Easy Guide for How to Install Bodhi Linux

Before I begin showing you how to install Bodhi Linux you might be wondering what Bodhi Linux actually is.

Bodhi Linux is a minimalist distribution which aims to empower the user by giving just enough applications to get going without bloating their system with applications they don't need.

There are two main reasons why I have chosen to write this guide now:

• I haven't looked at Bodhi for a while
• It uses the Enlightenment desktop

The Enlightenment desktop environment is extremely lightweight which leaves you more processing power to run your applications.

I have tried other distributions which include the Enlightenment desktop but Bodhi is the one distribution that over the years has truly embraced it.

Click here to read more about Bodhi Linux.

Where you choose to install Bodhi Linux is up to you. Due to being lightweight in nature you can install it on old machines with low processing power or on more modern laptops.

The first thing you need to do is download Bodhi Linux.

Click here to visit the Bodhi download page.

There are 32-bit, 64-bit, legacy and Chromebook options available.

If you are installing on a computer with a UEFI bootloader (likely to be the case if your computer runs Windows 8). you will need to choose the 64-bit version. 

After you have downloaded the 64-bit ISO click this link for a guide to creating a UEFI bootable Linux USB drive. The guide works for all Ubuntu derivatives and Bodhi is a Ubuntu derivative.

Essentially all you have to do is insert a blank USB drive, open the ISO in Windows Explorer and extract the files to the USB drive.

The next steps will show how to create a bootable Linux USB drive for a computer with a standard BIOS.

Another option is to install Bodhi Linux as a virtual machine.

Click here for a link to show how to install Oracle Virtualbox in Windows. It includes steps for creating a virtual machine.

If you have a GNOME based Linux distribution installed you can also try Bodhi Linux out using GNOME Boxes.

The next three pages will show how to create a Bodhi USB drive for a computer with a standard BIOS (likely if your machine is running Windows 7 or earlier) .

If you haven't already done so Click here to visit the Bodhi download page.

Download the version of Bodhi Linux which suits your computer. (i.e. 32-bit or 64-bit).

To create the USB drive we are going to use a tool called Universal USB Installer.

Click here to get the Universal USB Installer 

Scroll down the page and click on the "DOWNLOAD UUI" link.

If you are using Linux you will need to use another tool. This guide for UNetbootin should work and is available in the repositories of most distributions.

After you have downloaded the Universal USB Installer navigate to the downloads folder on your computer and double click the icon for the file you downloaded (Universal-USB-Installer followed by the version number).

A license agreement message will appear. Click "agree" to continue.

To create the USB drive:

1. Insert the USB drive
2. Select Bodhi from the dropdown list
3. Click the browse button and select the Bodhi ISO downloaded previously
4. Check the showing all drives button
5. Choose your USB drive from the dropdown list
6. Check the "We will format the drive" checkbox
7. Slide the bar across to get a persistent USB drive
8. Click "Create"

Hopefully you will now either have a bootable Linux USB drive or you will have a virtual machine in which you can boot into the live version of Bodhi.

Whichever method you choose make sure you are at the Bodhi welcome page.

Close the browser window so that you can see the icons on the desktop and click on the Install Bodhi icon.

At the Welcome screen click on "Continue".

The first screen to appear requires you to connect to a wireless network (unless you are plugged in to a router using an Ethernet cable).

This step is optional but helps to set up timezones and downloads updates on the fly. If you have a poor internet connection it might be worth not connecting.

Select your wireless network and enter the security key. 

Click "Continue".

Before you start to install Bodhi a status page appears showing how prepared you are.

The basic criteria is as follows:

• Must be connected to the internet
• Must be connected to a power source
• Must have 4.6 gigabytes of disk space

It isn't essential that you are connected to the internet and if you have enough battery left on your laptop you don't necessarily need to be connected to a power source.

You do need the 4.6 gigabytes of disk space though.

Click "Continue". 

The bit most new people to Linux find difficult when installing it is the partitioning.

Bodhi (and Ubuntu derived distros) makes it as easy or as difficult as you want it to be.

The menu that appears may be different to the image above.

Essentially you have the option to:

• Replace your current operating system with Bodhi
• Install Bodhi alongside your current operating system
• Something else

If you are installing on a virtual machine you will probably just have an install option and something else.

For this guide choose the "Replace your current operating system with Bodhi".

Note that this will wipe your hard drive and install just Bodhi. 

Click "Install Now"

If you are connected to the internet it is highly likely that the correct location has already been chosen.

If not click your location on the map and this will help with your language and clock settings after Bodhi is installed.

Click "Continue". 

Almost there now.

Select your keyboard language in the left pane and then the layout and dialect of the keyboard from the right pane.

It is highly likely that if you are connected to the internet that the correct layout has already been selected. If not choose the correct one and click "Continue".

This is the final configuration screen.

Enter your name and give your computer a name to identify it on your home network.

Choose a username and enter a password for the user (repeat the password).

You can choose for Bodhi to login automatically or to require you to login. 

You can also choose to encrypt your home folder.

I wrote an article discussing the merits as to whether it is a good idea to encrypt your hard drive (or home folder). Click here for the guide.

Click "Continue".

All you have to do now is wait for the files to be copied to your computer and the system to be installed.

When the process has finished you will be asked whether you want to keep playing in live mode or reboot your computer.

To try out your new system reboot your computer and remove the USB drive. 

Bodhi should now boot and you will see a browser window with a list of links which will help you to learn more about Bodhi Linux.

I will be preparing a review of Bodhi Linux in the coming week and a more in depth guide to Enlightenment.