Hello!
I’m interested in moving my personal computer to running Linux but I’m not sure where to even begin. As background, I am a casual user and have a desktop with hardware from around 2014 running Windows. I am hoping to setup a NAS drive as a media server in the next year or so, offloading all of the files currently on the Windows desktop and have been interested in open source software such as Jellyfin. I also mostly game on an Xbox and Nintendo Switch, but have used the desktop in the past for gaming such as with an Oculus Rift Headset and some Steam games so not huge on getting games working on the computer. But, I do sometimes torrent using the computer so don’t want to lose that capability (especially with upkeep for the media server).
With all of that said, I didn’t know how to get started with choosing what Linux OS to use, setting it up, backing up my files to make sure I can use them with the new OS, etc. Making the switch seems to have great options for customization and “choosing a distro that works for you”, but I don’t know what would work for me or what will be user friendly for a beginner.
Any tips or pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Step 1: Make a list of the software you use, and search online to see if they work on Linux.
Step 2: For the ones that don’t work on Linux, find alternatives and use them for a few days.
Step 3: Download a linux distribution’s iso into a pen drive, and boot from that. See how everything feels. (Don’t install it yet.)
Step 4: Install a linux alongside your Windows (i.e. dual-booting).
Step 5: When you realise that you are no longer using Windows, you can think of removing it, particularly if you’re short of disk space.
As for which distribution to use, I would suggest Linux Mint, but Pop OS and Ubuntu are also fairly beginner-friendly.
I second number 4.
Since Microsoft does what Microsoft does you might run into trouble with not being able to boot Linux after the first time you bored into windows again. It’s not a biggie. Google solutions and you will be able to restore Grub easily.
I run dual boot and I’ve been doing it for over 10 years. Best of two worlds.
Thank you! What does Grub mean?
Grub is a bootloader. Instead of starting Windows immediately when you turn on the computer there is a program called grub that is started. In grub you get a menu where you can choose what OS, Windows or Linux, you want to start.
Now, Microsoft doesn’t like that because in their world there is only one OS so why would you even need to choose? 😉 So what Windows does sometimes is to remove Grub and make sure the computer starts directly into windows.
If this happens you just Google and you will find how to boot up on your Linux DVD/USBstick and run some commands to get the menu (Grub) back.
Ah okay that makes sense. I wasn’t familiar with the term, but I’ve heard of bootloaders.
Remember that when you Google solutions, check the date on the results you get. A posted solution on Reddit from 2018 might not be adequate for your situation.
I appreciate the advice! Thank you!