Your steps to Pop!_OS

From GreyHaven. For the Intel/AMD ISO, replacing Windows.

PC didn't start from the USB stick?

Restart and press your PC's startup menu key (often F12, F11, F8 or Esc) again and again as the PC starts. Then pick your USB stick.

A red "Secure Boot violation" message?

Secure Boot is still on. Restart and press your startup settings key (often Delete or F2) as the PC starts. Go to the Secure Boot setting, set Secure Boot to Disabled, then save and restart.

1. Try Linux

See how it works on your PC. Nothing is installed yet.

Choose Try Pop!_OS when it asks. Nothing is installed, and your files aren't touched.

Check these things work. Skip any your PC doesn't have:

On a laptop

On a desktop

If GreyHaven said a part needs an extra step after installing, it may not work fully yet. That's expected.

Happy with how it works? Go on to Install. Not happy? Shut down from the power menu, take out the stick, and Windows starts as before. Nothing has changed.

2. Install Pop!_OS

Put Pop!_OS on the whole drive. This erases Windows and your files.

  1. Pop!_OS installer Select Language screen with English chosen and the Select button highlighted. Install Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS Select Language Deutsch English Español Français Italiano Select
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    The Pop!_OS installer's language list

    Open the installer from the desktop (its name starts with "Install"). Or restart from the stick: it opens by itself. Pick your language.

  2. Pop!_OS installer Keyboard Layout screen with English (US) chosen and Select highlighted. Install Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS Keyboard Layout English (UK) English (US) French German Select Back
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    The keyboard layout list

    Pick your keyboard layout.

  3. Pop!_OS installer Install screen with Clean Install chosen and the Clean Install button highlighted at the bottom right. Install Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS Install Clean Install Erase everything and install. Custom (Advanced) Manage partitions manually. Clean Install Back Try Demo Mode
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    Clean Install chosen, and the Clean Install button

    Choose Clean Install, then click Clean Install at the bottom right.

  4. Pop!_OS installer Select a drive screen with your drive chosen and the red Erase and Install button highlighted. Install Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS Select a drive Your drive 500 GB Erase and Install Cancel Installation
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    The drive list and the Erase and Install button

    Pick your drive, then click Erase and Install.

  5. Pop!_OS installer Create User Account screen with Full Name and User Name boxes and the Next button highlighted. Install Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS Create User Account Full Name User Name Next Back
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    The user account screen

    Type your name, then a password.

  6. Pop!_OS installer Drive Encryption screen with Don't Encrypt and Set Password buttons, Don't Encrypt highlighted. Install Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS Drive Encryption Encrypting protects your files if someone takes the device. Set Password Don't Encrypt
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    The Drive Encryption screen with Don't Encrypt

    When it asks about encryption, Don't Encrypt is fine.

  7. Pop!_OS installer Continue Setting Up screen with the Restart Device button highlighted. Install Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS Continue Setting Up Shut Down Restart Device
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    The Restart Device button

    When it's done, click Restart Device, then take out the USB stick.

Installer screens change a little between versions. Follow the words on screen if they look different.

3. After installing

A few last things to make Pop!_OS yours.

Install updates

Open COSMIC Store and install everything it offers. Then restart.

If GreyHaven said your NVIDIA graphics needs an extra step

Follow the pictures. Don't download drivers from websites: that can break your setup.

  1. The Pop!_OS download page with a normal Download button and a Download (NVIDIA) button, the NVIDIA one highlighted. Download Pop!_OS Download Download (NVIDIA) Pick the download made for NVIDIA graphics
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    Easiest option - install from Pop!_OS's NVIDIA ISO, which already includes the driver.

    Easiest option - install from Pop!_OS's NVIDIA ISO, which already includes the driver.

  2. A terminal window with a command typed and the password prompt. $ sudo apt install ... [sudo] password: Type the command, press Enter, then your password
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    If you installed from the Intel/AMD ISO, run the command below and restart.

    If you installed from the Intel/AMD ISO, run the command below and restart.

Or type this in a terminal:

sudo apt install system76-driver-nvidia

If GreyHaven said your Broadcom Wi-Fi that needs the "wl" driver needs an extra step

Follow the pictures. Don't download drivers from websites: that can break your setup.

  1. A laptop connected to the internet with a network cable or a phone's USB cable. Network cable, or USB from your phone
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    Connect to the internet with a network cable or USB tethering from your phone.

    Connect to the internet with a network cable or USB tethering from your phone.

  2. A terminal window with a command typed and the password prompt. $ sudo apt install ... [sudo] password: Type the command, press Enter, then your password
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    Run the commands below and restart.

    Run the commands below and restart.

Or type this in a terminal:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install bcmwl-kernel-source

Install your apps

Your list of apps, with where to get each one, is in the printed or saved copy of your guide from GreyHaven. It isn't on this page, to keep it private.

Where to get help

When you ask for help, share your GreyHaven report. It lists your parts without any personal details.

This page is the same for everyone who picked Pop!_OS (Intel/AMD ISO) and chose to replace Windows. Anything personal on it comes from the part of the address after "#", which your browser keeps to itself. GreyHaven 0.1.0.