I'm trying to figure out which file types are compatible with Linux before I make the switch. I have an external hard drive filled with various files like mp4, mkv, mp3, flac, jpeg, png, and several others. Will these work on Linux without needing conversion? Also, what about documents created in MS Word or Notepad? Can I open those with LibreOffice, or will there be issues? I understand that Windows programs typically need a compatibility layer to run, but I'm unsure about the compatibility of these files. Lastly, will my external HDDs work with Linux as they are, or do they need to be reformatted? I'm considering Linux Mint as I've heard it's good for beginners. Thanks for any help!
3 Answers
Yes, file extensions work the same way in Linux as they do in Windows. They're just labels, and you can open an .mp4 file in an appropriate player as long as it's not an application file. You can also experiment, but maybe avoid renaming files randomly unless you’re sure of what you're doing! More importantly, your external HDDs should plug and play without any hitch; they usually work fine if they're formatted in FAT32 or NTFS. No need for reformatting unless you're looking to switch things up.
Absolutely, Linux supports all those file types as long as they're not proprietary like M4P or specific application project files. You might need to install some extra codecs beyond what comes with your distro, but getting VLC takes care of that pretty easily!
Yep, those file types should work! Just make sure you install VLC player to handle your media files, and images will open in the built-in viewers. As for your documents, you can use the web version of Office 365 for a hassle-free way to view your Word documents without worrying about formatting issues in LibreOffice. Your external HDDs should be fine too; they typically mount just like in Windows, so no reformatting should be needed unless you run into special cases.

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