The simplest way to install LEAFOS is to start the target PCs/Laptops using a bootable USB stick that runs LEAF OS with the following 2 options:

Installation option #1 (live boot LEAF OS using USB flash memory stick) 

Your device will boot LEAF OS from the connected USB flash drive. There will be no changes to the PC/laptop’s internal drive.

Installation option #2 (flash LEAF OS into device's internal drive to boot from) 

The contents of your device’s internal drive will be wiped and flashed with LEAF OS. When you boot the device, LEAF OS will be directly booted from the internal drive. 

Installation steps for local install

Download and prepare LEAF OS installation

1. From NComputing Software Download page, select “LEAF OS” and download the compressed image (i.e.ZIP)
   
2. Extract the .IMG file (~2.5GB) in the downloaded .ZIP file
   
3. Create a bootable LEAF OS installer USB memory stick (use at least 4GB or higher capability):
   

1. Use a flashing application like the Win32 Disk Imager or balenaEcher to write the image into your USB stick. 
   

4. Pick an x86-64 PC/laptop (BIOS or UEFI).
   

1. Access the PC/laptop's Boot Menu or change the PC/laptop BIOS setting to set external USB storage device at the top of the booting priority list.
   

Installation option #1 (live boot LEAF OS using USB flash memory stick) 

Your device will boot LEAF OS from the connected USB flash drive. There will be no changes to the PC/laptop’s internal drive.

1. Connect the x86-64 PC/laptop to Ethernet network or WiFi network.
   
2. Connect the bootable USB memory stick (prepared according to the instructions above) to the PC or laptop and power it up. The PC or laptop will perform live boot to the connected LEAF OS memory stick.
   
3. It may take 10-20 seconds to bring up the LEAF OS UI during the power up. Please be patient.
   
4. Once the LEAF OS UI is up, you can connect to the selected desktop virtualization environment (e.g. Microsoft AVD, Microsoft RDS, vSpace Pro, VERDE VDI) and start working.
   

Installation option #2 (flash LEAF OS into HDD/SSD/eMMC/NVMe internal storage to boot from) 

Your device’s internal drive will be wiped and flashed with LEAF OS. When you boot the device, the LEAF OS will be directly booted from the internal HDD/SSD/eMMC/NVMe storage.

1. Follow the same procedures above to live boot LEAF OS on the device using the connected USB memory stick.
   
2. Once the LEAF OS UI is up, navigate to the 'Installation' tab and click 'Install' (see screenshot below). There are additional warning messages to inform the admin/user that the 'install' process will erase the internal storage of the selected device.
    
   
   
3. Once you click on 'Install' and click 'okay' on the warning message, wait a few seconds until the NComputing LEAF OS installer window appears. It will prompt you to confirm to proceed flashing LEAF OS to the internal storage. Click the [Proceed] button to confirm and proceed. Once the internal storage is flashed, you will be prompted to shut the PC/laptop down and reboot. The installation process may take several minutes. Please be patient.
   
   
4. Remove the USB stick with LEAF OS installer and power up the computer again. LEAF OS will boot directly from the internal storage.
   
5. Once the LEAF OS UI is up, you can connect to any desktop virtualization environment.