I've been using Fedora for about a year now and really love it! However, my desktop is still running Windows. I'm thinking of dual booting my desktop PC so I can use Linux for everything except gaming (mostly those that involve anti-cheat systems). My main question is whether I can use the same applications on both operating systems since I plan to share files between them. For example, can I run Discord, Steam, or a browser without downloading them separately on each OS? I've heard of Wine, but I'm not sure if it's the way to go for what I'm trying to achieve. Any advice would be super helpful!
3 Answers
In general, it's better to stick with native Linux versions of apps where possible. Some programs do have Linux versions, but if you're really set on using Windows apps, Wine could be an option. Just keep in mind that the performance and compatibility might not be perfect, especially for more complex programs.
It sounds like you're overthinking it a bit! Dual booting is fine, but you're better off just using separate drives or partitions for each OS. Sharing files can be tricky since Windows and Linux use different file systems (NTFS vs ext4), and sharing apps? That's a no-go due to how they install and run. Just keep Windows around for those essential apps that don’t have Linux versions.
You can definitely run some Windows applications on Linux with Wine or other compatibility layers like Proton. It really depends on the app, though. For instance, Discord and some games generally work better through their native versions, but if you must use a Windows program, those solutions can help you get it running.
Exactly! I usually just add Windows applications as non-Steam games in Steam and let Proton handle it. It's pretty seamless.
Yeah, I found it easier to just use the Linux version of Steam. It has built-in support for many games that don't natively run on Linux.