SquaresUnfiltered
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Front page edit: to answer some questions.
- I need the Windows partition rather than running Wine, Proton, or a virtual machine.
- I'm using this for a particular flight sim, Digital Combat Simulator World. Yes, it can work on Linux. However, it has been an absolute nightmare for me to get to try to run. So, I'm just going back to Windows, specifically for this, and only this.
- I chose Linux Mint because it is an easy distro for somebody to get into Linux. I have not used a lot of Linux, even though I do have a network security degree and should know how to use it. Just never did.I understand there are many other distros, and some that have more pros and cons than others. I will say, Linux Mint has treated me very well as a daily driver.
- I have also learned that my motherboard, which came from a pre-built, is extremely limited and needs to be replaced.
- Because of aforementioned motherboard my RAM is not operating at nearly the speed that it could be It cannot scale up with XME, It will not boot or do anything. I had to do a CMOS reset and that was a whole ordeal.
So, two months back, I made the dive to go to Linux. I didn't mean to completely destroy Windows, but the way the partitions work on the hard drive, it deleted Windows. Luckily, my dad was fine, because I had backed it up anyway. That said, it gave me an experience to use only Linux after years of having not messed with it. And I will have to say, it was a great experience. And it is still my preferred experience. Everything. And I mean just about everything, except a few multiplayer online games that had specific anti cheat wouldn't work. Those were few and far between. I got faster performance on other video games and other applications. And overall, just a cleaner, lighter experience.
I have to say getting the bootable media to install Windows and the proper drivers to get those to work was an absolute migraine to get working because Windows just wants to fight itself. However, once I got the bloat filled Operating system installed. Everything seems to be going as normal.
I just wanted to gripe about Windows, Microsoft, and what it's become. And also tell people that Linux is out there and works pretty great. Linux Mint was simple, feels enough like Windows, and just seems to work.
DJOldguy
I was using Windows 7 in a Linux box via a VM as my basic protection. Never regretted it and now, so many of the tools I was using, like my VPN doesn't support Win 7 anymore so had to downgrade to Windozes 11. Pain in the ass to set up, to get running and to keep running. Took me a while but got there. That's the way to go I suggest, a Windoze VM in a Linux box.
bikergeek6249
I need Windoze for the diagnostic software for my car. (VCDS for a VW.) Wine or VirtualBox won't work, there's something funny that the proprietary cable does with USB timings to read the signals from the OBD-II port. I've tried it, I can get it to work about 80%, but I hit a wall at one point where I really needed a particular function (throttle body adaptation) that wouldn't work in VirtualBox.
Eridith
Not all VMs are created equally! You can get much better performance through setting up one through QEMU, and passing through your GPU to it. There's a lot of documentation over the process, if you are looking for a cleaner solution than having to dedicate an entire partition for Windows.
If you're interested, I can pass you some helpful documentation for VFIO.
It's how I'm able to boot the 2 games in my steam library that actively block Linux, but they don't see much use these days though.
SquaresUnfiltered
I'd be interested just to learn about it. It might be something useful. This whole experience has been exactly that, a learning experience.
SmeesNotVeryGoodTwin
I switched to Linux Mint when I got a new PC with an actual graphics card for games and Blender. Tbh, I still haven't figured out how to get it to act like it's using the graphics card any better than my old CPU, but I'm also really grateful that I don't have to experience Windows 11.
whiskeywonka
Depending on your exact needs, ou could run windows in a virtual machine. My desktop is a retired server running xcp-ng with GPU pass-through.
SquaresUnfiltered
So, to make a bootable device to make Windows, I had to use a VMbox.(I think that's what it is.) The reason why I'm using Windows is for a flight sim and VR that otherwise is an absolute nightmare to make work and get the same performance. The drop was too significant, trying to run it as you described. It can work, but was a mess.
whiskeywonka
VirtualBox is a type 2 hypervisor, xcp-ng is a type 1. VBox gives very poor performance vs type 1 hypervisors. xcpng gives more performance to the virtual machines in my experiance. Depending on the exact setup its possible to get even more performance out of a guest OS than when its ran bare metal. The important thing is that you have a working setup that works for you (and getting away from winddows as much as one can!
Archeangel
Both on the same is drive is a BAD idea for fresh Linux users. I would HIGHLY recommend 1 harddrive/SSD for each OS!
Only grub risks being overwritten by windows update, but easily fixed from a Linux USB stick :)
wearsPantsOften
I don't have the gaming requirements and fine with my QEMU/libVIRT/VirtMGR virtualization for those odd things. I totally get it though. There's a scanning workflow I miss that only Windows can deliver with the software I prefer. In the VM it's buggy related to time-outs between drivers and scanner, but I continue to resist to force the decoupling. Mint has been solid for me, but beyond browsing and VM's, my biggest remaining grievance is OneDrive, but I need to decouple from that too.
Xenarion
On the plus side, in part thanks to Steam pushing for it, Linux compatibility for games has really improved. I will likely make the jump when I can no longer deal with my current Windows version.
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iRegretThisUsernameAlready
Just in case you weren’t aware, have you tried running your non-Steam games through Steam anyway? That’s what I do with game demos I find on Itch that only have Windows installers. They don’t all work, but for many it’s just a matter of selecting a Proton version in the game properties (latest isn’t always best). I could probably figure out how to make most of the rest work too with Wine configs, but I lack the patience and know-how.
akelamishari
I switched to linux mint two months ago too. Im on the AuSpectrum and have difficulty with technology but i'm getting it, and definitely recommend it to anyone tired of Microshitsoft and windows bloat and spyware. I do need help with some things because im a moderately stupid user but if someone teaches me i do better. Cant learn LibreOffice properly yet though.
SquaresUnfiltered
audhd here. I completely understand the frustration. Yesterday was a testing day.The biggest thing I can tell you is don't stop asking questions to people. Don't be afraid to screw up, even if it's something that seems like a common screw up. Don't get discouraged.
bullyboy1963
Been using Ubuntu for years. I prefer most any Linux dostro to Windblows.
mistersartori
What's ATG?
SquaresUnfiltered
You know, that's a great question. That would be my voice-to-text failing at understanding anti-cheat.
Big thank you for calling that out because I did not see that
mistersartori
In hindsight it seems obvious! Thanks for humouring an old man with an explanation :D
SquaresUnfiltered
No worries. Hope you have an awesome evening and thanks for chatting.
DorkJedi
the anti-cheat drove me back to the Win world. too many games I play regularly won't allow you to connect.
yeahiguessisurvived
this might be an unpopular opinion: if you notice your operating system, it's not doing its job very well
jridley
Exactly why I switched away from Windows. They are dead set to make Windows its own experience. I just want a platform to run the apps and programs that I want to run, I don't want an "experience"
Especially since the experience is just an excuse to sell subscriptions to stuff and get my data.
IDontActuallyHaveUsername
Id say you've just gotten used to it. I need to work with multiple different OSs daily and I notice all of them. Unless I just use browser
SortaSordid
The problem is that your OS is now noticing you and talking about it.
Klojum
I have use dual boots for years now, and I always use separate drives whenever possible. Having more than one OS on the same disk can become tricky. A Windows install will grab the boot sector for itself all the time.
Use a separate drive (laptops may only have one drive slot avaiable) and disconnect the other OS disk(s) to be safe before installing a new OS.
You may have to manually update GRUB on the Linux Mint setup so it will see the Windows partition.
SquaresUnfiltered
That's what I wanted to originally do. But failed to make it happen.
joenoone
Fedora always has the latest and greatest drivers as it's the testing version of commercial RedHat. Might see if that platform works better for you
DenseBot
I prefer werthers original to mints any day
SquaresUnfiltered
I also like the little green apple caramel filled ones.
DenseBot
Whoa didn't know about these
SquaresUnfiltered
I think they come in like two different, or three different flavors. One was normal caramel, caramel apple, and I think there might be one other flavor. I discovered them last year.
If you see them, I would give them a try. They're pretty good. The originals are also fantastic. Big fan of the brand.
METROlD
Im an IT guy. I have spent much of my career disabling intrusive Windows modules. I've always thought linux was cool, but not necessarily what I want as my daily driver. When Windows 11 came out, it was the last straw. That OS is literally a surveillance system. Everything is a pain in the ass and nothing works. It was too much. I threw Debian on my system and never looked back. It is so refreshing to not have an OS that isnt spying on you, reporting your behavior and no built in AI.
SquaresUnfiltered
Former military intelligence analyst here. And yeah, it's worse than you think. And some of the recent changes that has happened in the legislature in the United States has made it even more alarming.
throwaway12345432
Alright for the linux peeps in the comments. I'm looking to change distro. Four requirements. No systemd, no compliance with 1/2
throwaway12345432
2/2 age verification laws, no ai features, and decent for gaming.
throwaway12345432
3/2 Primary use cases, gaming, browsing, occasional programming. Skill level, not an "expert", more advanced than most. Comfortable in CLI
throwaway12345432
4/2 Comfortable editing configs manually. Happy to answer questions.
MrNobodyWTB
I went with bazzite. Been pretty great so far.
mildpenguin
i do the dual hard drives...win 11 for when people call me and ask "how do i..." and Mageia linux on it's own drive
SquaresUnfiltered
That was the original goal, that's what I wanted to do was have legs and windows on two separate drives and apparently now our days it's easier to milk an angry spider
TheJurc
This was the way to do it because Windows system updates had (have?) a tendency to nuke grub and make the Linux system unreachable until you do a recovery install. For awhile it was two separate drives, and you unplugged the Linux drive before updating Windows.
mildpenguin
I'm gonna find out soon how different it is...full install of Linux coming this month and have to install with windows remaining installed
SquaresUnfiltered
Good luck, Hope it goes better for you than it did for me.
75townecoupe
Been running Linux since 1996 or so. Mandrake, Mandriva, PCLinux, now POP!_OS.
phoenix0path
Pfft. Yggdrasil or bust, baby!
Damn. Totally forgot about mandrake. How the hell did that happen. Been ages.
SneakorsMcSneakorsface
Please keep this chain going. Once my current windows gets killed I intend to switch; I am very open to suggestions.
SquaresUnfiltered
Heard Pop OS is pretty good. That was going to be the other one I tried. I just wanted something kind of generic and familiar. That's why I went with Mint.
Pop was definitely the runner-up for me.
It's awesome how far it's come and how user-friendly it is.
Tolster
Going on 5 years wouldn't have it any other way (except more RAM)
SortaSordid
Just getting into two weeks of Pop!_OS here, wiped Windows entirely off both of my PCs. There are some growing pains, it really depends upon how well supported the hardware you have is. That and Cosmic is still pretty green as a desktop but shows promise. Games mostly work, some are performing better than they did in Windows. For my desktop system the biggest struggle so far has been removing power management 'features'.
SquaresUnfiltered
Honestly, I've not had any issues with Mint, which I was surprised with. There's a lot of support, and a lot of people running back-end projects to make sure there is support. And I have a motherboard that's pretty locked down, and even with that considered, I've been able to manage, which, thank you for reminding me, I need to go into boot and make sure that the RAM boost, or whatever it is that limits RAM, is enabled. Something I forgot to do, but this conversation reminded me of it.
SquaresUnfiltered
And I really wish I didn't do that because it made my whole entire System... completely wanted detonate. Had to pull the CMOS, which made the whole entire new installation of Windows disappear. And I'm fighting to get that back.
75townecoupe
Running Pop on multiple machines and a couple of freed Chromebooks. Running KDE plasma on 2 gaming systems because they expect X11 and Wayland/COSMIC seems to experience crashes.
possumattack
I'm dual booting Ubuntu and win11 because I have ONE thing that absolutely won't support Windows drivers in Linux. The shame. PITA to setup but worth it.
overa32182
Pressing 1 for English
lurkyloos
I have to use windows for work applications. Chris Titus rules. His Windows DeBloat utility makes Windows bearable.
https://github.com/christitustech/winutil
SquaresUnfiltered
Holy shit, this is the tool that I was looking for. My last Windows installation. I had done this and stripped out everything that wasn't necessary. This is the same tool. Thank you for sharing this. I forgot what the hell it was.
lurkyloos
Same my friend. Chris does amazing shit. Good luck with the dual boot
CyberHexx
I switched to Bazzite a while back. I'm in the same boat I need a windows partition to be able to use my PSVR2. Luckily there's a driver for Windows that allows it to read and write to ext3 partitions, so I can direct the Windows steam to my normal library and not have to double download. I just have to keep Windows offline.
shyriath
I also switched to Bazzite. Mostly I like it, but Horizon Forbidden West, though it opens and goes as far as the menu, can't load or start a game without closing abruptly, for reasons I have yet to comprehend.
CyberHexx
I actually have that game. I'll have to install it and see if I can replicate. What GPU do you have and have you tried running system update?
shyriath
Yeah, I try to remember to update every few days. The GPU is a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super. I suspect, though I can't prove, that it's involved with the game crash; Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered was doing something similar, and only stopped when I lowered the resolution (though that didn't work in FW's case), and a number of other games have had minor graphics-related issues as well.
CyberHexx
Well, I have a 3060, so after work I'll start the install and we'll see what we can do. You might try lowering the frame rate to 60fps. Nvidia kinda put the bare minimum of effort into their Linux drivers, so that could help. I've had several games that are choppy as hell on 120 or higher fps, but run perfectly on 60fps.
shyriath
Whoop. Aaaand it suddenly stopped working again.
shyriath
Hah! Lowering the framerate was a good call; it got me past the menu. In order to also prevent shader compilation from taking an obnoxiously long time, I had to lower the resolution even further - 1600x900 - but that got me to where I could actually play the game. Thank you!
BoobJiggle
I have a 120 GB windows partition for 2 specific reasons.. a game I like requires EasyAntiCheat (which does work on linux, but the dev/owner refuses to enable Linux support even though it's literally just a few toggles), and VisualStudio .. VSCode sucks big floppy donkey, and no other IDE is nearly as integrated or capable both for development and debugging
SquaresUnfiltered
I'm curious which game
BoobJiggle
Rust. Made by the same dude that made GarrysMod for HL2.. he's pretty well notorious for being an asshole and shitting on his player base
SquaresUnfiltered
Right now Cinnamon, just for the ease of use and commercial feel. I'll be messing around with other distros here in the future.
I remember Rust. First time I interacted and last time I interacted with that was somewhere around 2013 or 2014.The last footage I saw of it wasn't even recognizable, which is pretty cool.
BoobJiggle
Yeah, the game has evolved a lot, especially over just the last year or two, there's now building custom boats just like bases, going out to the deep sea and fighting like pirates with cannons and sales, exploring islands, the electric and piping system is intuitive and insanely powerful to automate a whole bunch of stuff, there's just a lot to do and it can be deeply entertaining.. especially on PVE servers, like the ones I play on. (I'm too old for PVP, did my PVP in quakeTF in the 90s lol)
SquaresUnfiltered
I might have to take a look at that then. I still play some shooters and stuff, but not often.I used to love them, but it's just not as appealing as it used to be. That's why I'm doing the military flights, common interests with stuff I've actually done, yada yada. But sometimes, gotta remember to have fun with video games, and that's something I've struggled with.Rust definitely has grown and might be definitely something to have some fun with.
BoobJiggle
And I should have specified that I run Linux mint as well. I've run many many different flavors of Linux since right around the millennium, and I discovered mint several years ago and pretty much fell in love with it.
Which desktop do you run?- I prefer xfce, personally.
jridley
I just run Windows under VirtualBox. It's good enough for the few things I have to do. Mainly I have an old label printer, some security camera software, a DRM removal tool, and occasionally need to run a firmware updater, all Windows only.
It sure feels like slumming when I have to use Windows though.
SquaresUnfiltered
I do have a weird kinda, I'm not supposed to be using this feeling now, using Windows over Linux. I don't know, Linux just feels like a computer is supposed to. At least the version I'm using. It's bare bones, it works.I've not had a single problem with it except when trying to install Windows.
Yasashii93
PSA: while installing Linux you DON’T have to destroy the windows partition. Choose the “install alongside Windows” or “manual partitioning” option rather than the default “erase the whole disk and install Linux” option.
That will give you a selection screen at boot. You can choose to boot either Windows or Linux.
Important: if you’re doing a clean install of both, it’s easier if you install windows first because Linux installers will detect Windows but the Windows installer won’t see Linux.
Madwollf
Dual booting off Windows 11 is currently a nightmare. Bricking your OS drive is a very real possibility if you're not incredibly careful.
cousteau
More than "won't see Linux" it's "won't give a damn about Linux".
GhostingMyself
won't even look for Linux*
Lugh314159
Do I need to partition before installing, or does the installer handle that? (I want to install mint on a win 10 machine without deleting what's there)
doktorivan210
The installer will handle it, and you can choose how large to make the Linux partition. Also, it's very simple to use your existing Windows partition as a data drive in Linux, so on a 500 GB drive, a 50 GB Linux partition might be more than enough (depending on personal usage).
SquaresUnfiltered
You're absolutely correct. I had made a mistake, thought I had chosen the correct partition, didn't double check or didn't click something correctly, and it ate windows like Kobayashi. This time, everything seems to be in working order.
And yeah, I do have to go into boot and change how things are seen so I can see both on boot up. That is a little bit nauseating.
SquaresUnfiltered
But it did work.
Yasashii93
Good job!
SquaresUnfiltered
I tell you what, after trying to do the RAM setting and it messing up, I got a little bit irritated, but hey, we got there.
Tolocamp
A few question, if i may. Also considering to switch to Linux, but i got LOTS of Data lying around. My Windows is installed on small partition (300 GB) at the start of my SSD. How well does Linux handle Windows data Partitions ? Can i use installed stuff on the Data Paritions under Linux if the Windows system was replaced ?
Mostly games, hundreds of GBs, which would take me weeks to re-DL with my weak Internet connection.
Yasashii93
From what I’ve been able to find online you would have to re-download your games (steam, I assume) because when they are installed under windows directly they rely on registry entries and such. This stuff is apparently handled differently when you install it through Linux
It MIGHT work if you use Steam’s internal game files backup feature, copy the backup files to an external drive and then restore them under Linux
But to be sure you’d have to ask the larger Linux community directly on Reddit.
Yasashii93
Btw games from GOG and other platforms will also work well under Linux. I can confirm that in a lot of cases, especially when it comes to old games, better than on windows, ironically.
Check out Lutris and Heroic game launchers. They support a lot of storefronts. Steam is supported through those or natively.
As for software: you will mostly have to switch to Linux alternatives. Like for Microsoft office: Only Office or LibreOffice.
As for Adobe stuff: someone recently did install it but 1/2
Yasashii93
2/2 it’s not perfect. Unless you need it professionally check out Photopea, Krita, Gimp.
For video editing: DaVinci Resolve. It’s just as fancy as Premiere, only has a different interface.
For audio editing: Audacity
Video playback: VLC
Music production: no FL Studio but there are some DAWs like Reaper (there are many alternatives here)
If you’re not sure about the switch you can first backup your windows partition with Rescuezilla to an external drive and restore it later if you need.
Yasashii93
Oh, and if you’re wondering which Linux distro to pick, I’d go with something Ubuntu/debian-based if you’re new to this. Will save you some headaches. I’d personally recommend PikaOS, especially if your focus is gaming.
Many will recommend CachyOS as it’s the raising star. It’s super fast, but nowhere near as beginner-friendly so don’t go that route unless you have some decent previous experience with Linux.
Tolocamp
Thanks. Sheesh, reddit. Well gotta give it a shot i guess. Not urgent anyway.
Yasashii93
Doesn’t have to be Reddit. From what I gather https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/ is also a good place to ask.
Also, feel free to DM me. I’m no Linux pro but may be able to answer basic questions and would gladly do so to convince at least one person to leave Microslop BS behind.
Tolocamp
Thanks for the help.
spaceghoti
But what if you didn't need to install a Windows partition? https://www.winboat.app/
CyberHexx
That doesn't work with device drivers, unfortunately. Not sure about OP's usecase, but the PSVR2 doesn't have working linux drivers, Because Sony.
SquaresUnfiltered
I did. Using every tool to accomplish what I was trying to do wasn't working. So, making a whole boot for Windows so it acted correctly was about the only option.
jasondeslin
Fucking Christ, this bullshit is why everyone outside your little software cult fucking hates you.
Linux. Doesn't. Run. Everything.
He knows what the fuck he's doing. He's even using Linux, and that isn't enough, you arrogant cunts insist on pushing your personal preference like it's a fucking religion.
Other people are allowed to do things differently. And different people have different needs.
Shocking concept, I know.
Chilichunks
It's an operating system, chill the fuck out, take your meds, God damn dude, you're like a fucking Chihuahua.
cosinewave
Interesting. For years we had WINE which was a good effort but only kinda worked. A team even built a distro around it called Lindows which was OK but not very successful. This seems like a major improvement.
SquaresUnfiltered
Most everything works with wine or proton. It's just there's a few setups that just do not work including some of those kernel level games.Linux has been a wonderful experience.
electronicbovine
lol lindows was ass
spaceghoti
From what I understand, the only programs it doesn't work with are those that require kernel access, like games who require it for anti-cheat security. Otherwise it creates a virtual Windows environment that allows you to install programs a la carte. Integration is supposed to be seamless. I haven't tried it myself, but only because I've weaned myself off from any programs that absolutely require Windows.
ScootinNtootin
Was going to say just this. I genuinely don't understand how it's possible to make a conscious decision to switch from windows to linux without at least hearing about it. It's like someone with an internet connection not knowing about Facebook.
cosinewave
I've been using Linux since '94 and this is the first I am hearing of it.
ScootinNtootin
Hence the 'making a conscious choice' part, because doing it now, it's nearly impossible not to see. You legitimately have to avoid its mention on purpose. I'm not hating, I'm just pointing out a very very very very rare statistical improbability
Yasashii93
If you’re running Linux since 94 then I gotta assume you built your digital life around native Linux software and don’t really see a need to run any Windows software.
And if you have zero need for it you’re possibly not going to follow “windows compatibility improvements on Linux” type of news. It’s just not going to be in your feeds on YouTube or news pages.
ScootinNtootin
I'm not. I'm literally the one... I just... seriously? I swear, tech people are the most selective readers I've ever encountered. Not a single one of you actually understand what I'm saying, you just understand what parts work for your unrelated hill to die on. You're the most intentionally idiotic group of smart people I've ever encountered and I should know, I'm one of you.