No wonder there are over 2000++ Linux Distros (that includes Distro versions with their DE’s, Flavors, Spins, etc choices – over 2000++) to choose from, i.e. Linus Torvalds has no clue about what a graphical OS should be and probably never grew-out of his keyboard days – just kidding, Linus…sorta. Jokes (sorta) aside, I don’t know how I missed testing Linux Fedora over the past 17+ months!? Linus thinks Linux Fedora is easy to install?!? Must’ve never tried to install Ubuntu LTS or WIN10 – because Fedora 32 isn’t easy to install (takes some ‘TiNkErInG’!), thusly, he also doesn’t have a clue about what an easy installer can do – just kidding, Linus (sorta).

I downloaded Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-32-1.6 (GNOME) yesterday morning, and since I hate that DASH (?!?) version of GNOME I ended up downloading Fedora-Cinnamon-Live-x86_64-32-1.6 (from Fedora Spins). I *LOVE* the Ubuntu LTS version of Gnome, but apparently Gnome can also be Fragmented.

The installer seems both lacking ‘n confusing, but I managed to get both versions installed, so it isn’t like having to deal with the Debian & Arch-based inferior type of installers, i.e. you and this installer could figure this one out with some ‘TiNkErInG’. It involves having to “Reclaim space” (NOTE: 2 installs were done on 32 GB SanDisk USBs & 1 install to 128 GB SSD – Gnome to a USB & Cinnamon to USB and SSD). Other than that problem, Fedora 32 was an absolutely great OS with excellent hardware recognition ability. Testing was done on both the ‘Apevia’ Ryzen™ and ‘InWin’ test Computers.

Here are some pics of the installation process:

All kinds of warnings in the Installation Summary, and they need cleared before install process will begin. Highlighted in red-rectangle is “System” > click that >

> and select Disk (I selected the 128GB SSD), left “Automatic” default setting, and then click “Done” in upper left >

> then a popup “INSTALLATION OPTIONS” & select “Reclaim space” (highlighted in red-rectangle) >

> at new popup “RECLAIM DISK SPACE” highlight sda then click “Delete all” (highlighted red-rectangle @ bottom right) >

> NOTE the change from “Preserve” to “Delete” (highlighted in green-rectangle) under the “Action” column after you had selected “Delete all” > OK…now select “Reclaim space” (highlighted red-rectangle) >

> then you need to ‘TiNkEr’ with the Reset Password until it gets cleared (I used 1 2 3 and hit “Done” twice – one attempt I left blank and hit “Done” twice, I think?!)…then finally the warnings are cleared so you can select the green “Begin Installation” button in lower right >

Don’t ask how I got it to work…normal humans could never accomplish such a feat (doubtful most normal humans would try even with the instructions I provided). Boils down to combo of basic Linux Fragmentation understanding after 17+ months of experimenting, and some persistence. ‘As of February 2016, Fedora has an estimated 1.2 million users’ and apparently is owned by Red Hat (a subsidiary of IBM) so it’s a little surprising that Fedora is so lax on their installer. The ‘Face’ of each Distro starts with that installer, IMHO, and I’m not sure many newbies or Linux users with limited experience could install Fedora. Maybe trying to figure out how to “Reclaim space” was just difficult for me, and I also don’t recall ever seeing the term “Preserve” during an installation either. Maybe it was just me?!

As you are trying to find ‘n select the ISO file to download, the process suggests that you download the Fedora Media Writer first – ‘Once Fedora Media Writer is installed, it will set up your flash drive to run a “Live” version of Fedora Workstation, meaning that you can boot it from your flash drive and try it out right away without making any permanent changes to your computer.’ The Fedora Media Writer could only give me “error” messages, so I uninstalled it and used Rufus to create the ‘Live’ USB.

However, Fedora Media Writer wasn’t quite as useless as their Installation Guide…dig the next two pics:

Installation Guide for Upgrade or Manual Reinstall … what about a new or clean install? Ended up selecting the “see Manual System Upgrade or Reinstallation” (highlighted by red-rectangle) for the following “detailed information”:

WHAT!?! ‘Unfortunately, we have not written this chapter yet, and there is no dedicated documentation about a manual reinstall on the Wiki, either.’ Ditto on that WHAT!?! Why send me somewhere that basically says “Unfortunately” you are actually trying to read our Installation Guide?! No wonder Ubuntu LTS has absolutely *NO* competition for Linux Desktop Duty. Hey, Fedora, unfortunately your Fedora Media Writer and Installation Guide are both useless so humble me is going to mention those facts on the internet.

Anyway, just another example of why Linux Desktop user base is around .07-1% if Ubuntu LTS isn’t included. Hard to believe that the Fedora installer is actually better than Debian’s and all the Arch Linux ‘pretenders’ put together. Why don’t they all chip in and have Ubuntu write them a reliable installer?

OK…time to move one, and Fedora 32 actually gets a lot better from here on.

1) Full Install to 32 GB SanDisk USB:

Went with the default GNOME (Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-32-1.6) first…with internet the install only took 12 minutes (after the first few failed attempts to “Reclaim space”), which is very fast for an install to USB. After installation and during boot into desktop the OS pauses for your user name and a password. Amazingly, Fedora 32 allows for no password, which is a first for me…that alone may get it put into Karmi’s Top 10 Linux Distros!!! Doesn’t even ask for a password when I open GParted – I hate pesky passwords! It didn’t recognize or know what the exFat USB drive was (had data on it), but did recognize the Pantum 2500W printer (still needed a driver to work tho).

Clean DE, but you had to click “Activities” in upper left corner to open the Dash.

System Info for ‘InWin’ computer:

Also, it was tested on the ‘Apevia’ Ryzen™ computer…all tested Distros usually go thru both ‘InWin’ and ‘Apevia’ Ryzen™ computers.

2) Full Install to 32 GB SanDisk USB:

Didn’t like the way Fedora 32 had Gnome set up … I like my Panel/Dock/Dash/Taskbar to be easily seen and available without having to click something to open it. Fedora 32 Gnome desktop was extremely clean, but just too clean for me. There may be a setting to change that, but I won’t be converting to Fedora so no need to search for a way. Went with Cinnamon (Fedora-Cinnamon-Live-x86_64-32-1.6) from Fedora Spins page for this 2nd install to a USB. It took 18 minutes this time, which is still pretty fast for a full install to USB, and without internet connection.

Here’s Cinnamon system info on ‘InWin’:

Here’ Cinnamon DE:

Here’s Cinnamon info on the ‘Apevia’ Ryzen™ computer:

Here’s what the partitions looked like on a 32 GB SanDisk USB after installation:

3) Full Install to 128 GB SSD:

Took less than 5 minutes for the install to SSD. Mainly did this install to see how the installation of partitions went with the SSD instead of USB. Many Distro installers basically ‘freeze’ when they see a USB drive and/or a USB Docking Station…if they can continue the installation, they usually only offer the “Manual partitioning” method; however, sometimes when you try a SSD connected to SATA they will then offer the standard 4-5 partitioning options. Fedora 32 did it the same way on USB or SSD – i.e. you need to “Reclaim space”!

I go over some of the partitioning methods used by various Distros on the Partition your Disk during Linux Installation page. Many Linux users can only do the automatic “Erase and install” type of partitioning, so they would probably avoid messing with Fedora 32.

Overall, an easy OS to move around in and has excellent hardware recognition (didn’t know what exFat was tho?).

Rule of Thumb – if you can’t install Ubuntu on it, then you can’t install any Linux Distro on it.

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