I've just flashed Linux Mint onto a USB and I'm planning to switch over from Windows. However, my Internet is painfully slow, and I want to avoid spending weeks downloading my entire game library again. My main use will be Discord, Firefox, an eBook library manager, and gaming on Linux. I realize I'll need a virtual machine for games not compatible with Linux. Any suggestions or advice on how to handle this transition? Here are my hardware specs: CPU - Ryzen 5 5500, GPU - Radeon RX 5700 (non-xt), Mobo - ASRock b450m Steel Legend, RAM - 32GB DDR4, Drives - 1 HDD, 1 SSD, 2 M.2 NVME.
5 Answers
Before you make the switch, check out some migration resources online! They provide tips and tricks for people moving from Windows to Linux. Also, it’s typically best to redownload games directly for compatibility, but if you have install images, you can access them from your Windows partition and install using Wine or Proton.
For your eBook library manager, check out Calibre – it works great on Linux. I’ve been using it on Windows and it’s definitely supported on Linux too, so you're good to go there!
If you're worried about performance in a VM, consider getting a cheap SSD for Linux or setting up dual boot. You can find 512GB SSDs for around $35. Just create an EFI partition for flexibility to avoid issues with your Windows system, and you'll be set up nicely!
You can use Steam's backup/restore feature! Just back up your game files to a USB drive, and then restore them on your Linux system. It does take some time, but it's reliable. Alternatively, if you have a backup PC, you can set it up as a Steam server. Install your games there first and then share them across your network to avoid redownloading everything.
I don’t have a spare system for that right now, but that’s a great idea for later. Thanks!
Keep in mind, NTFS can be slow on Linux. If you have extra space, you could format a drive to EXT4 and transfer your game files there. Steam can verify them if you point to the right location. Just be aware that some games might not run well on a VM because of anti-cheat software.
Thanks for the heads up! I might end up keeping a small partition just for Windows games if the VM doesn’t work.
Good to know! I’ll definitely switch to Calibre once I’m on Linux.