I'm planning to switch from Windows 11 to Linux and will be visiting the capital next week. Since I live in rural Norway, I'm wondering if I should grab a beginner's guide to Linux, like a 'For Dummies' book, before I attempt the installation. I only have one PC, so if I mess up the install, getting internet access besides my phone could be tricky.
5 Answers
Honestly, those 'For Dummies' books usually aren't very helpful today. Instead, I recommend checking the distro's homepage for installation guidance right away. Also, creating a Windows installer USB can save you if you mess up the install. If you want to be really cautious, grab a spare drive and install Linux on that; if it doesn't work out, you can simply switch it back!
Consider investing in a cheap used SSD. Even a 120GB one would do the trick. This way, you can easily switch back if the Linux installation doesn’t go well. Also, trying out different distributions on a virtual machine can help you decide what suits you best before making the jump!
If you're looking for a good starting point, check out 'The Linux Command Line' by No Starch Press. It's written in a friendly way, almost like having someone guide you through it. I found it super helpful as a casual user. I'm halfway through and enjoying it!
I’m not sure about a 'For Dummies' book, but some articles my friend wrote about transitioning to Linux could be useful. They cover a few people's experiences and might be worth a read! You can find them here: telaneo.gitlab.io/artcl/linux.htm
Definitely consider using an external USB hard drive for your Linux installation. This way, you can boot from either your internal Windows drive or the external drive with Linux on it. I've been doing this for years, and it mostly keeps me away from Windows these days. Just make sure your BIOS is set up to allow other systems to boot before the Windows drive!
Yeah, I remember the early 'Dummies' books being decent, especially back in the 90s, but they quickly became hit or miss. The first few were great, but it feels like they've watered down the quality over the years.