A beginner PC wants to run Linux alongside Windows.
A beginner PC wants to run Linux alongside Windows.
Thank you for your support so far. I really appreciate the guidance from this forum about setting up my PC. I'm completely new to PCs overall, and I'm mainly curious about dual booting Linux for fun rather than professional purposes. My computer isn't powerful enough for serious gaming, and I just want to explore more about PCs and Lenox. I'm eager to learn basic programming skills someday, but I have no prior knowledge. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
You can simply install Linux on a USB stick. If your drive lacks enough space for a full partition, using just the USB is a good idea. Manjaro is an excellent choice for beginners—it’s user-friendly and straightforward to set up.
Ubuntu recently released an updated version that enhances the Linux experience, featuring graphics driver installers and preloaded software that’s mostly optional. This marks a significant improvement for newcomers seeking a smoother setup. I recommend beginning with Lutris and checking out their Discord community for tips. If gaming is your primary focus, consider using the gnome tweak tool for a more customized interface. The default Ubuntu setup often looks quite plain to me.
Purchase a high-quality USB SSD and adjust your BIOS to try USB booting before Windows starts. Disconnect internal drives during Linux installation on the USB drive, then reconnect after finishing. This keeps the Windows bootloader untouched—booting without the USB will go straight to Windows, and with it, you’ll land on Linux.