Moving to Linux advice
Moving to Linux advice
You're right, using an NTFS drive in Linux is tricky and often problematic. It's not ideal, but it can function if you're willing to troubleshoot.
EXT4 functions well. I tried Hyprland with 980 Ti a while back, and it’s running smoothly with only slight problems now. Thanks to Nvidia’s explicit sync fix for Wayland in their drivers, performance is solid. I’m using Manjaro now—just need to configure the right mount options and switch to ntfs-3g.
Backup options for nVidia also vary based on your hardware. From my previous experience with an Asus laptop, the process was smoother on a desktop setup. Generally, on my main desktop I use AMD systems with three SSDs—OS, games, and other files. If you reinstall, everything should remain intact (provided you choose the correct drive). For beginners, it’s wise to switch distributions. Consider using Time Machine after configuring your system thoroughly in case you need to restore. Recently, I discovered Bazzite, which has made significant improvements over the past few months. It integrates handheld and gaming devices well, offering a game-focused experience with excellent driver support. nVidia/KDE seems like a solid choice. After initial setup—just enabling virtualization—you’ll get Virtual Machine Manager with QEMU KVM, making it straightforward. Pick the ISO, install Windows in the VM, and you should be good. GPU pass-through is possible, though I’m new to it and used virtualBox previously. Another option is Nobara, which runs on all three desktops (two nVidia models), supports dedicated drivers, and still uses X11 if you prefer. PopOS leans more toward GNOME or possibly Cosmos; I find it still offers strong nVidia support. Mint remains a solid choice for those using X11.