I've used Windows all my life, but Windows 11 has become frustrating because of forced updates and bugs that seem to reset or remove things unexpectedly. I'm considering moving to Linux, but I'm not sure which distribution or desktop environment would suit me.
I regularly use Steam, Epic Games, Discord, Brave, Spotify, Telegram, VLC, 7-Zip, qBittorrent, Medal, Roblox, Parsec, Python, and occasionally Adobe Photoshop and Premiere. I have an NVIDIA GPU and would like to keep gaming, including playing some fan-made games and other programs that are only distributed as .exe files.
My main concern is that all my important files are currently on my Windows installation, and I'm unfamiliar with Linux installers and workflows. I'd like to know how difficult it is to move my files, whether .exe applications can run through compatibility tools, and which of my usual programs have good Linux support.
I've previously tried Ubuntu, Arch, and Fedora on an old laptop but never settled on one. I'm considering something beginner-friendly such as Linux Mint or a gaming-focused option such as Bazzite. I also don't know whether KDE Plasma or GNOME would be a better desktop environment for a desktop PC. Please explain the basics simply, including any major compatibility problems I should understand before switching.
5 Answers
A low-risk migration plan would be: back up your files, test a live USB without installing anything, then try Linux on a spare drive or in a dual-boot setup. Start with Mint if you want a familiar all-purpose system, or Bazzite if gaming is the central goal. You can access files from a Windows partition in Linux, but it’s better to copy important data to a separate backup and avoid leaving Windows hibernated or using Fast Startup when sharing the drive.
NVIDIA does not mean you’ll stop receiving updates. Popular distributions provide proprietary NVIDIA drivers, although setup can sometimes be less straightforward than with AMD. Use the distribution’s recommended driver tools rather than downloading random installers. I’d avoid advanced custom kernels and performance tweaks until you’re comfortable with the basics, since they can create extra troubleshooting work.
Before blaming the operating system, check the health of your SSD and make a backup. Files disappearing or settings resetting can be signs of a failing drive, and switching to Linux won’t fix failing hardware. Copy important documents, photos, and game saves to an external drive or another storage device before experimenting.
You can install Linux alongside Windows, keep Windows on a second drive, or run Linux in a virtual machine. Keeping Windows available is especially useful for Adobe software, Roblox, Parsec, incompatible games, and random .exe programs. Linux can run some .exe files with Wine, Proton, or Bottles, but there is no guarantee; some applications work perfectly while others have broken interfaces, missing features, or no support at all.
If gaming is the main priority, Bazzite is worth considering. It offers gaming-focused defaults and can use KDE Plasma for a more familiar desktop-style interface. Steam and many Windows games work through Proton, but compatibility depends on each game, especially when kernel-level anti-cheat is involved. Epic games can often be installed with Heroic, though results vary by title.
Linux Mint is a sensible starting point for a general-purpose desktop. It’s beginner-friendly, widely documented, and based on Ubuntu, so troubleshooting information is easy to find. Most of your everyday applications—Steam, Discord, Brave, Spotify, Telegram, VLC, 7-Zip alternatives, qBittorrent, Parsec, and Python—have Linux versions or workable replacements. Epic Games can often be managed through Heroic Launcher.
The major exceptions are Adobe Photoshop and Premiere, which do not have official Linux versions and can be unreliable through compatibility layers. Roblox also needs a community client such as Sober and may change or break over time. Medal may need to be replaced with NVIDIA’s recording tools or another screen recorder.
For the desktop environment, GNOME generally feels more streamlined and polished, while KDE Plasma is more customizable and resembles the traditional Windows layout. Neither is inherently better for a desktop PC, so choosing based on which interface feels comfortable is reasonable.