Installing Maple Linux

Maple Linux Core v1 (Southwold)
Installation Guide

Welcome to Maple Linux! This guide will walk you through the entire installation process, from downloading the ISO to your first boot into Maple Linux.

Table of Contents

  1. Downloading Maple Linux
  2. Creating a Bootable USB Drive
  3. Booting from USB
  4. Trying Maple Linux (Live Session)
  5. Installing Maple Linux
  6. Post-Installation Steps
  7. Troubleshooting

Downloading Maple Linux

Before you can install Maple Linux, you need to download the ISO file. We offer two download methods: direct download and torrent download.

What is an ISO file?

An ISO file is a complete image of the Maple Linux system packaged into a single file. You’ll use this ISO to create a bootable USB drive.

Download Methods

Method 1: Direct Download (Easiest)

Simply click the download link on our website and save the ISO file to your computer.

Pros:

  • Simple and straightforward
  • No additional software needed
  • Works on any internet connection

Cons:

  • If the download is interrupted, you may need to start over
  • Can be slower during peak times
  • Puts more load on our servers

Method 2: Torrent Download (Recommended)

Torrents are a way to download files from multiple sources simultaneously, making downloads faster and more reliable.

Pros:

  • Faster downloads (uses multiple sources)
  • Can pause and resume anytime
  • Automatically verifies file integrity
  • Helps distribute bandwidth (reduces server costs)
  • If interrupted, resumes exactly where it left off

Cons:

  • Requires torrent client software
  • Slightly more setup for first-time users

We recommend torrents if:

  • You have a slower internet connection
  • You’ve had trouble with interrupted downloads before
  • You want to help support the Maple Linux community
  • You’re downloading multiple large files

Using Transmission to Download Torrents

Transmission is a free, open-source torrent client that’s simple to use and available on all platforms.

Windows

  • Download Maple Linux:
    • Download the .torrent file from the Maple Linux website
    • Double-click the .torrent file (it will open in Transmission)
    • Choose where to save the file
    • Click “OK” to start the download
  • Wait for Download:
    • Transmission will show download progress
    • When complete, you’ll see “Seeding” (this shares the file with others)
    • You can now close Transmission or let it seed to help others

macOS

  • Download Transmission:
    • Visit https://transmissionbt.com/download/
    • Download “Transmission for macOS”
    • Open the DMG file and drag Transmission to Applications
    • Open Transmission (you may need to allow it in Security & Privacy settings)
  • Download Maple Linux:
    • Download the .torrent file from the Maple Linux website
    • Double-click the .torrent file (or drag it to Transmission)
    • Choose where to save the file
    • Click “Open” to start the download
  • Wait for Download:
    • Transmission will show download progress in the main window
    • When complete, the status will change to “Seeding”
    • Find your downloaded ISO in the folder you selected

Linux

If Transmission is already installed:

Many Linux distributions include Transmission by default. Check your applications menu for “Transmission” or “Torrent Client.”

To install Transmission (if needed):

Debian/Ubuntu-based:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install transmission-gtk

Fedora:

sudo dnf install transmission-gtk

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S transmission-gtk

Using Transmission:

  1. Open Transmission from your applications menu
  2. Download the .torrent file from the Maple Linux website
  3. In Transmission: File → Open Torrent (or just double-click the .torrent file)
  4. Select download location
  5. Click “Open” to start downloading
  6. When complete, you’ll find the ISO in your selected folder

Understanding Transmission

Key terms:

  • Peers: Other people downloading the same file
  • Seeds: People who have the complete file and are sharing it
  • Download speed: How fast you’re receiving the file
  • Upload speed: How fast you’re sharing with others (helps the community)
  • Ratio: Upload divided by download (1.0 means you’ve uploaded as much as you downloaded)

Tips:

  • More seeds = faster download
  • Leave Transmission running after download completes to help others (seeding)
  • A ratio of 1.0 or higher means you’ve given back to the community

Verifying Your Download

After downloading the ISO (whether direct or torrent), it’s good practice to verify the file integrity.

Why verify?

  • Ensures the download wasn’t corrupted
  • Confirms you have an authentic Maple Linux ISO
  • Prevents installation issues from bad downloads

How to verify:

We provide a checksum (SHA256 hash) on our download page. Compare it with your downloaded file:

Windows (PowerShell):

Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 “C:\path\to\maple-linux.iso”

macOS/Linux (Terminal):

sha256sum ~/Downloads/maple-linux.iso

Compare the output with the checksum on our website. They should match exactly.

Note:

If you downloaded via torrent, Transmission automatically verifies the file integrity, so this step is optional (but still recommended).

Creating a Bootable USB Drive

To install or try Maple Linux, you’ll need to create a bootable USB drive with the Maple Linux ISO file. You’ll need:

  • A USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage
  • The Maple Linux ISO file you just downloaded
  • Note: All data on the USB drive will be erased during this process

Windows

Recommended: balenaEtcher (easiest option)

  1. Download balenaEtcher from https://etcher.balena.io/
  2. Install and open Etcher
  3. Click “Flash from file” and select your Maple Linux ISO
  4. Click “Select target” and choose your USB drive
  5. Click “Flash!” and wait for the process to complete

Alternative: Rufus

  1. Download Rufus from https://rufus.ie/
  2. Open Rufus (no installation needed)
  3. Select your USB drive under “Device”
  4. Click “SELECT” and choose your Maple Linux ISO
  5. Leave other settings at their defaults
  6. Click “START” and confirm any prompts

macOS

Recommended: balenaEtcher

  1. Download balenaEtcher from https://etcher.balena.io/
  2. Open the downloaded DMG and drag Etcher to Applications
  3. Open Etcher (you may need to allow it in System Preferences > Security & Privacy)
  4. Click “Flash from file” and select your Maple Linux ISO
  5. Click “Select target” and choose your USB drive
  6. Click “Flash!” and enter your password when prompted
  7. Wait for the process to complete

Linux

Option 1: balenaEtcher (consistent across all platforms)

  1. Download balenaEtcher from https://etcher.balena.io/
  2. Extract and run the AppImage file
  3. Follow the same 3-step process: Select ISO → Select USB → Flash

Option 2: GNOME Disks (pre-installed on many distros)

  1. Open “Disks” from your application menu
  2. Select your USB drive from the left sidebar
  3. Click the menu button (three dots) → “Restore Disk Image”
  4. Select your Maple Linux ISO
  5. Click “Start Restoring” and confirm

Option 3: KDE ISO Image Writer (pre-installed on KDE-based distros)

  1. Open “ISO Image Writer” from your application menu
  2. Select your Maple Linux ISO
  3. Select your USB drive
  4. Click “Create” and enter your password

Booting from USB

Once your bootable USB is created, you need to boot your computer from it.

Step 1: Insert the USB Drive

Insert your bootable USB drive into the computer where you want to install Maple Linux.

Step 2: Access Boot Menu

Restart your computer and press the boot menu key during startup. Common keys include:

  • F12 (Dell, Lenovo, Acer, Toshiba)
  • F9 (HP)
  • F8 (ASUS)
  • ESC (Samsung)
  • Option/Alt (Mac – hold during startup)

Tip: The correct key is usually displayed briefly on the screen during startup (e.g., “Press F12 for Boot Menu”).

Step 3: Select USB Drive

From the boot menu, select your USB drive. It may appear as:

  • “USB Storage Device”
  • The brand name of your USB drive
  • “UEFI: [USB drive name]” (for UEFI systems)

Step 4: Boot into Maple Linux

After selecting the USB drive, Maple Linux will load. You’ll see the Maple Linux boot screen, and after a moment, you’ll be taken to the live desktop environment.

Troubleshooting Boot Issues:

  • If your computer boots normally to Windows/macOS instead, you may need to disable Secure Boot or Fast Boot in your BIOS/UEFI settings
  • If you see a black screen, try using “Safe graphics” or “nomodeset” boot options (if available in the boot menu)

Trying Maple Linux (Live Session)

When Maple Linux first loads, you’re running a live session – a fully functional environment that runs from your USB drive without making any changes to your computer. This is perfect for:

  • Testing hardware compatibility
  • Exploring the Cinnamon desktop environment
  • Checking that everything works before installing
  • Using Maple Linux without installing it

What You Can Do in Live Mode:

  • Browse the internet
  • Test audio, video, and peripherals
  • Connect to Wi-Fi networks
  • Open and use pre-installed applications
  • Check system settings and preferences

Note: In live mode, any files you create or settings you change will be lost when you restart. To keep your data and settings, you’ll need to install Maple Linux to your hard drive.

When You’re Ready to Install:

Look for the “Install Maple Linux“ icon on the desktop and double-click it to begin the installation process.

Installing Maple Linux

The Maple Linux installer (Calamares) will guide you through the installation process step-by-step.

Step 1: Welcome Screen

  • Select your preferred language for the installation
  • Click Next to continue

Step 2: Location

  • Select your geographic location (this sets your timezone)
  • Maple Linux defaults to America/Toronto timezone
  • You can adjust this if you’re in a different timezone
  • Click Next

Step 3: Keyboard Layout

  • Select your keyboard layout
  • The default is English (Canada)
  • Use the test field to verify your keyboard is working correctly
  • Click Next

Step 4: Partitions (Most Important Step)

This is where you decide how to install Maple Linux on your hard drive. You have several options:

Option A: Erase Disk (Simplest – But this will completely ERASE the drive.)

Best for: Dedicated Linux computers or replacing your current OS entirely

  • This will erase everything on the selected drive
  • Maple Linux will be the only operating system
  • Click Erase disk and select your drive
  • Warning: This will delete ALL existing data on the drive

Option B: Install Alongside (Dual Boot)

Best for: Keeping Windows or macOS and choosing which OS to use at startup

  • Maple Linux will share the drive with your existing OS
  • You’ll see a slider to choose how much space to allocate
  • The installer will resize your existing partition automatically
  • On startup, you’ll see a menu to choose which OS to boot

Requirements for dual boot:

  • At least 30 GB of free space (50+ GB recommended)
  • Existing partition should have some free space
  • Backup your important data first (always!)

Option C: Manual Partitioning (Advanced)

Best for: Custom partition schemes or experienced users

  • You can create custom partitions for /, /home, swap, etc.
  • Most beginners should skip this option

Recommended partition scheme for manual installation:

  • / (root): 30-50 GB minimum, ext4 filesystem
  • /home: Remaining space, ext4 filesystem
  • swap: Equal to your RAM size (or 2-4 GB minimum)
  • EFI System Partition (ESP): 512 MB (if UEFI, usually already exists)

Step 5: Encryption (Optional)

You can choose to encrypt your Maple Linux installation for added security.

Encrypt system checkbox:

  • ✅ Check this if you want to protect your data with a password
  • You’ll be asked to create an encryption passphrase
  • You must enter this passphrase every time you boot
  • Warning: If you forget this passphrase, your data cannot be recovered

When to use encryption:

  • Laptops that might be lost or stolen
  • Computers with sensitive personal or work data
  • Shared computers in public spaces

When you might skip encryption:

  • Desktop computers in secure locations
  • Performance-sensitive systems (slight overhead)
  • Systems where you might forget passwords

Step 6: User Account

Create your user account:

  • Your name: Your full name (optional)
  • Your login name: Username for logging in (lowercase, no spaces)
  • Computer name: Name for your computer on the network
  • Password: Choose a strong password
  • Confirm password: Enter the same password again

Login options:

  • Log in automatically without asking for a password: Convenient but less secure
  • Require my password to log in: Recommended for most users
  • Use the same password for the administrator account: Recommended (allows you to install software and make system changes)

Step 7: Summary

Review your installation choices:

  • Language and timezone
  • Keyboard layout
  • Partition scheme
  • User account details

This is your last chance to go back and change anything!

Click Install when you’re ready to proceed.

Step 8: Installation Progress

The installer will now:

  • Format the selected partitions
  • Copy Maple Linux files to your hard drive
  • Install the bootloader (GRUB)
  • Apply system configurations
  • Install any updates

This typically takes 10-20 minutes depending on your hardware.

You can watch the progress and read about Maple Linux features while you wait.

Step 9: Installation Complete

When installation finishes:

  • You’ll see a completion message
  • Choose whether to Restart now or Continue testing
  • If you restart, remove the USB drive when prompted
  • Your computer will reboot into Maple Linux

Post-Installation Steps

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed Maple Linux. Here are some recommended first steps:

1. Update Your System

Open a terminal (Menu → System Tools → Terminal) and run:

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade

Enter your password when prompted. This ensures you have the latest security updates and bug fixes.

Or use the GUI:

  • Open Update Manager from the menu
  • Click Refresh to check for updates
  • Click Install Updates if any are available

2. Install Additional Software

Maple Linux comes with essential software pre-installed, but you may want to add more:

Software Manager (GUI method):

  • Open Software Manager from the menu
  • Browse categories or search for applications
  • Click Install on any app you want

Popular applications:

  • Web browsers: Firefox (pre-installed), Chromium
  • Office: LibreOffice (pre-installed)
  • Media: VLC (video player), GIMP (image editor)
  • Communication: Thunderbird (email), Signal, Discord
  • Development: VS Code, Git, Docker

3. Configure System Settings

Explore System Settings to customize:

  • Appearance: Themes, icons, desktop background
  • Display: Resolution, multiple monitors
  • Power Management: Battery settings, screen timeout
  • Privacy: Location services, file history
  • Languages: Add additional language support

4. Set Up Printers and Hardware

  • Printers: System Settings → Printers → Add Printer
  • Graphics drivers: Most work automatically, check Driver Manager if you have issues
  • Additional multimedia codecs: Install ubuntu-restricted-extras for MP3, DVD support

5. Create Backups

Set up a backup solution to protect your data:

  • Timeshift (pre-installed): Creates system snapshots
  • Backups (Déjà Dup): User file backups to external drives or cloud
  • Schedule regular automatic backups

6. Explore the Desktop

Maple Linux uses the Cinnamon desktop environment:

  • Menu: Click the menu button (bottom-left) to access applications
  • Panel: Taskbar at the bottom shows running applications
  • System Tray: Bottom-right shows system status (network, sound, etc.)
  • Workspaces: Use multiple virtual desktops (Ctrl+Alt+Arrow keys)
  • File Manager: Nemo is your file browser

Troubleshooting

Boot Issues

Problem: Computer won’t boot from USB

  • Check that Secure Boot is disabled in BIOS/UEFI
  • Try a different USB port (USB 2.0 ports sometimes work better)
  • Recreate the bootable USB with a different tool
  • Verify the ISO file checksum wasn’t corrupted during download

Problem: Black screen after selecting Maple Linux from boot menu

  • At the boot menu, press ‘e’ to edit boot options
  • Add nomodeset to the kernel parameters
  • Press F10 to boot
  • Once installed, you can add this permanently or install proper graphics drivers

Problem: “No bootable device” after installation

  • The bootloader (GRUB) may not have installed correctly
  • Boot from USB again and use the “Boot Repair” option (if available)
  • Check BIOS boot order – Maple Linux should be first

Installation Issues

Problem: Can’t see Windows/macOS in dual-boot option

  • Your existing OS may use encryption (BitLocker, FileVault)
  • You may need to shrink the existing partition first using native tools
  • Try manual partitioning instead

Problem: Not enough space to install

  • Maple Linux requires at least 20 GB (30+ GB recommended)
  • Use Windows Disk Management or macOS Disk Utility to free up space first
  • Consider removing unnecessary files or uninstalling large programs

Problem: Installation freezes or fails

  • Check that your USB drive is not faulty (try a different one)
  • Verify the ISO checksum before creating bootable USB
  • Try disconnecting unnecessary peripherals during installation
  • Check system logs in live session: sudo dmesg | tail -100

Wi-Fi/Network Issues

Problem: Wi-Fi not working

  • Check if hardware switch is enabled (physical switch on some laptops)
  • Some Wi-Fi cards require proprietary drivers
  • Connect via Ethernet for initial setup
  • Install additional drivers: Driver Manager → Detect available drivers

Problem: Ethernet not working

  • Most Ethernet adapters work automatically
  • Check cable connection
  • Try: sudo systemctl restart networking

Graphics Issues

Problem: Screen resolution is wrong

  • System Settings → Display → Select correct resolution
  • May require proper graphics drivers (NVIDIA, AMD)

Problem: Tearing or performance issues

  • Install proprietary graphics drivers via Driver Manager
  • Enable VSync in System Settings → General

Sound Issues

Problem: No sound

  • Check volume levels (system tray speaker icon)
  • Right-click speaker icon → Sound Settings → Test speakers
  • Verify correct output device is selected
  • Try: pulseaudio –kill followed by pulseaudio –start

Getting More Help

If you’re still experiencing issues:

When asking for help, please include:

  • Your hardware specifications (CPU, RAM, graphics card)
  • Maple Linux version
  • Specific error messages
  • Steps to reproduce the problem

Enjoy Maple Linux!

You’re now ready to explore your new Maple Linux system. Welcome to the community, and enjoy your Canadian Linux experience! 🍁