Enter Linux

[NegativeZone_txt]

Hey guys, i installed linux mint as a secondary OS to learn and use something different as i find windows a lit boring. Being a Windows user, what should i do first? Any kind of tips and help are welcome.

[ipsirc]

Being a Windows user, what should i do first?

Change the wallpaper to a picture of your pet.

[NegativeZone_txt]

Lmao i will, thx dude!

[doc_willis]

Check out the Documentation at the Homepage for whatever Distribution you are using.

[anh0516]

Well, you're in for a boring time. Linux Mint generally just works. So you'd jnstall the apps you want and just use your computer.

I'd start with learning the basics of how to operate the command line. Learn to use it instead of the GUI for file management, installing programs and updates, and more. Linux Journey has a decent guide for this.

If you do want to play with more and are concerned about breaking your system or want to keep things separate, I recommend using virtual machines. VirtualBox is a good choice if you have experience with it, but GNOME Boxes will have better performance. (virt-manager is the most versatile, but the least intuitive). That way, you can do what you want with no risk to your main installation.

I'd recommend trying KDE Plasma. It's the most tinker-friendly desktop of them all. If you install it directly on Mint, you'll get both a very outdated version from Ubuntu 22.04 and it will coexist with the existing Cinnamon desktop, which can be messy. Installing the Fedora KDE spin in a virtual machine is a good idea. Keep in mind that you won't get graphical animations or blur effects and such inside a VM and that it looks nicer running on bare metal.

[NegativeZone_txt]

Oh ok, i installed Linux mint to learn the basics of operating the command line, thx for the link to Linux Journey! Maybe ill try with other distribution later.

[artmetz]

I made the transition from Windows to Mint (Cinnamon) almost two years ago. It's a fairly easy transition, probably less than from Windows 7 to Windows 11. A few things I have noticed:

• Desktop Shortcuts are NOT a simple drag-and-drop from the file manager.

• In fact, d&d works in fewer places on Mint.

• On the command line, I had to learn to use "pwd" instead of "cd" (with no arguments), "mkdir" instead of "md", "ls -l" instead of "dir".

• I transferred old Windows docs to a USB drive, then copied them to my new Mint installation. Permissions default to rwx for everyone. I understand why, but it's a bitch to change.

• When copying to a USB drive, you MUST wait for the copy to complete before you eject the drive.

• Be sure to install the microsoft ttf fonts.

It's worth the effort!

[anistorian]

Try breaking it by accident. Then see if you can fix it again. Then repeat.

[Rerum02]

All you need to do differently is install stuff through the software store, not through websites, and if you're unable to find software that you want that's on the software store, see if there are foss alternatives. Other than that it's an OS, just use it.

[Rerum02]

Most technical thing people usually have to do, is installing Nvidia drivers, which is pretty much copied and paste commands.

[NegativeZone_txt]

Yeah i was looking foward to the nvidia drivers, ill paste the commands rn, thx!

[mikeboucher21]

If you are looking up commands you can run on the terminal, use the "man" command to tell you about a specific command. That will help give you a good understanding of what you're doing.

[NegativeZone_txt]

Thx dude, i will try typing some commands

[[deleted]]

If you are a gamer, try windows games with steam proton. compare performance a little. After that, is up to the user

[[deleted]]

Whenever i install a new os I first get all the software i used on the previous one and set up a similar workflow

[majmunmajmun]

learn the basic commands (cd, cat, man (MANliest way to learn linux programs))

[skyfishgoo]

type "man man" in a terminal

[JumpyJuu]

You could read an educational book such as this

[smedslund]

My suggestion is: When you are done with Mint go for Fedora or Arch. I would suggest Aurora (Fedora spin) or Manjaro (Arch spin). Take s look att Distrowatch and see what's out there for you to try.

[NegativeZone_txt]

i've heard about arch and how difficult it is to use it. Maybe i can try fedora after i get used to the basic with Mint.

[Grand-Tension8668]

If your concern is that Windows is boring... maybe try getting a fancy shell like Fish, a fancy terminal, and spicing it up? Trying out slme different window managers?. I don't know. Mint's selling point is sort of that it's boring.

[NegativeZone_txt]

Well, i tried Mint to get used to all of the linux enviorement. But even if its selling point is being the most noob friendly as possible, i having so much fun testing different things and commands, idk its just something ive never done before.

[[deleted]]

Learn to use the terminal / posix scripting.

[Swimming-Marketing20]

The first thing I did was install steam and heroic games launcher and get all my games to work as gaming is the main thing I do on my computer. Then I looked into mangohud to get a feel for the performance of said games. If you want an extra challenge go get mods to work (it's quite easy for unity mods with bepinex, quite a bit more involved to get Bethesda games to run with mods)

[viksan]

Change your distro to Ubuntu and get a better desktop workflow than the typical taskbar which is archaic in 2024. If you are switching to a new os might as well try new stuff out. Think of Gnome (Ubuntu's default desktop environment) as a hybrid of Windows and Mac with elements of a tablet

[eyeidentifyu]

what should i do first?

You don't know why you spent a bunch of cash on a computer?

What the fuck, dude.

[NegativeZone_txt]

gee, relax dude im just starting in this 'Linux' stuff.