this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2024
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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I'm considering switching to linux but I'm not a computer savvy person, so I wanted to have the option to switch back to windows if unforeseen complications (I only have 1 pc). Is it just a download on usb and install? And what ways can I get the product key or "cleaner" debloated versions.

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[–] art@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

If you want to test out Linux, try running a virtual machine instead. There are a few good free software programs to do this. VirtualBox used to be a good option. It's a free and harmless way to dive into Linux.

[–] monaho@lemmy.eco.br 3 points 6 months ago

If you have a flash drive and an external disk you can boot into Rescuezilla (a disk cloning/backup/restore distribution) using the flash drive, save/backup your OS disk as an image in the external disk, and restore it as needed. After restoration, you will have your OS disk as it was at the time you saved it.

[–] TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (7 children)

You need to buy a separate $25 SSD for Windows. Do not attempt to have both Linux and Windows on same HDD/SSD, Windows will always kill Linux.

A safe method to go about a debloated and privacy friendly (yes it's possible) Windows installation is using AME Project's playbook with their Wizard tool, on top of a fresh ISO you get from Microsoft. For activation, use the tools from https://massgrave.dev website, HWID activation.

After installing Windows, consider using simplewall as your program firewall and to limit Microsoft telemetry heavily.

Avoid installing random crap, and use a solid antivirus like Kaspersky (ignore political nonsense, merit matters) if you pirate TV shows, movies and software.

I cannot tolerate Windows other than how AME Project does it. Their playbook is better than AtlasOS and other playbooks.

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[–] Pacmanlives@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

So I will get some flack from this I am sure but my daily drivers since about 2004 are Linux I have always had a Mac laptop up to a few years ago in that time frame and Windows work laptops.

Honestly Windows 11 has a lot of nice creature features that KDE has had for a while and with WSL I can use a lot of my Linux commands. Can tell you how many times I have used egrep for things along with having native ssh built in. Powershell is a very powerful shell language especially if you want to go down the .Net rabbit hole but that’s not usually needed

Still my main desktop is Debian stable with distrobox for apps I need more modern versions of. But it’s not hard to switch back and forth

[–] abuttandahalf@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

When I first wanted to try Linux out I made a small 50gb partition for it. the logic was that this was the size of just one game and it was an entire operating system, so I wasn't losing much. As I continued to use Linux I kept expanding that partition to correspond with the priority I gave the OS.

[–] oessessnex@programming.dev 2 points 6 months ago

Just buy a new SSD to install Linux on. If you decide to switch back just plug the old one in.

[–] AliOski@feddit.nl 2 points 6 months ago

Do a dual boot, that's what I did. If after some time you feel like the windows partition is unnecessary, delete it. If after deletion it suddenly seems to become necessary, it is always possible to reinstall windows, there are tutorials online on how to do that.

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