Android on your Samsung Galaxy Gio



1. Wireless security (four popular myths and 11 tips)

2. Amplify the wireless signal of your router

3. Set up a second router in your home

4. Reduce electromagnetic radiation of computing devices

5. Install Tomato or Tomato RAF on your router

6. Put DD-WRT on your router



1. Windows XP: replace it quickly by an easy and free (no cost) Linux

2. Survive hard times: a buyer's guide for the economic crisis


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Ask for help

Need help? Get it for Ubuntu (*Click*) or for Linux Mint (*Click*)


About the content

The content of this website is a translation of some of the content of my Dutch website. My Dutch website contains far more tips and how-to's for Ubuntu and Linux Mint. So if you're able to read Dutch (or Afrikaans, which is closely related to Dutch), you might want to take a look there, too.


About the author

The author of these pages.


License: Creative Commons

I encourage copying of the information on this website! The more, the better... This is the applicable license:


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. The attribution must mention the home page of this website.


Legal notice

In some countries, applying some of the tips on this website may be illegal, because several tips (mainly concerning multimedia) involve the installation of patented and/or restricted software.


Disclaimer

Use at your own risk: read the disclaimer.