Overview

With your liveboot USB set up, you can prepare to boot into a live session of Linux Mint.

First, you need to set your computer system to recognize that it should boot from a different device at startup (your Ventoy device). This option is changed in your computer’s BIOS MENU.

Disable secure boot in BIOS MENU

  1. Reboot your computer with the Ventoy USB still inserted.

  2. Before the computer can fully boot, enter the BIOS MENU by pressing the required special key.

  3. Find the option for Secure Boot and ensure it is Disabled.

  4. Return to the previous BIOS MENU to change the default boot option.

Change default boot order

You will need to change your computer’s default boot order so that Ventoy shows up at boot.

  1. Select the USB device you installed Ventoy onto from the available boot options list. This will show up as the specific model and make of the USB itself.

  2. Save and exit the BIOS MENU. The computer should now restart and load the Ventoy liveboot option menu.

  3. Select the Linux Mint .iso and press Enter to boot up Linux Mint.

Boot up live session

In a live session, you can safely test out any programs and the desktop environment without impacting the OS installed on your computer. This is a good way to test out distros before installing them as well.

  1. Double-click on the Install Linux Mint application on the desktop (top left corner).

    The Linux Mint desktop from a live session with the installation helper in the top left corner.

  2. Select the options in each step as desired for your computer setup. It is recommended to install with an internet connection for access to all files.

    Linux Mint installation prompt to install multimedia codecs.

Set up partitions

A standalone operating system means that there is no other OS installed on the computer.

Multi-booting is when there are 2 or more OSes installed. Setting up partitions differs slightly depending on this setup.

  1. To install Linux Mint as a standalone OS, select the Erase disk and install Linux Mint option.

  2. For a multi-boot setup, select Something else to manually set up your partitions.

    Linux Mint installation prompt for either erasing the disk partitions or setting them up manually.

  3. Refer to the following official guides for a detailed explanation on setting up partitions.

  4. After setting up your partitions, click on Install Now. The installation process may take up to a couple hours. Wait until this finishes.

    Linux Mint installation process

Restart computer

  1. When the installation is finished, select Restart Now.

    Linux Mint installation complete notice window

  2. Keep the liveboot USB inserted until the system asks you to remove it.

  3. The system will now restart and boot up Linux Mint. Welcome to the mint containment breach!

Last updated 23 Jun 2026, 16:11 -0700. history