Is there a correct way to install distros or can I install them the way I like?
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Is there a correct way to install distros or can I install them the way I like?
I, for example, don't understand anything about partitioning and I avoid it because it's the step of the installation that I hate the most. So, if I install the way I like, even without advanced knowledge about installation, can I end up facing problems like random system freezes in the future?
Best thing to do it read the installation docs for the distro that you want to install. Yes, partitioning is a real important step. So is putting a file system on the partitions, installing a bootloader etc.
It really isn't that complicated. Generally, you can use one partition for the entire system plus a swap for most systems. Many users now will have a smaller partition for the system and a larger partition for the /home or a /data partition for personal data. The first option is obviously the easiest. If you do an online search for 'standard linux partitioning' you should get any number of sites such as the one below. The second link below is the GPArted manual which is the standard Linux graphical partitioning software. Most newer drives now are GPT so you should understand the difference between GPT/UEFI and the older msdos partitioning.
I, for example, don't understand anything about partitioning and I avoid it because it's the step of the installation that I hate the most. So, if I install the way I like, even without advanced knowledge about installation, can I end up facing problems like random system freezes in the future?
As long as the way you like gets it installed, you (or the installer) did the partitioning well enough. It cannot cause random freezes in the future.
What could it affect:
If you have any OS there already, doing things wrong could wipe them or overwrite them.
If you don't put bootloader/grub on the right drive, your might not be able to start your OS.
If you install on a really tiny partition, you might run out of space.
If you don't create a swap partition, then if you dual boot other linux distros you're wasting space as they'll each have their own swapfile, instead of sharing one swap partition.
If you create a swap partition then hibernate, then boot another distro, you'll kill your hibernated state.
If you create separate home and root partitions, and one gets full later, have to resize partitions to resolve.
If you don't create a separate partition for home, then you can't remove or replace the OS/apps without wiping your personal data.
As long as the way you like gets it installed, you (or the installer) did the partitioning right. It wont affect random freezes in the future.
What could it affect:
If you have any OS there already, doing things wrong could wipe them or overwrite them.
If you don't put bootloader/grub on the right drive, your might not be able to start your OS.
If you install on a really tiny partition, you might run out of space.
If you don't create a swap partition, then if you dual boot other linux distros you're wasting space as they'll each have their own swapfile, instead of sharing one swap partition.
If you create a swap partition then hibernate, then boot another distro, you'll kill your hibernated state.
If you don't create a separate partition for home, then you can't remove or replace the OS/apps without wiping your personal data.
If you create separate home and root partitions, and one gets full later, have to resize partitions to resolve.
If the installer gives me a default setup and I choose it without partitioning by myself then in the future everything is going to work fine?
If the installer gives me a default setup and I choose it without partitioning by myself then in the future everything is going to work fine?
Yes.... IF you allow the installer to wipe the whole disk (clean install) and lay down the new OS. That is what I do as I only have one base OS installed on the computer. Any additional OS's will be loaded in a VM if desired.
If the installer gives me a default setup and I choose it without partitioning by myself then in the future everything is going to work fine?
Only if the default setup is going to work best for you.
Have a look at the links in yancek's post above. Note that partitioning is also important in a ms-windows environment.
Also, bear in mind that having a separate /home partition won't necessarily guarantee your data's safety when updating, upgrading, reinstalling an existing OS or installing a new one - always back up first.
I, for example, don't understand anything about partitioning and I avoid it because it's the step of the installation that I hate the most. So, if I install the way I like, even without advanced knowledge about installation, can I end up facing problems like random system freezes in the future?
I, for example, hate fuels, and I want to avoid it because it stinks pretty much. Can I end up facing problems like random stop in the future?
In the short run (for home machines), default is usually fine, but in the long run partitions are worth learning about.
It's not that complex for the basiscs.
If you want , do a default install and then post what you get (eg lsblk) here for comments.
If you can spare a hundred, get an old laptop and experiment by installing a few times with different partitioning schemes. This way you will learn about partitions. When I say a few times I mean more than five. Use the same distribution to have consistent effects.
For example, my main system is setup with three partitions: / (root), /home and swap. It is my usual setup and I like to keep this system simple. In case of a screw up I believe I can reinstall and keep my /home partition intact. And yes, I do have backups and so should you.
My experimental laptop (about a hundred, maybe more) has six partitions:
Guys, I decided to install linux lite os and I chose ''Erase disk and install Linux''. I don't know why but like any other distros it freezes randomly as well but not frequently
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