Hey everyone! I'm new to Linux and looking to switch from Windows 11, which has been really frustrating lately. I currently use Linux Mint on my laptop for network tasks in my homelab, and I'm trying to install Cachy OS on my gaming PC. The installation went smoothly, but after updating the OS and drivers, I'm stuck at a permanent loading screen when I try to boot into Cachy OS. Safe mode worked for a little while, but now that's broken too. I think it's an issue with the graphics driver that was installed.
I also have a troubling situation with my Windows drive. I installed Cachy OS on a separate drive, but I can't boot into Windows anymore—although the drive is still visible in my Linux file explorer. It seems like the Windows boot file got deleted during the Linux installation. I managed to create a Windows recovery USB and restore the boot file, which allowed me to boot into Windows again and fix the boot menu.
Right now, I'm hesitant to boot into Linux again because I don't want to mess up my boot manager any further. Does anyone have tips on how to resolve the endless loading screen and manage dual booting more smoothly? I really want to dive into Linux but it's been more complex than I anticipated. Surely, there's an easier way to handle this? Any guides or advice would be super helpful!
1 Answer
First off, it sounds like your BIOS settings might need some tweaking. You could try resetting BIOS to the default settings and then booting into Windows. Once you've got that running, enable CSM, disable secure boot, and set your Linux bootloader as the default. Following the dual boot wiki can also help clear things up! Don't worry, many folks face similar bumps in the road when switching OS.
But this does seem pretty complex for folks just trying to make the switch. Is there a way we can simplify this process for new users?