Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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How easy is it to switch back to windows? (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 5 months ago by FemboyNB@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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I'm considering switching to linux but I'm not a computer savvy person, so I wanted to have the option to switch back to windows if unforeseen complications (I only have 1 pc). Is it just a download on usb and install? And what ways can I get the product key or "cleaner" debloated versions.

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[–] GrappleHat@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

If you're nervous about the switch consider dual-booting. Then you're not fully committed to the switch & you can have your old Windows system back whenever you want it.

Main steps are:

Run a defrag on your Windows machine to physically consolidate all your Windows data to one area.
Break that partition into two (Linux will go one the new empty side)
Install Linux from a USB as normal, but don't choose to wipe your drive completely. Choose a manual option instead where you specifically indicate your intended Linux partition from above.
Optional: Once installation is complete you can set up another partition to hold files which can be available to both OSs.
- Boot into Linux & define the remaining unused space in the Linux partition as a new NTFS partition & give it a name which makes it obvious what it is (i.e. "sharedspace")
- Then boot into Windows and move the existing data you'd like to share between OSs here (work documents, movies, music, etc.)

Some useful links:

Video on setting up a dual boot
Howtogeek used to have a great walkthrough for doing this but I'm getting a 404 error when I try to follow the link now :(
Optional: Setting up Linux symlinks to point to the shared space partition

[–] KRAW@linux.community 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I would argue that it is better to have two separate drives for the installation. It simplifies things for non tech savvy people, and I believe Windows has less of an opportunity to mess with your linux install, such as messing with the efi partition.

[–] NutWrench@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Same here. I installed Linux Mint on my internal D: drive and left my Windows C: drive completely untouched. Then, I changed my boot order in bios to boot from drive D: This lets you play with Linux without messing with the bootloader on your Windows drive, or fiddling with partitions.

Once I decided to keep Linux, I modified the D: drive bootloader ("sudo update-grub") so it would show both drives when I booted from D: Now I can boot into either OS without having to change the boot order in BIOS.