Downloading and Burning

• Before you can install Elive, you're going to need to download it. Because the developer considers eating important, this particular Linux distribution is not free--you're going to need to make a donation of at least $10 to receive access to the stable version.
  
  When you do receive access, it will be in the form of an ISO file. This file is a form of virtual CD--the entire contents of a disc embodied in a single file. The burning software you have can probably already handle burning an ISO image to disc. If you're a Windows user who is not sure how to burn an ISO file, check out ISO Recorder (free download; see Resources.) This free program makes burning ISO images in Windows as easy as right-clicking the file and then clicking "Burn Image to Disc."
  
  

Booting From CD

• After you've managed to burn Elive to disc, you're going to want to boot from that CD. If you've never done this before, it's usually as easy as restarting your computer with your CD in your drive. If this doesn't work, you're going to need to enter the boot menu. Immediately after your computer is turned on, there should be onscreen instructions informing you exactly how to do this--typically the process consists of pressing F12, but it does vary from computer to computer. If no onscreen instructions are given, consult your computer's documentation.
  
  After you've entered the boot menu, all you need to do is to tell the computer to boot from your CD drive and you're set. Booting can take a while, and Elive may require your input from time to time--you'll need to select whether you want to use the e16 or e17 desktop, for example--but when the process is complete, you'll have a working Linux desktop in front of you.
  
  Try the desktop out to make sure you really want to install it. Be sure to try out as many of the included applications as possible and to make sure that the Enlightenment desktop Elive is built on is right for you. Also note that, because this distribution is built on Debian, many packages may be outdated compared to distributions with fast release schedules, such as Ubuntu.
  
  

Installation

• When you're ready to install Elive to your computer, simply click the "Installation" button--the icon furthest right on the dock. For the most part, all you need to do is follow the onscreen instructions, though it's good to note the importance of being careful while partitioning. You can choose to empty the entire drive to make room for Elive or to resize the partition your current operating system is on and dual-boot. Whatever your choice, be sure to back up all data on your computer before proceeding.
  
  The installation process can take a while, but you'll have a fully functional Linux distribution built on the Enlightenment desktop when it's done.