How to Install Debian 13 Trixie Desktop: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to revWhiteShadow, your guide to mastering Debian 13 “Trixie”. In this extensive tutorial, we’ll walk you through a complete installation of Debian 13 Desktop, ensuring a smooth and successful experience. We’ll cover everything from downloading the ISO image to configuring your desktop environment. Get ready to unleash the power of Debian on your system!

1. Preparing for the Debian 13 Trixie Installation

Before we dive into the installation process, a few preparatory steps are essential. These steps will ensure a smooth and hassle-free installation of Debian 13 Trixie on your machine.

1.1. Downloading the Debian 13 Trixie ISO Image

The first step is to acquire the Debian 13 Trixie ISO image. You can download the ISO from the official Debian website. Ensure you download the correct architecture (usually amd64 for 64-bit systems). We recommend using a mirror close to your location for faster download speeds.

  1. Visit the official Debian download page: https://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst.
  2. Choose the appropriate ISO image. For most modern computers, the “amd64” architecture is the correct choice. Consider the “netinst” image for a minimal installation, or a full DVD image if you prefer to have more packages available offline.
  3. Select a mirror from the list provided. Choose one geographically close to you to maximize download speed.

1.1.1. Verifying the Downloaded ISO Image

After downloading the ISO image, it’s crucial to verify its integrity. This ensures that the image wasn’t corrupted during the download process and that it is authentic.

  1. Download the Checksum File: On the Debian download page, you will find checksum files (SHA256SUMS). Download the one corresponding to your chosen ISO image.

  2. Verify the Checksum: Open a terminal and use the sha256sum command to calculate the checksum of the downloaded ISO image.

    sha256sum debian-13.0.0-amd64-netinst.iso

  3. Compare the Checksums: Compare the output of the sha256sum command with the checksum listed in the downloaded SHA256SUMS file. If they match, your ISO image is valid.

1.2. Creating Bootable Media (USB Drive)

Next, you need to create a bootable USB drive using the downloaded ISO image. This USB drive will be used to boot your computer into the Debian 13 Trixie installer.

  1. Download a USB Image Writing Tool: We recommend using Rufus (for Windows), Etcher (cross-platform), or the dd command (for Linux).

  2. Create the Bootable USB Drive:

    • Using Rufus (Windows):
      • Open Rufus.
      • Select your USB drive in the “Device” dropdown.
      • Click the “SELECT” button and choose the downloaded Debian 13 Trixie ISO image.
      • Click “START” and wait for the process to complete.
    • Using Etcher (Cross-Platform):
      • Open Etcher.
      • Click “Flash from file” and choose the downloaded Debian 13 Trixie ISO image.
      • Click “Select target” and choose your USB drive.
      • Click “Flash!” and wait for the process to complete.
    • Using dd (Linux):

      • Identify your USB drive using the lsblk command. Be extremely careful to identify the correct drive to avoid data loss.

      • Use the dd command to write the ISO image to the USB drive. Replace /dev/sdX with the correct device identifier for your USB drive.

        sudo dd bs=4M if=debian-13.0.0-amd64-netinst.iso of=/dev/sdX status=progress oflag=sync

        Warning: Ensure that the target drive is unmounted before executing the dd command. This can prevent corruption of the USB drive.

1.3. Backing Up Your Data

Before proceeding with the installation, it is crucial to back up all important data from your computer. The installation process may involve formatting your hard drive, which will erase all existing data.

  1. Identify Important Data: Determine which files, documents, photos, and other data you want to preserve.
  2. Choose a Backup Medium: Select a suitable backup medium, such as an external hard drive, USB drive, or cloud storage service.
  3. Copy Your Data: Copy all important data to the chosen backup medium.

2. Booting from the USB Drive and Starting the Installation

Now that you have prepared the bootable USB drive and backed up your data, you can proceed with booting your computer from the USB drive and starting the Debian 13 Trixie installation.

2.1. Configuring the BIOS/UEFI to Boot from USB

  1. Access the BIOS/UEFI Settings: Restart your computer and press the appropriate key to enter the BIOS/UEFI settings. This key is usually displayed on the screen during startup (e.g., Delete, F2, F12, Esc).
  2. Change the Boot Order: Navigate to the boot settings and change the boot order to prioritize booting from the USB drive. Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings.

2.2. Starting the Debian 13 Trixie Installer

  1. Insert the USB Drive: Ensure that the bootable USB drive is inserted into your computer.
  2. Restart Your Computer: Restart your computer, and it should now boot from the USB drive.
  3. Select “Graphical Install”: On the boot menu, select the “Graphical Install” option. This will start the graphical installer, which provides a user-friendly interface for the installation process.

3. Installing Debian 13 Trixie: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Debian 13 Trixie installer will guide you through the installation process. Follow the steps below to install Debian 13 Trixie on your computer.

3.1. Selecting Your Language, Location, and Keyboard Layout

  1. Language: Choose your preferred language from the list. This will be the language used during the installation process and for the installed system.
  2. Location: Select your location. This will determine the time zone and other regional settings.
  3. Keyboard Layout: Choose your keyboard layout. Test the layout to ensure that it is configured correctly.

3.2. Configuring the Network

The installer will attempt to configure your network automatically. If you have a DHCP server on your network, the installer will obtain an IP address automatically.

  1. Hostname: Enter a hostname for your computer. This is the name that will be used to identify your computer on the network.
  2. Domain Name: If your computer is part of a domain, enter the domain name. Otherwise, you can leave this field blank.

3.3. Setting Up User Accounts and Passwords

  1. Root Password: Enter a strong password for the root user. The root user has administrative privileges on the system.
  2. Create a User Account: Create a user account for yourself. Enter your full name, username, and a strong password. This user account will be used for daily tasks.

3.4. Partitioning Your Disks

This is a critical step in the installation process. Choose the partitioning method carefully, as it can affect your data.

  1. Partitioning Methods:
    • Guided - use entire disk: This option will erase the entire disk and create partitions automatically. This is the simplest option, but it will erase all existing data on the disk.
    • Guided - use entire disk and set up LVM: This option will use LVM (Logical Volume Management) to create partitions. LVM provides more flexibility for managing partitions.
    • Guided - use free space: This option will use the free space on your disk to create partitions.
    • Manual: This option allows you to create and configure partitions manually. This option is recommended for advanced users who want more control over the partitioning process.
  2. Creating Partitions Manually (Advanced):
    • Select the Disk: Choose the disk where you want to install Debian 13 Trixie.
    • Create a Partition Table: If the disk is new or doesn’t have a partition table, create one.
    • Create Partitions: Create the following partitions:
      • /boot: This partition contains the bootloader and kernel. It should be at least 500MB.
      • / (root): This partition is the root filesystem. It should be at least 20GB.
      • swap: This partition is used for swap space. It should be at least the same size as your RAM.
      • /home: This partition is used for user data. Allocate the remaining space to this partition.
    • Mount Points: Assign mount points to each partition. The mount point specifies where the partition will be mounted in the filesystem.
    • Formatting Partitions: Format each partition with the appropriate filesystem. We recommend using ext4 for the / and /home partitions.

3.5. Installing the Base System

After partitioning the disks, the installer will install the base system. This process may take some time, depending on your internet connection speed.

3.6. Configuring the Package Manager

The installer will ask you to configure the package manager.

  1. Choose a Mirror: Select a mirror from the list provided. Choose one geographically close to you to maximize download speed.
  2. HTTP Proxy Information: If you use a proxy server to connect to the internet, enter the proxy information. Otherwise, you can leave this field blank.

3.7. Participating in the Package Usage Survey

The installer will ask you if you want to participate in the package usage survey. This survey helps the Debian developers understand which packages are most popular.

3.8. Choosing Software to Install

The installer will ask you to choose which software to install.

  1. Desktop Environment: Select a desktop environment. We recommend choosing GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, or LXDE.
  2. Standard System Utilities: Select the “standard system utilities” option. This will install essential system utilities.

3.9. Installing the GRUB Bootloader

The installer will install the GRUB bootloader to the hard drive.

  1. Install GRUB to the Hard Drive: Choose the hard drive where you want to install GRUB. This is usually the same disk where you installed Debian 13 Trixie.

4. Completing the Installation and Rebooting

After installing the GRUB bootloader, the installation is complete.

4.1. Rebooting Your Computer

  1. Remove the USB Drive: Remove the bootable USB drive from your computer.
  2. Reboot: Reboot your computer. It should now boot into Debian 13 Trixie.

4.2. Logging In and Configuring Your Desktop Environment

  1. Login: Enter your username and password to log in.
  2. Configure Your Desktop Environment: Customize your desktop environment to your liking. You can change the theme, icons, and other settings.

5. Post-Installation Steps and Optimizations

After successfully installing Debian 13 Trixie, there are several post-installation steps and optimizations you can perform to enhance your experience.

5.1. Updating Your System

The first thing you should do after installing Debian 13 Trixie is to update your system.

  1. Open a Terminal: Open a terminal.

  2. Update the Package List: Run the following command to update the package list:

    sudo apt update

  3. Upgrade the System: Run the following command to upgrade the system:

    sudo apt upgrade

5.2. Installing Additional Software

You can install additional software using the apt package manager.

  1. Search for Software: Use the apt search command to search for software.

    apt search vlc

  2. Install Software: Use the apt install command to install software.

    sudo apt install vlc

5.3. Configuring System Settings

You can configure system settings using the system settings application.

  1. Open System Settings: Open the system settings application.
  2. Configure Settings: Configure the settings to your liking. You can change the display settings, network settings, and other settings.

5.4. Installing Proprietary Drivers (If Needed)

If you have hardware that requires proprietary drivers, you may need to install them manually.

  1. Identify Your Hardware: Identify the hardware that requires proprietary drivers.
  2. Download the Drivers: Download the drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
  3. Install the Drivers: Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to install the drivers.

5.5. Enabling Backports (Optional)

The Debian backports repository contains newer versions of software that are not available in the main Debian repositories. You can enable the backports repository to access these newer versions.

  1. Add the Backports Repository: Add the backports repository to your system.

    echo "deb http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie-backports main contrib non-free" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/backports.list

  2. Update the Package List: Update the package list.

    sudo apt update

  3. Install Software from Backports: Use the -t option with the apt install command to install software from the backports repository.

    sudo apt install -t trixie-backports package_name

6. Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues

While we’ve strived to make this guide as comprehensive as possible, you might encounter some issues during the installation process. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

6.1. Computer Fails to Boot from USB

  • Solution: Ensure that the USB drive is properly created and bootable. Double-check the BIOS/UEFI settings to prioritize booting from USB. Try using a different USB port or a different USB drive.

6.2. Network Configuration Issues

  • Solution: If you have trouble configuring the network, ensure that your network cable is connected properly. If you are using Wi-Fi, make sure that your wireless adapter is enabled and that you have entered the correct password. If you are using a static IP address, ensure that you have entered the correct IP address, netmask, gateway, and DNS server.

6.3. Partitioning Errors

  • Solution: If you encounter errors during partitioning, review your partition scheme carefully. Make sure that you have created the necessary partitions and that they are formatted correctly. If you are unsure, try using the “Guided” partitioning option.

6.4. GRUB Installation Errors

  • Solution: If you encounter errors during GRUB installation, try installing GRUB to a different hard drive. If you are using a dual-boot system, make sure that GRUB is configured to boot both operating systems.

7. Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Debian 13 Trixie Desktop. With its stability, security, and vast software repository, Debian 13 Trixie provides a robust and versatile platform for both desktop and server use. We at revWhiteShadow hope this guide has been helpful and informative. Now you can explore the power and flexibility of Debian 13 Trixie and customize it to your specific needs. Happy computing! Remember to regularly update your system and explore the vast world of open-source software available for Debian.