I'm trying to install Linux Mint Cinnamon on my Dell Inspiron 15 3000, which has an Intel Core i5 7th generation processor. I want to completely remove Windows from the laptop. However, I've hit a snag: instead of downloading the .iso image file from the official site, I ended up with a WinRAR zip file that doesn't contain the file I need. I attempted to create the bootable USB installer using Rufus, but it didn't recognize the hard drive. I also tried BalenaEtcher, but it wouldn't work with the zip file and I still can't find the .iso. I managed to create a bootable USB drive on another laptop where the .iso downloaded successfully. Now, should I just use that to install Linux on my Dell?
3 Answers
Some downloads can really mess you up, huh? The main takeaway here is always check that you’re getting the right file type. Now that you've got that USB ready, go ahead and install it. Just boot from your USB drive on your Dell, and it should recognize it without a hitch!
You mentioned downloading a zip file instead of the .iso, which can be frustrating. Just to clarify, Linux distributions should always be downloaded as .iso files. If you encounter this again, make sure you’re getting it from the official site. If you can't find the .iso afterwards, it's often easiest to just redownload it rather than trying to extract from a zip!
It sounds like you've mostly got things sorted out! Since you already made a successful bootable USB drive on your other laptop, you should definitely use that to install Linux Mint on your Dell. Just ensure you boot from the USB drive, and you’ll be good to go! Also, make sure to download the .iso file directly from the official Linux Mint website next time to avoid those zip issues.
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