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moon ,

How is this bad

It either pushes them to an actual supported Windows OS, or to a FOSS/Linux OS. Both scenarios are good

Mahonia ,

So this was the exact thing that pushed me over to the FOSS side the last time they did it. Nice to see the tradition of annoying users to the point of them abandoning Microsoft is alive and well.

buzz86us ,

I wish they'd stop defaulting to the goddamn boot drive for updates.. I don't have the space

aniki ,

rm -rf /*

Works every time.

HelloHotel , (edited )

It doesnt work for me,

C:\Users\HelloHotel> rm -rf /*

not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\HelloHotel>

Why

Edit: this is a joke, daily drive linux. (I even think cmd would give a diffrent error message than "not a command") the child comments are an absolute shitshow

HAMr ,
@HAMr@discuss.systems avatar

@HelloHotel @aniki

lol. Demonstrating why Windows chooses not to give control to it's users.

Astronautical ,

It's a Linux command. It means Remove (rm) from the root folder (rf) everything, and don't warn me about this action (/*)

soupuos ,

I can't tell if you're joking or if I misunderstood what you wrote.

It's remove (rm) recursively (allow removing folders) (-r) and "force" (don't prompt for confirmation, e.g. when removing write protected files) (-f) everything in the root folder (/*)

With -r and -f getting combined into -rf of course.

aniki ,

You're running an incorrect kernel. Make sure you're running a modern release from here: https://github.com/torvalds/linux

Don't forget to chroot into your NTFS partition first!

whalebiologist ,

I want to get the microsoft monkey off my back, can anyone point me to a guide or give me steps to making the switch?

Xavier ,

Usually, I help family and friends setup their computer to something familiar/similar to their routine (especially those that do everything in their browser). Otherwise, I let them slowly adapt to some new alternative software for their case use by preconfiguring it with them.

Generally, I recommend Linux Mint for those that are used to the Windows "feel".

Guide: Linux Mint Installation Guide

Video: Linux Mint 21.3 (Wayland) Install Guide
Note: I have not watched the whole video, I just quickly skipped around to see if they made sense.

Ideally, try to get a relative or friend who already use some flavor of Linux to sit down with you and help you get going with the transition, guaranteed they would be overjoyed. It'll help avoid some obvious pitfall/mistake depending on your expertise level on IT stuff and streamline the experience by sharing knowledge.

whalebiologist ,

wow, thank you Xavier

aniki ,

If any of my friends ever asked me to teach them Linux I'd be floored. I'd be over there with all kinds of devices and white boards to show the paradigms and strengths of open source.

prole ,
@prole@sh.itjust.works avatar

I don't have a guide as I had a Linux-friendly relative help me, but I can say that I use EndeavourOS with KDE and coming from someone who has used Windows all their life, I couldn't be happier. Now every time I have to use Windows on my work PC I die a little inside.

aniki ,

Pick anything that's not Ubuntu and enjoy it! Be prepared to reformat a LOT as you figure out what distro and configs you like the best. No one guide is ever going to be complete and experience is the best tool for learning Linux.

Codilingus ,

I found an excellent for me, half measure. Look up Windows X-Lite, they have a website. They offer 10 and 11 absolutely stripped of all the M$ bullshit and annoyances. Even windows defender can be removed.

Legit reminds me of a fresh XP install. Back to installing the vc++ and net desktop runtimes again, even.

I only don't ditch windows because I love playing VR and occasionally Valorant. And Wayland isn't quite where I'd like it to be feature wise for things like VRR and HDR.

Sunfoil ,

Windows 10 AME Wizard, get AtlasOS or whatever takes your fancy. Otherwise Linux Mint.

captain_aggravated ,
@captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works avatar

Hi. 10-year Linux user here. Here is my concise guide to making the switch from Windows to Linux:

Step 1: Start trying out open source software on your Windows machine. A lot of my first year of using Linux full-time was googling "linux equivalent for [software name]." See what you think of LibreOffice, Blender, FreeCAD, Shotcut, Inkscape, GIMP, Krita, whatever programs you would use for your workflows.

Step 2: Try out Linux in a VM. You'll probably use a package called Virtualbox, which lets you install Linux in a file on your computer, and run it in a window. This is a great way to just...try out Linux distros without doing any permanent changes to your computer. Speaking of distros, yes there are thousands of them, yes that choice can be paralyzing. I recommend trying Linux Mint, Kubuntu, and Pop!_OS. These are designed with good out-of-box experiences and beginner friendliness in mind and are designed as daily drivers rather than as tinkering projects.

Step 3: Live USB. If you've ever installed Windows, you're probably familiar with the "you put the disc/USB stick in, boot to it, and it dumps you straight into the installer which runs at like 800x600 and you have to fully install Windows to get to the desktop" process. Not Linux; most Linux distros use what they call a Live environment, where from the disc/USB stick it boots to a fully functional version of the desktop. Nothing gets written to your machine's internal hard drive, but now you're running the OS on bare metal and not in a virtual machine, you can now genuinely test it for compatibility with your hardware.

Step 4: Run the installer. I'm not going to cover this process, you can find guides easily on the internet, including how to dual boot with Windows if you're not ready to fully burn that bridge. But now you're actually moving in.

Answers to some FAQs:

  • Do I need to use the terminal? Probably on occasion. Microsoft has trained a few generations of computer users to hate and fear the CLI by making theirs horrible. Think about the kind of things you need to edit the registry or dive into configuration files on Windows, and that's the kind of thing you'll need to use the terminal for on Linux. If you ask for technical help on a Linux forum or Lemmy community, you will likely be asked to run a terminal command, for the simple reason that "run lsblk and copy-paste the return" is way easier to do in a text forum. There are several "Linux terminal basics" videos out there that take around an hour and show you how do do things like make folders, create and delete files, install software etc. from the terminal, which is worth learning how to do, it will help your understanding of the Linux desktop. It's a good way to learn how the Linux file system works.

  • Do I need to know how to program? No. Scripting and programming tools will fall to hand easier on a Linux system, but if you create art in GIMP and play games in Steam and whatnot you won't need to write any code.

  • Will my [weird program or esoteric hardware work] Maybe, maybe not. I have seen it go both ways, I have hardware that works in Linux better than in Windows, I have seen things that don't work in Linux at all. If you have a gaming mouse or keyboard, it may be that the vendor's software for configuring the RGB lighting or remapping the buttons doesn't work. On the other hand I use a Spacemouse in CAD software and it works fine. Ultimately you will have to test this.

Good luck, and Welcome to the Linux community!

whalebiologist ,

Hi thanks for the guide, I do use most of those applications already not even realizing the linux connection before now. I use all the windows stuff for work and honestly they are all so similar now.

s_s ,

Macbook? Chromebook?

Honestly, anything is better than Windows. But don't switch to Linux unless you are actually interested in Linux.

Longtime Linux user, here...

RememberTheApollo_ ,

Yep. Just turned on my win10 machine and had a full screen spread trying to get me to upgrade which I had to decline 3 different times to get to my desktop. Keep this up M$oft and I’m gonna switch entirely to Linux and run windows in a VM.

Codilingus ,

I found an excellent for me, half measure. Look up Windows X-Lite, they have a website. They offer 10 and 11 absolutely stripped of all the M$ bullshit and annoyances. Even windows defender can be removed.

Legit reminds me of a fresh XP install. Back to installing the vc++ and net desktop runtimes again, even.

I only don't ditch windows because I love playing VR and occasionally Valorant. And Wayland isn't quite where I'd like it to be feature wise for things like VRR and HDR.

UnpledgedCatnapTipper ,

I wish Riot would make it so you can play Valorant on Linux, I'd switch off windows permanently right away.

dubyakay ,

Just quit that shit and don't look back. No vidya is worth dedicating your life to.

UnpledgedCatnapTipper ,

I play consistently with a group of friends, and I like the game. I don't think using Windows counts as dedicating my life to it.

Suavevillain ,
@Suavevillain@lemmy.world avatar

I'm thankful that I made the Switch to Linux after Windows 10 forced updates got annoying while gaming. I'll deal with whatever trade offs. I only need Windows for my Elgato atm.

trackindakraken ,

More and more happy I left Windows behind a couple of months ago. I'd been on Windows since version 3. I dual-booted for a few weeks, then took the plunge. Windows is completely gone from my life.

I'm on Ubuntu at the moment, but I'm planning a move to LMDE, I think that's a better distro for me.

Zink ,

Thought about regular Linux Mint too? It has some of the Ubuntu benefits but not the parts people don’t like.

I am considering switching one of the computers at home away from windows, so I have been looking at the latest on some of my options.

captain_aggravated ,
@captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works avatar

At this point I know of two Ubuntu features that would make a difference to end users: PPA support, and the Device Manager.

PPAs are/were Ubuntu's answer to the question "What if the software I want isn't in the repository?" "Well the vendor will host a personal package archive, you can just add it and then still use APT." From where I'm sitting, Flatpak and/or Appimage have completely invalidated any use case for PPAs, I haven't installed a package from a PPA in years.

The Device Manager is handy if you have an Nvidia GPU, open Device Manager and click the one that says "Recommended." IIRC this is an Ubuntu-derived feature not available in LMDE and as soon as I own an AMD GPU I'd have less reason to not use Debian Edition.

Zink ,

Informative, thank you!

I may need to try regular Linux Mint first on this particular machine.

not_again , (edited )

Windows is like the corner prostitute: pay some money, usually get what you want although not the best, occasionally get some horrible disease

Linux is like the sweet SO: has its quirks but you love them for it. let's you grow in your skills but that can be challenging at times. Surprises you in good and bad ways.

Edit: for grammar

laughterlaughter ,

its* quirks.

not_again ,

Ha ha. Yes of course. Corrected.

laughterlaughter ,

I love you username in this context :)

iamnotdunningkruger ,

Lets* you grow 😉

mods_are_assholes ,

I have a different perspective after trying to go linux as my daily driver for decades:

Windows is that kind of easy girl in college that everyone has a chance with but is pretty mid and highly controlling.

Linux is that hot alt girl that you keep seeing in strange clubs like the anime or robotics club, and is really fun to be around until they have a major meltdown out of nowhere and absolutely no one is willing to give you any advice until you take a 6 month course and prove you know enough about girls before they will respond to your questions.

0x2d ,

windows has sucked ever since 8

laughterlaughter ,

Windows 10 was alright if it weren't for the constant almost-forced updates.

I miss Windows 7.

asexualchangeling ,

7 still took getting used to for me, I miss XP

xcjs ,
@xcjs@programming.dev avatar

I...do not miss XP, but I understand the nostalgia attached to it.

I learned a lot of technical skills on XP, but that's what made me appreciate the architectural decisions behind UNIX-likes all the more.

laughterlaughter ,

XP was good too, but the whole swarm of vulnerabilities ruined it for me.

lengau ,

The last version of Windows I liked was 2000

dubyakay ,

Same. I held out on it for a really long time, until finally some stupid game pretty much forced me to update.

werefreeatlast ,

Maybe you want to open that file in browser right? Ok setting default to open in browser!

But I really like the app because It was working just fine except for a few stupid glitches everywhere...!

What's that? So you really love the browser for files! That's great! Yeah it's compatible with Firefox we just put the file menu here, prin behind settings, view, you gotta triple click...oh very compatible!

But just wait until you want to do a teams meeting! Or a power point presentation! Full screen mode is now 10 menus deeper on power point and you'll love the 5 pixel screen when you present your power point on teams! People in the back really love being able to see all the very large people icons all around the very important 5 pixels representing your mouse and all graphics on your slides. Plus Karen! She'll change her icon to a cute little kitty and not tell anyone the secrete code to do it! It's Visual C++ now!

laughterlaughter ,

I don't see the point of your comment. What exactly are you critiquing?

asterfield ,

I imagine the aggressive “feature” upsell popups that get more and more invasive with every new windows release

systemguy_64 ,

I'm sorry, you lost me at PowerPoint. You hit F5? Have you checked your screen resolution?

werefreeatlast ,

I like my full screen like this:
https://images.app.goo.gl/krbc3oUbh4fPh8Z4A

Microsoft likes full screen like this:
https://images.app.goo.gl/141RczU6S4kKiEM67

And this for teams is ridiculous:
https://images.app.goo.gl/9yp7ocn63ieB23FF8

Narauko ,

I didn't even get a question, just straight up installed Windows 11 on my Surface with a bunch of cumulative roll ups after using it again for the first time in about 8 months. Couldn't even stop it once the "windows update" started, only option is to allow the reboot and then go through the hassle of rolling back to 10. It's a tertiary device for me and goes long periods without being used and I was probably ok with testing 11 performance on it, but don't appreciate being strong armed. I had to kill modern standby again to prevent battery drain while shut down, which is plaguing my laptop after I tried 11 on it.

Windows 11 is straight up unusable in multi-monitor configurations though due to the locked down UI customization, so my main rig won't be touching it with a 20ft pole. If Linux had more consistent VR gaming performance and support, I'd probably be jumping ship. As it stands, once 10 hits EOL I'll probably end up there anyway. Microsoft will be killing one of my headsets at the same time anyway by dropping WMR, and I hear there is some great Linux options for the Surface Pro line now too.

Blackmist ,

Drop requirements for TPM and secure boot then.

That shit is just Xbone Kinect all over again.

interdimensionalmeme ,

Desolder your tpm chip to prevent forced downgrade to win11

anivia ,

Disabling it in Bios is enough

laughterlaughter ,

Oh, you can do this? Neat.

interdimensionalmeme ,

Eventually, windows will just override it.

laughterlaughter , (edited )

Or don't buy a machine with that bullshit.

Edit: I'm not sure why I'm being downvoted. My comment is still valid. If the argument is "you can't, all the machines now include it," then it's fucked up. Like today's TVs which all of them are smart, and that's fucked up.

Blackmist ,

If you've got a CPU from the last 6 years or so, you've probably already got one.

aniki ,

x86 cpu.

There's no bullshit on Arm and RISC.

interdimensionalmeme ,

ARM is entirely made out of bullshit. It's almost impossible to buy a ARM device that isn't boot locked to a particular OS.

laughterlaughter ,

Hence I will never get rid of my 2017 laptop that doesn't qualify for Windows 11. The day Windows 10 stops updating for it is the day I'll install Linux in it.

aniki ,

That seems much easier than installing Linux.

Codilingus ,

You can turn off those requirements a few ways. IIRC using Rufus to make the bootable USB can, or something like Windows X-Lite which absolutely strips away all the M$ bullshit, like edge, defender, telemetry, bloat, and ads.

TheTimeKnife ,
@TheTimeKnife@lemmy.world avatar

I finally swapped to Linux and it's been easier than I expected. Don't know if I'll ever go back to only windows.

Stitch0815 ,

Same
I was really surprised how easy it was.
Thank you Lutris

frostwhitewolf ,

What distro did you go with? Been thinking of switching myself

____ ,

Not OP, but there's many beginner friendly distros. I'd look into Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin, or Elementary

nnmna ,

Based

BigTrout75 ,

Every 6 years I have to about people that are not updating. The drama.

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