# Reference Agenda for organising a Linux Installation Party

**URL:** <https://forum.fossunited.org/t/reference-agenda-for-organising-a-linux-installation-party/2379>\
**Category:** Meetup\
**Created:** [21 September 2023 16:23 UTC](https://forum.fossunited.org/t/reference-agenda-for-organising-a-linux-installation-party/2379 "2023-09-21T16:23:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Soham\_Kulkarni](https://forum.fossunited.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Soham\_Kulkarni](https://forum.fossunited.org/u/Soham_Kulkarni)\
**Post date:** [21 September 2023 16:23 UTC](https://forum.fossunited.org/t/reference-agenda-for-organising-a-linux-installation-party/2379/1 "2023-09-21T16:23:18Z")

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Hey! Soham here, from FOSS United Pune. We hosted a Linux Installation Party in July. Here is a reference agenda based on our experience. Feel free to suggest edits.

**LIP Reference Agenda:**

**Prep:**

1. Request all attendees to RSVP via the FOSS United form, ask if they can bring a USB in the registration form.
2. Prepare 5-10 USBs flashed with Ventoy and the chosen ISO (switch to GPT partitions,turn SB support on)
3. Figure out the charging situation. If the event is being organised in a college seminar hall with laptops, arrange for extension boards.
4. every person is assigned a volunteer beforehand from the RSVP data
5. train 3-4 volunteers with exotic hardware (Nvidia/Realtek/etc. driver installation)
6. Ensure a 1:6 or better volunteer to attendee ratio.

**Session:**

1. Set up extension boards (keep the nvidia/gaming laptop users close to wall)
2. Label and flash USBs from attendees
3. Show how Linux can be downloaded and flashed  
a. During installation:  
b. Turn off fast boot startup  
c. turn off bitlocker  
d, ask attendees if they play valorant. turn off secureboot by default.
4. Ubuntu install options:

```auto
a, Partition 1: /boot
b. Partition 2: windows partition
c. Partition 3: 1gb /boot/efi
d. Partition 4: 20+gb root ext4
e. Partition 5: 1x/2x of RAM as swap
f. Partition 6: windows/OEM recovery partition

```

1. Discuss FOSS alternatives for commonly used software (eg. VLC, LibreOffice, etc.)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Soham\_Kulkarni](https://forum.fossunited.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Soham\_Kulkarni](https://forum.fossunited.org/u/Soham_Kulkarni)\
**Post date:** [27 September 2023 06:58 UTC](https://forum.fossunited.org/t/reference-agenda-for-organising-a-linux-installation-party/2379/2 "2023-09-27T06:58:44Z")

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Visual choices:

1. **GNOME:** Recommended for macOS users, or people interested in change from Windows in terms of UI.
2. **KDE:** Recommended for Windows users, very customisable.
3. **Cinnamon:** Looks like Windows, is sleek.
4. **XFCE:** Runs lean, good for resource constrained applications.

I might have missed some DEs. But generally, letting the attendee pick is a fun way to get them excited. I would _not_ recommend going for a WM for a first install.

Good beginner friendly distros:

1. **Fedora (GNOME):** Looks unique, packages are recent, lower package count, focuses on modern technologies like PipeWire, Wayland, etc. Preferential to open source drivers.
2. **Fedora KDE Spin:** KDE version, might be preferred visually by some attendees.
3. **Linux Mint:** Looks very similar to Windows, easier to transition. Good installer and good support for exotic hardware.
4. **Debian (Live):** Some issues with initial setup such as sudo, but Debian is a solid choice.
5. **Nobara:** Downstream Fedora with good support for Nvidia, gaming specific tweaks. More of a hobby project by the developer, would recommend if the hardware is very exotic. Encounters issues with version upgrades.

**Note regarding Ubuntu:** Ubuntu was previously considered to be the universal default choice for a first distro. However, they have implemented a wide array of controversial changes regarding snap, advertising in terminal, etc. As a thumb rule, all of the above choices will perform better, but Ubuntu is still a GNU/Linux system if none of these options are easily functional. Ubuntu is also a recommended prerequisite for a wide variety of usecases such as building AOSP etc. Please defer to Ubuntu on a case by case basis.