Jaeder1d ago

I desperately want to switch to Linux but I'm terrified of breaking my computer still. I'm sitting on a GTX 980 and Windows 10 (computer is old and I'm very poor).

EDIT: To clarify, I have used a bootable USB stick before to test Linux Mint. It gave me a good impression but was kinda laggy (10 year old USB ports aren't very fast).

Anyone out there willing to poke me in the right direction?

I am dependent on Discord for friends and Microsoft Teams (no matter how much I hate it) for many job search reasons. #linux #windows

Show threadDaniel Lakeland1d ago
@jaeder
i would definitely start by testing everything on a bootable live USB stick. Make sure you can get WiFi and graphics and sound and stuff working. its about 99% chance all that stuff works out of the box on a popular distro. I am told Linux Mint is very popular as a first distro and has good hardware support and a boot able ISP you can put on a Ventoy USB stick. I would start by making a Ventoy stick in Windows, and adding the mint ISO, and then boot it and mess around
Show threadJaeder
@dlakelan Yeah. I should have clarified that I've already tested on a bootable USB-stick, that I felt safe to do, it just "feels" different to approach an SSD. God. I only have one other SSD and it's the only one that works (my two HDD:s are not working as they should for some reason) so... mm... I probably have to look into getting a third SSD (may the cosmic entities bring me one affordable) and try it on that one.
Apr 7 at 12:49pmWeb
Show threadDaniel Lakeland23h ago

@jaeder
Do you have some other way to get online if an install goes wrong? (phone, tablet, library computer?)

Here's my take, if it runs properly on a USB, and you have a way to get online and look up error messages etc with a different device or a library computer, then you really dont have much to fear. I honestly think you should just go for it. Staying with Windows is also harmful in its own ways. Linux Mint worked for you so I would use the USB stick to do a full install.

Show threadDaniel Lakeland23h ago

@jaeder
pretty much worst case if the USB stick worked with network and audio hardware is you spend a certain amount of time realizing you dont have a program you need and then installing it until that stabilizes and you have most everything.

of course your data files should be backed up somewhere in 2 places before starting.

Show threadJaeder22h ago
@dlakelan I do have a phone with Android 9. Alright. Then I'll do a new install once I get a new SSD(both HDD:s are dying anyway). Thank you for the help!