If your computer has an existing operating environment, you must backup your data before starting Adélie Linux System Installation. This ensures that you will have a copy of your data in case of a system error during installation. For more information on how to backup your data, consult your current operating environment's documentation. On Windows, you may refer to Microsoft Help and Support; on Mac OS X, you may refer to Apple Support.

If your computer will be exclusively running the Adélie Linux operating environment, and you don't plan on installing other environments, you may skip this section; System Installation can create a disk layout for you automatically.

If you wish to "multi-boot" your computer, running multiple operating environments, you will need to carefully consider the layout of your disk. If you already have an existing operating environment on your computer, you should perform the partitioning step using the tools of that environment. Adélie Linux System Installation supports creating new partitions on a disk, but it cannot remove or resize existing partitions. You may need to consult your existing environment's documentation to determine how to correctly set up a multi-boot environment.

On most computers, Adélie Linux requires only a single partition, which will contain all of your data. However, on some computers, you may need a separate boot partition, which will contain the boot loader software that your computer uses to start up. For more information, consult your hardware or firmware documentation, and the section called “Disk Partitioning”.

As noted in the section called “Memory and disk space requirements”, the disk space needed for an installation of Adélie Linux will vary based on your desired installation type. You will also need additional room on your disk for your personal data files.

What's in a name? A lot, when you're choosing the name of your computer. Your computer's name will be shown on the login screen, in the application launcher, and on the command prompt. It will additionally identify it to others if you have a home or organisational network. You should give some thought to what your computer's name will be.

Computer names can contain alphabetical characters (capital and uncapital), numbers, and dashes.

If you are setting up a home network, you should give your computer a descriptive name of where it is located or who's computer it is. For example, Living-Room-PC or Anna-PC.

If you are connecting to an organisational network, your network administrator will assign your computer a name. It is important you enter the name exactly as your network administrator provides it.

Even if you're not setting up a home network, you will still need a name for your computer. System Installation will provide a default name for you.

If you will be connecting to a network or the Internet, you should have your connection's details handy so that you can provide them during the installation.

Virtually all home networks and Internet connections use Dynamic IP addressing via DHCP and/or SLAAC. In this case, you will be able to use the Automatic option in System Installation.

If your connection uses Static IP addressing, you will need your IP address, network prefix, default gateway, and nameserver addresses.

If you use Wireless networking, you will need the name of your Wireless Access Point (AP) and the passphrase for it. These details are typically found on a label printed on your router or modem.

If your computer has multiple network interfaces (not common), you should note which interface you will use to connect to the network. You will only be able to use one network interface for System Installation. You can configure any other network interfaces after the installation is complete.