I've never used Linux before, but I'm eager to make the switch since I'm not thrilled with how Windows is evolving. I'm really overwhelmed with questions as I have no idea where to start, especially regarding which distribution to pick.
I mainly use my PC for browsing, playing video games, and making video calls on Discord. What's the best distro for these activities? I heard SteamOS is appealing given the upcoming Steam Machine, but I'm not sure how to compare it with other distros.
What's the recommended way to transition? I see a lot of folks suggesting booting from a USB stick. Would I be able to keep my Windows OS and just use the USB as my boot option? What size should the USB drive be? Is it advisable to remove Windows later and go with Linux as my only OS, or is that too risky?
I have four hard drives: two 500GB drives (one with Windows and another with old pictures) and two 2TB drives for my games and other files. Will Linux recognize and use all of them, or will I need to set something up for them to function?
What about my games? Most of them are on Steam. Will I need to reinstall everything, or will they work on Linux since Valve mentioned many games should run on it? Also, how do I handle hardware drivers for my mouse, keyboard, camera, headset, and dual monitors? Could some of these not function initially?
Lastly, my GPU is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super. Should I expect any issues with that? I do plan to switch to AMD next year if all goes well.
1 Answer
For a smooth transition, I suggest dual booting. This way, you'll have the option to select either Windows or Linux when starting your computer. You can easily install Linux on a separate hard drive or part of one. Personally, I recommend starting with Linux Mint since it has a user-friendly interface similar to Windows, making it great for beginners. But don't rush; experiment until you find the distro you really like!
Totally agree! I did the same thing earlier this year, and it was pretty hassle-free. One tip: if you run into any terminal issues, AI tools like GPT can help solve about 90% of beginner problems.