Linux issues Linux problems Linux troubleshooting
Linux issues Linux problems Linux troubleshooting
I usually stick with Windows, though I only have a bit of Linux experience. In 2016 or 17 I attempted to set it up as a dual boot, but it didn’t go smoothly, particularly when trying to install Nvidia drivers. It seems Nvidia has made progress since then, and modern Linux gaming looks much better now than it did back then. Linux isn’t quite there yet for me right now, but with the ongoing developments around W11 and everything else, I’m hesitant about jumping to version 11. Even if I have to switch to Linux as my main system, I’d rather delay that move. It could take a year or two, but I’m open to trying it soon. Right now I plan to keep using Windows for as long as possible, or until Linux becomes more appealing. I use Mint Cinnamon on a non-gaming laptop for casual tasks; I’ve also used Ubuntu on older machines that didn’t get updates for 8.1 or higher. So I’m somewhat familiar with the platform. PopOS and Linux Mint are the ones I’ve heard most about, but I’m not sure which is better. I recall Linus discussing PopOS in a video, though he mentioned a major problem that was reportedly fixed later. I’m leaning more toward Mint because of my experience with it, and I read that Mint receives more frequent updates than PopOS does. I still intend to wait and see if things improve further before making the switch, but I’m considering dual booting again now to try something new and get a firsthand feel.
Move to Linux, macOS and all non-Windows forums. Kindly choose the correct subforum for new discussions.
You're already comfortable with Mint, making this decision straightforward. Linux Mint also supports secure boot, which is great if you plan to run a dual boot with Windows 11 later. I rely on Linux for everyday activities and switch to Windows mainly for gaming. Most of my machines are built entirely from Linux. My gaming PCs boot both Windows 11 and Mint. I typically install the official NVIDIA drivers directly from NVIDIA. On systems with secure boot enabled, I stick to the NVIDIA drivers provided by the package manager for simplicity.
Earlier this year I used a version of Ubuntu on my main computer, and it seemed to work perfectly. When trying to install Nvidia drivers, even from their official site, I faced significant problems. I’m considering Pop OS and Mint since I’m open to the best choice, but I’m currently favoring Mint. I’m aware Steam is popular, but not every game I play comes through it. I own a few via Epic, Rockstar’s store, Origin, and Uplay—though I use the latter two less often now, just to keep those titles accessible due to compatibility issues.
Ubuntu and Mint represent completely different experiences. Even though I’m comfortable with Linux in general, I don’t typically play games on Linux. Once you move beyond native Linux applications or Steam, it becomes more like a dual-boot setup. We’re nearing a time when Linux could serve as a full gaming platform, but it’s still not quite there. I’ve used several Nvidia cards across different Mint versions over the years; my machine includes a 3080 and runs the corresponding drivers alongside Mint 20.3. Right now, you should be able to install the driver through the driver manager and expect it to function properly in theory.
I understand they differ, but I was the last OS I tried on my main PC back then. Mint remains my preferred choice. In reality, I don’t need to lock myself into one—I’d rather set up just once and avoid repeating the process if something doesn’t work out.
I'm just starting out with Linux and moved from Windows 10 for similar reasons. I chose Manjaro Linux because it's Arch-based rather than Debian-based, while Ubuntu and Mint are off branches of Debian. My main needs are browsing the web and playing games, and after setup, I've faced few problems beyond that. My graphics card is an AMD model. Through Proton and some adjustments on ProtonDB, I've managed to run most applications smoothly, except for Metro Exodus Enhanced. The regular version works fine. My laptop runs Linux Mint with an older Nvidia 680m chip; that setup didn't perform as well, though I can't say for sure if it's due to the hardware, my distro choice, or lack of experience. Most non-native games still don't launch properly, even after using Proton and tweaks from ProtonDB. I've tried both proprietary and open-source drivers. If you have an unused old HDD or SSD, you can install different distros there until you find the one that suits you best without making a commitment right away. I also heard about setting up a separate partition for /home to simplify switching between distros, but I haven't tried it yet.
I probably set up a separate partition on my primary storage, so I wouldn’t need to change drives at startup. When I first experimented with Linux on my main computer, I used dual booting. I regret not having a larger main drive. My main disk is a 256GB NVMe unit. It should have enough room for the installation, but I wish I had more capacity available.
If you prefer Windows why are you changing? (Well, because Microsoft collects data aggressively?) Having relied on Linux since 1995, I become annoyed when others switch and they wish Unix would resemble Windows—just so they can say they’re using Linux for reasons like cost or style. When people inquire about their C: drive or system location, it’s a moment of surprise for me. You should anticipate differences; Windows isn’t free and shouldn’t pretend otherwise (that’s what ReactOS stands for). Occasionally, breaking from familiar models helps improve things. Linux might feel simpler for beginners, but re-learning on something new can be tough and frustrating. What I can suggest is to plan ahead. Ultimately, the choice depends on you. If you’re comfortable with Ubuntu, stick with it. I usually prefer more established distros like SuSE, Debian, or Ubuntu itself. (I enjoy FreeBSD and Gentoo, though harder distros can speed up learning.)
I've mentioned this before: a long-time Windows user whose system was destroyed by Microsoft in 2018. The next day, she switches to Linux Mint and continues using her computer as if nothing changed—everything had been backed up to a Linux Mint disk beforehand. It's quite simple. She runs a business (banking and accounts on spreadsheets), writes documents, browses the web, emails, uses Zoom, composes music scores, records audio, and more. Given her age, she might have more experience. Personally, I've been using Linux Mint for over ten years. I installed it for around 30 users who rely on it exclusively across nearly 50 computers.