I decided to try Linux and installed Fedora with the KDE Plasma desktop on a new laptop. The installation initially seemed smooth, but after applying a retro-style theme, my browser froze, the taskbar disappeared, and eventually the whole system became unresponsive. After restarting, it looked like the computer had returned to its initial state, as though nothing had been saved.
I then tried installing a Windows 7-style theme by following terminal instructions, but I couldn't get it to appear. After another reboot, the laptop stopped booting altogether. I noticed there may have been two Fedora boot entries, and I now suspect I might have continued using the live USB environment instead of the installation on the internal drive, or possibly installed Fedora twice.
Is this kind of instability normal for Linux? How should a beginner approach troubleshooting and customization without losing confidence in the system?
4 Answers
For a first Linux installation, keep the setup as close to default as possible. Third-party themes, extensions, and copy-pasted terminal commands can introduce problems, especially on a new desktop environment. Get the base system working, update it, and learn how applications and processes are managed before customizing it heavily. If something freezes, you can usually switch to a text console with Ctrl+Alt+F3 and investigate or reboot from there.
The behavior where everything disappears after a restart strongly suggests you were still running the live USB environment. Changes made there are usually temporary, so rebooting can bring you back to a clean session. Make sure you boot from the internal drive after installation and remove the USB when testing the installed system. Two Fedora entries could also indicate that the installer was run more than once. This is not a typical Linux experience.
Linux is different rather than automatically difficult, and the first attempt can involve a learning curve. Read the installation instructions carefully, check which disk and boot entry you're using, and avoid blindly running commands from random guides. Start with a stable default desktop and add one change at a time so you know what caused a problem. If the machine still fails after a clean install with no custom themes, run the laptop manufacturer's hardware diagnostics, especially a memory test, since faulty RAM can also cause freezes and boot failures.
This doesn't sound representative of Fedora or Linux in general. A live-session mix-up explains the apparent reset much better than the operating system deleting your files. If you want the least complicated transition, choose a beginner-friendly distribution, use its official software sources, and postpone elaborate desktop theming until the basic installation, updates, graphics drivers, and reboot process are all working reliably.
That explanation fits what happened. I may have continued using the live environment even after starting the installation, and I also noticed two Fedora entries in the boot menu. I ended up doing a clean reinstall and will verify that I'm booting from the internal drive this time.