Linux is easier to adopt when you check your everyday needs before installing it, try the desktop on your own computer, and learn the software tools that come with your chosen distribution. Ubuntu and Linux Mint both provide beginner-oriented documentation, but no distribution can guarantee support for every Windows app, game, or peripheral. Treat the move as a staged evaluation—and keep Windows available until your essential workflows are verified.
Start with the tasks you need Linux to handle
Before choosing a distribution, make a checklist of the software and devices you rely on. Include work and school apps, file formats, communication tools, cloud services, VPNs, games, printers, scanners, Wi-Fi adapters, webcams, docks, external displays, and specialized input devices. For each essential item, check the vendor’s Linux support information or plan to test it in a live session.
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This inventory matters because compatibility depends on the specific program, game, peripheral, and computer. A Linux alternative may not preserve every feature or collaboration workflow, and a web version or remote Windows option may not suit every use. The checklist helps identify any must-have item that needs a workaround before you change the computer.
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Choose a distribution with documentation you can follow
A desktop Linux installation is usually a distribution—a packaged operating system with its own installer, desktop environment, software sources, and support materials. Microsoft’s Linux installation guide names Ubuntu as a common starting point for newcomers. Linux Mint’s installation guide, along with its user and troubleshooting guides, is another documented option. These are candidates, not a universal ranking of what is easiest.
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Compare distributions using your own requirements:
- Does the desktop layout feel understandable to you?
- Does your hardware work in a live session?
- Do your required applications and games have supported versions or a workable alternative?
- Can you follow the installation, update, and troubleshooting instructions?
- Does the release’s support period and software freshness suit your needs? Check the distribution’s current release information before choosing a version.
A familiar-looking desktop can reduce the initial learning curve, but matching Windows visually is less important than getting your actual work done reliably.
Try the desktop on your computer before installing
Ubuntu documents both a “Try Ubuntu Desktop” option and instructions for creating a bootable USB. A live session lets you explore Linux without first installing it on the internal drive. Microsoft’s installation guidance says installer media for a bare-metal setup will typically need a USB drive of at least 16 GB; that is a setup guideline, not a requirement for every way of trying Linux. A virtual machine may not require a USB drive.
Boot the live environment and test the parts of your setup that matter:
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- 2.4 GHz & Bluetooth Wireless Connection - The B1 Pro boasts a rapid 1000 Hz polling rate on 2.4 GHz wireless mode that is cable-free to meet your desktop aesthetics. Switch effortlessly between devices via Bluetooth 5.2 for seamless multitasking.
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- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sound, display resolution, and scaling.
- Sleep and wake, webcam, printer or scanner, and external monitors.
- Special keyboards, pointing devices, docks, or other accessories.
- Typical documents and the services you use for work or school.
A successful live session is useful evidence, not a promise that every feature will work identically after installation. For installation-media steps, follow the chosen distribution’s current official guide rather than relying on instructions for another release.
Pick an installation route that matches your commitment
Microsoft distinguishes among Linux in a virtual machine, dual boot, and installation directly on the computer’s hardware. As Microsoft puts it, “Bare metal Linux just means that Linux is running directly on the device hardware.” Each route offers a different balance of convenience and risk:
| Route | How it works | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual machine | Linux runs inside a host operating system. | Good for exploration without repartitioning, but hardware integration can add complexity. |
| Dual boot | Windows and Linux are installed separately on the computer; you reboot to switch between them. | Keeps Windows available, but both systems need disk space and installation changes partitions. |
| Replace Windows | Linux is installed directly on the computer, replacing the existing operating system. | The most committed option; use it only after verifying essential workflows and backing up files. |
Microsoft notes that bare-metal setups can encounter driver or hardware compatibility problems. If you need a Windows-only app or game and have not confirmed a reliable way to use it, retain access to Windows while evaluating Linux.
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- Smart Illumination: The wireless keyboard's backlit keys light up the moment your hands approach, and automatically adjust to suit changing lighting conditions
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Back up files and recovery information before partitioning
Make an independent copy of personal files before installing, even if you plan to keep Windows. If the computer uses BitLocker, save its recovery key somewhere accessible without that computer. Microsoft flags the key as important for bare-metal installation, and Ubuntu documents installation guidance for BitLocker-encrypted systems. Ubuntu also covers Intel RST; use current instructions for your distribution instead of applying old forum commands. Linux Mint advises installing Windows first when setting up Mint alongside Windows.
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Do not begin partitioning until you have checked that the backup exists and you can access the recovery information you may need. An installation route that preserves Windows still involves changes to the disk.
Install Linux applications through the distribution’s software tool
Linux applications are not automatically Windows applications. Check each must-have program for a Linux version, a credible replacement, a web version, or a workable virtual or remote option. Do not expect a Windows .exe installer to install natively just because you can download it.
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In Ubuntu, the graphical App Center lets you search or browse for software, select an application, choose Install, and authenticate. Ubuntu’s documentation describes both snap and Debian package formats; when an app is available in both, App Center lists snaps first. Prefer the distribution’s documented software sources and the application vendor’s trusted Linux distribution method.
Once you have installed a suitable browser, office tool, communication app, or media player, learn where your desktop keeps installed applications, files, settings, and updates. Use the supported Linux version when it meets your needs rather than forcing a Windows-only program to work without checking the trade-offs.
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Valve’s Proton can make some Windows games playable through Steam, but it is not a guarantee for every game, launcher, anti-cheat system, or graphics setup. Valve’s requirements page notes that some newer Steam Play titles may need graphics drivers newer than those included with a particular Ubuntu release. Its page was edited June 2, 2023, so its version-specific driver examples should not be treated as current universal instructions.
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Before removing Windows, check current compatibility information for the particular games you play and the current driver guidance for your chosen distribution. Test anti-cheat games and non-Steam launchers individually.
Use the update manager and understand recovery limits
For routine updates, use the graphical update manager provided by your distribution. On Linux Mint, the user guide describes Timeshift snapshots that can restore the operating system after certain failures, updates, mistakes, bugs, or malicious programs. Those snapshots do not include personal files, so keep a separate backup for documents, photos, and other data.
Mint’s guide also warns that kernel updates can affect hardware support and may cause regressions involving networking, the desktop, or booting. If a system update causes a problem, use the distribution’s recovery instructions; do not assume that a system snapshot contains or replaces your personal-data backup.
Make the first weeks a deliberate evaluation
Keep a short list of unfamiliar tasks and look up how to do each one in the documentation for your chosen desktop. Test the full workflows you depend on—not just whether the system boots—including opening and saving files, joining calls, accessing work services, printing, and using games or specialist devices. A staged move gives you time to learn the graphical tools and decide whether Linux fits your routine before you give up the Windows option.
Quick Recap
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