I'm gearing up to switch from Windows 11 to Linux Mint as my primary OS. I've set up a second SSD and installed Windows 11 there as a dual-boot option, but I plan to erase my current SSD and install Linux Mint. I've managed to compile a list of my apps; about 70% are accounted for, with a few alternatives noted (many are FOSS). I'm feeling a bit nervous but excited about this change after using Windows since the 3.1 days. I just want to know, are there any common pitfalls or 'gotchas' I should be aware of before making this transition? For instance, would it be helpful to generate a hardware list from Windows to assist in finding the right drivers? I'm also curious if the Linux Mint OOBE will automatically detect drivers for my Nvidia graphics card, USB ports, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Any tips, even the most basic ones, would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
When you're partitioning during the install, double-check where you're telling Mint to install its files—it's easy to accidentally overwrite something critical. Don't rely on Windows drive labels; they won't help during installation. It's best to unplug any extra drives you don't need at that moment just to minimize mistakes. Also, your user account on Linux won't have the same admin privileges as you might be used to from Windows, but you can use `sudo` to borrow root permissions when needed. As a backup, make sure to set a root password as well. Overall, it sounds like you've prepared well, and transitioning to Linux shouldn't be too daunting!
Thanks for the reassurance! I'm torn between completely wiping Windows or trying out a dual-boot with Linux first. Since I have a second SSD ready, I might just go all in and erase the old one. I'm a bit new to 'sudo' but I've looked into password managers to keep my login info safe.
And don't forget to back everything up before you start! Having an external backup not connected during the process is a smart move. You could even do a Clonezilla image of your Windows system just in case things go sideways during the installation. Drive labels can get tricky, so pay close attention to how drives are presented during setup.