Complete Guide to Manjaro 26.1 “Bian-May”: News and Features

Manjaro 26.1 "Bian-May" is a preview version that anticipates the final release of the operating system. This version offers the opportunity to test the new features and improvements in advance before the official distribution. It is available for the Xfce, GNOME, and KDE Plasma editions, allowing users to choose their preferred desktop environment.

This preview is useful for developers, testers, and advanced users who want to experiment with the new features and provide feedback before the final release. Additionally, it is particularly interesting for those who want to anticipate the use of the latest versions of desktop environments and the Linux kernel.

The preview version includes significant improvements in terms of parental controls, hardware performance, display management, and support for modern hardware. These updates make Manjaro 26.1 "Bian-May" an interesting choice for those looking for a stable and cutting-edge operating system.

Prerequisites

• Hardware: A computer compatible with Linux distributions
• Software: A pre-installed Linux operating system or another Linux distribution for parallel installation
• Disk space: At least 20 GB of free disk space
• RAM memory: At least 4 GB of RAM
• Processor: A 64-bit processor
• Internet connection: To download ISO images and for any updates

Procedure: Download and Install Manjaro 26.1 “Bian-May” Preview

By following this guide, you will gain early access to Manjaro 26.1 “Bian-May” Preview and be able to install the Linux distribution in the Xfce, GNOME, or KDE Plasma versions.

• Step 1: Visit the official forum
• Step 2: Choose the edition
• Step 3: Download the ISO image
• Step 4: Verify the file integrity
• Step 5: Create a bootable support
• Step 6: Start the installation
• Step 7: Follow the installation procedure
• Step 8: Configure the system

Verification and Troubleshooting

After installing Manjaro 26.1 “Bian-May”, it is important to verify the correct functioning of the system and resolve any issues.

How to Test if It Works

• Desktop environment verification: Start the system and check that the chosen desktop environment (Xfce, GNOME, or KDE Plasma) starts correctly. Make sure all main features are available.
• Hardware functionality test: Verify that the system correctly recognizes the graphics card, audio, and other hardware devices. Use the appropriate commands to check the status of the drivers.
• Network connection check: Make sure the network connection works correctly, both in wired and wireless mode.
• Performance test: Perform common operations to verify that the system responds smoothly and without lag. Check in particular the graphics performance and video management.

What to Do if It Fails

• Desktop environment issues: If the desktop environment does not start correctly, check the system logs to identify any errors. It may be necessary to reinstall the packages related to the desktop environment.
• Hardware issues: If the system does not correctly recognize hardware devices, check the installed drivers and update them if necessary. Also verify the hardware compatibility with the kernel used.
• Network issues: If the network connection does not work, check the network settings and verify that the network card drivers are correctly installed.
• Performance issues: If the system has lag or performance issues, check the system resource usage and close any unnecessary applications. It may also be helpful to update the graphics drivers.

For more details and support, consult the official announcement or the Manjaro forum.

Educational Summary and Call to Action

At the end of this guide, you will have a complete overview of the new features introduced in Manjaro 26.1 "Bian-May" and be ready to experiment with the new features directly on your system.

• GNOME 50: Explore the new parental control features and improved graphics performance thanks to Vulkan and VA-API.
• KDE Plasma 6.6: Discover the improvements in usability and accessibility, as well as the new separation between technical configuration and user settings.
• Xfce 4.20: Learn about the new features in the Thunar file manager and the advanced options of the panel and Control Centre.
• Kernel 7.0: Check the improvements in hardware support and consider the opportunity to switch to an LTS version for greater stability.

Download the preview images from here and start testing the new features. Remember to always consult the official documentation for any updates or release notes.