Hi everyone, sorry for any confusion earlier. English isn’t my first language, and I’ve been struggling with Windows 10 lately. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to switch to Windows 11, so I decided to try Linux Mint on my ThinkPad. After two weeks, it’s clear gaming isn’t possible anymore. Steam worked at first but now can’t install or play games, only showing errors like disk write issues. Wine seemed like a good option until I discovered the app manager version was outdated. I tried updating through the official site and a simple guide, but the terminal kept throwing errors. I felt let down by the Terminal and ended up using the old version. Portable games worked, but mounting old game images always gave me “Put the damn Disk in!” messages, even though they were already mounted. This situation is making me think about my next steps—either stick with Windows, reinstall Mint, or try another distribution. I really need help deciding what to do next. Thanks!
Linux offers mixed results for gaming; it’s not a one-size-fits-all experience. You’re likely encountering issues with disk write errors, which isn’t uncommon. Installing game disks is definitely more challenging, as Linux gaming is mostly tied to Steam. I haven’t used a traditional physical media PC game in over ten years, even on Windows. From what I know, older games on physical media also don’t run smoothly on Windows 10 without extra work.
Steam functions perfectly on my Manjaro setup, but Proton isn't working for some reason. It seems like a general distro problem—consider trying OpenSUSE or Manjaro, and test them using a live CD.
Consider going with the Flatpak version of Steam from the GUI store. If you're using it, check if your system uses NTFS—this might lead to issues. Next, the Wine GUI store is another good option. Thirdly, I wouldn't suggest Linux Mint for gaming; PopOS or Manjaro are better choices. You should explore other distributions based on your needs. Linux isn't bad, but you need to find the best one for your situation. Don't expect a Windows feel since that's not what Linux aims for.
Many of your concerns seem tied to specific distros. Switching to an Arch-based system like Manjaro could be a better fit, offering the newest packages and guidance from the Arch Wiki. However, this approach isn’t without its drawbacks. Some educational software doesn’t translate well to Linux, and getting it configured properly can take significantly longer than on Windows. Certain services, such as audio servers, feel incomplete compared to their Windows counterparts.
This stems largely from a limited user base, which means fewer companies invest in improving the experience. The Steam Deck launch a few months from now should help, and within two to three years I anticipate Linux will address many of these issues. Over the past couple of years, they’ve already made substantial progress, so further improvements are likely on the horizon.
Personal preferences play a big role here—Linux shines in stability, especially on laptops, though I still encounter more problems with Windows machines. Once set up correctly, I only need occasional updates. The terminal itself is powerful once mastered, allowing me to handle most tasks efficiently.
I keep Windows nearby for gaming because it’s reliable there, but I understand Linux works well for my needs. What feels perfect for one person may not be ideal for another.
If your sole purpose is playing games and you don’t want to waste half an hour fixing error messages, Linux isn’t the right choice. Game creators seldom focus on it, so you’ll likely have to rely on temporary fixes or basic understanding of the system. Linux isn’t just "Windows but free"—it’s a distinct operating system that demands some time to adapt if you’re used only to Windows. Ultimately, it’s your decision whether the reasons to leave Windows are strong enough to justify the effort.
Linux is a strong platform widely adopted globally by governments, companies, and individuals. It powers much of the internet and underpins nearly all modern smart devices. While it isn’t particularly user-friendly, significant improvements have been made over recent years. Despite progress in areas like Pop OS, Linux still requires command-line knowledge for many users, making it less accessible unless you have the necessary skills.
Honestly, sounds like pebkac to me (absolutely no offense intended when I say that). 1) NEVER EVER EVER blindly follow a guide by using copy/paste without understanding what it is you're telling it to do. This is pretty much the universal precursor to a bricked install. 2) WINE is an abstraction layer, that means it technically doesn't have direct access to hardware on Linux. If you're trying to install a CD based game in WINE with the disc inserted into a Linux host then its obviously going to complain about a missing disc. For cases like this Lutris exist. 3) (Just my opinion) Mint sucks, for a debian based distro it has so many specific issues that non of the other debian based distros have I have no idea why people still use it. If you want a great debian based distro that is good for gaming then go with PopOS. 4) Based on the phrases in your OP I'd assume you're still a relative newcomer to Linux. In that case please ignore the advice to switch to anything Arch based, the advantages of using Arch are exactly what makes it difficult to newcomers. Because everything is about as new as possible its pretty common for updates to break things and then you have to spend hours trawling through configs to find the issue and fix it. Much better to stay on a stable release "just works" type distro where the software might be a few months old but you know it has been curated and tested to work on your system with no user input required. Edit - Also as a newcomer I'd advise staying away from RHEL/SUSE based distros as well, these days they come with SELinux out of the box and that's 100% not something for a newbie to be getting into. Understanding Linux permissions for a Windows users is bad enough on its own without adding a whole new layer of complexity to everything. 5) Linux doesn't suck, it is however FAR from perfect in many areas (but then, so is Windows and macOS).