Calamares Installer Walkthrough

The installer asks seven questions. Here’s what each means and how to answer well.

1. Welcome & language

Pick your language — affects system locale, keyboard defaults and docs links.

2. Location

Region/zone sets timezone + NTP. Map click or list; both fine.

3. Keyboard

Test box included — type something with your layout’s special characters before proceeding.

4. Partitions — the big one

Choice Meaning & when

Erase disk

Wipes the selected drive completely, creates EFI + root (+ swap/zram). Simplest, destructive to THAT disk only.

Install alongside

Auto-shrinks an existing OS partition into free space. Convenient for single-Windows-disk machines.

Manual

Full control — read Partitioning Options Explained first if data survives on this disk.

Encryption tick-box here enables LUKS2 full-disk (details: Encrypted Installation Guide).

5. Summary review

Calamares shows the exact operations list. READ IT. "Format nvme0n1p2" appearing next to your home partition is a moment to catch NOW.

6. User account

Real name, login name, hostname, password (typed twice), login options:

  • Log in automatically — convenience vs physical-security tradeoff; off is wiser on laptops.

  • Password hint field exists — leave empty habitually.

Your user joins wheel = sudo-enabled (Users, Groups & Sudo).

7. Install & finish

Progress screens stream by (~5–10 min depending on USB speed). Finish offers Restart now — remove USB when prompted so it boots from disk.

First boot lands you at LightDM → Cinnamon

Continue with Post-Install Setup — five minutes that make the machine yours.

Installer crashed / failed?

Don’t retry blind — check Installation Troubleshooting for known causes (bad ISO write, RST mode, weird partition layouts).