I'm completely new to Linux and don't have much coding experience, but I'd like to try it on a new school laptop. My goal is to make the desktop look as close as possible to Windows 7, partly for nostalgia and partly as a playful surprise for my friends. I'd also like to keep the system reasonably stable and responsive while having the option to add widgets and customize other details. Which beginner-friendly distribution and desktop environment would you recommend, and are there any useful setup guides or tips?
5 Answers
I’d recommend getting the basic system working before heavily customizing it. Set up regular snapshots with a tool such as Timeshift, back up your home directory, and install the applications you actually need first. Once you understand how the system is organized, experiment with themes and keep a way to roll back changes in case a customization causes problems.
Linux Mint with the Cinnamon desktop is probably the easiest place to start. Cinnamon already feels fairly familiar to Windows users, and you can add a Windows 7-style theme, icons, and panel layout afterward. There are step-by-step guides available for making Mint resemble Windows 7, and you can always switch desktop environments later if you want more customization.
A Windows 7 theme pack such as the B00merang Windows 7 theme can work with several desktop environments. You can combine it with a matching icon set, wallpaper, start-menu layout, and panel configuration. Cinnamon is likely the least intimidating choice for a first installation, while KDE gives you more control over widgets and visual details.
The distribution matters less than the desktop environment. KDE Plasma and Xfce are both highly customizable, while Cinnamon is a nice balance of simplicity and flexibility. KDE Plasma can get especially close to Windows 7 with the right window decorations, icons, widgets, and panel settings. Fedora KDE is one beginner-friendly option if you want newer software, while Mint Cinnamon is generally the simpler starting point.
If you want an almost exact Windows 7 appearance, the AeroThemePlasma project is worth looking at. It is designed for KDE Plasma and includes the kind of translucent window styling and layout associated with Windows 7. Setup takes more effort than using a preconfigured theme, but it should work across distributions that support KDE Plasma.
Does KDE Plasma work on any distribution, or only certain ones? I’m seeing recommendations for both Mint and Plasma, so I’ll compare them before deciding.