Debian for beginners/Before install

To install Debian you first need to download and record it on a installation medium (USB flash drive, CD, DVD). What installation image do I choose? Types CD images (or Network installs) up to 700MB only the basic installer and a basic system, no desktop environment installing desktop environments and programs needs an internet connection old installer DVD/USB images up to 4.7GB functioning system optional programs old installer Live install images up to 3.4GB run the system from your installation medium functioning system friendly installer can test it without installing do the same things you do on an installed system no files or settings are saved Architecture (64-bits or 32-bits) Before downloading the installation image, check if your system is 64 or 32 bit. It is likely to be 64-bit but in the case you don't know, check it in your motherboard's BIOS. Remember that live images are only for 64-bit PCs. 32-bit – download i386 64-bit – download amd64 Download image Download the live image. If your computer is 32-bit, install the 32-bit DVD image. If the memory of your storage device is below 3.5GB, download the CD image. You can also buy official Debian CDs, DVDs and USB drives from a vendor. Recording installation image You need to record (or flash) the image on your installation medium. To do that you need to install a special program. We will use Rufus. Backup data Before installing Debian, copy any important files, from your target drive, to another drive. Glossary desktop environment a visual representation of your system, how your system will look, like KDE Plasma or GNOME installation image a computer file that has everything to record on your installation medium iso image see installation image target drive the storage device you will install Debian on, like a HDD or SSD installation medium the storage device you will record the installation image on and install Debian from, like a CD, DVD or USB drive drive a storage medium, like a hard disk drive (HDD), soft state drive (SSD) or USB drive to flash to record an iso image on an USB drive to burn to record an iso image on a CD or DVD, sometimes permamently