Is there a way to just reset and do everything over like by repartitioning and installing like Fedora or Ubuntu?
Replying after your two edits. A couple of things
- Assuming you just want a working PC on hardware you are not sure works with Linux, I would try Ubuntu as a first step. The latest 26.04 LTS is up to date at the moment, and Ubuntu includes a bunch of proprietary drivers that should help not faffing around with that the first thing you do on a new install. Use the Live boot to try things out - things like network drivers should work in that environment before you install.
- Suggestions here suggest Mint or Fedora. Try the Live boot on those as well. Mint is based on a two year old Ubuntu release (24.04) and Fedora does not include non-open source drivers that might be the solution to an issue you may have.
- Zorin is also based on Ubuntu 24.04. Any driver issues you might have there has a high probability of being the same on Mint.
- You might also like to dip your toes into Bazzite. It is based on Fedora, but also includes a bunch of proprietary drivers ready to go.
Installation of apps works differently on Windows. Generally on Linux you install via the software tool that is included with your distro. Check out which one is used on the distro you choose. Sort of like the app stores on Windows or Mac but first-class citizens and without the bloat. There are exceptions to this rule (AppImages or packages not included in any distro’s repositories), but just in general use the default as far as you can. Your apps will automatically be kept up to date by the OS so there are tangible benefits.
End of the day - Linux is neither Windows or Mac. There is a learning curve, but it’s more of one getting to understand the workflows than anything being intrinsically more difficult nowadays.
Choose a distro, follow their installation guide.
Don’t forget to account for Nvidia.
My old pc (now used mainly for watching movies etc) has a nvidia card in it, the only distro I ever had issues with was debian, which is unlikely to be recommended, especially now. People really do have a bad habit of recommending non-awesome distros to newbies though, as op’s list of options shows.
I am a Debian man, and I will hear no words about it being non-awesome.
They really need to fix the Nvidia compatibility though…🤔
But it’s just so…clean in there. An empty canvas on which I can paint. So empty, in fact, that it doesn’t have Nvidia drivers. Just as Murdock intended!
This is why I love Arch. It comes with nothing installed and everything available!
I had debian installed as a back up distro on 2 computers due to it not be corrupted like fedora, and ubuntu. It installed easily on the amd system, as expected. I ended up using a script to instal it on the intel (with integrated graphics) and nvidia system. It just didn’t want to play nice.
Then debian decided to hold a vote with 20 different options… all of them including debian going ai
Now debian has gone bye-bye
You enjoy your awesome though :P
This. It’s really that easy, if you take it slow. Maybe grab a beer/soda/coffee on the way in
Each unto their own, but I would never mix those 3 together…
Beer and soda (lemonade) are the ingredients to a drink called Radler. But you shouldn’t use what Americans call soda.
Beer and lemonade = a ‘shandy’ here
Here that’s just a disgusting Corona, everyone puts lemon or some lemonade on those 🤮
Corona has its place, man. I’ve had some excellent beachy days with corona on-hand. In the right environment that (or just a Modelo) is excellent.
Fuck, now I need to try them together and see what you mean. Wish me luck.
desktop environments can be configured to appear differently, ie: taskbars (panels) can be moved to the top, bottom, side etc, but if you want an apple feel, gnome is probably your best bet.
as an example, the ubuntu default desktop environment is gnome
but you can also get:
kubuntu which uses kde plasma desktop environment
xubuntu which uses the Xfce desktop environment
lubuntu which used LXQt desktop environment
ubuntu budgie
ubuntu cinnamon
ubuntu mate
etc
The majority of distros will allow you to download an installer for a few different desktop environment versions. Some other distros let you choose the desktop environment during the installation process.
Another comment: fedora is a good distro. Mint is also good. Both are pretty straightforward, will do what you want, and are easy to work with. They are recommended a lot for good reason.
There are three main types of software.
- software installed from the distribution’s repositories
- flatpaks - which are basically sandboxed software bundled with their own dependencies
- app images - which are basically executables like a windows .exe
When looking for software, I think most people install them in that order. (Some distros are immutable and therefore 2) is often the first choice but that’s getting ahead of ourselves a bit)
Hope this helps.
In short, yes, Fedora, Ubuntu, or whatever will be able to install on your laptop just fine. Since you seem relatively new, I would suggest Mint as it is aimed at new users.
App installers, the way you are accustomed to from Windows, aren’t really a thing in Linux. Most applications are installed by your distro’s package manager. For those that aren’t, there is often a choice of either downloading a package for your distro ( debs in the case of Debian-derived distros like Ubuntu and Mint, rpms for Fedora and friends ) or using something like Flatpack. But really your package manager will handle most things you are looking for.
For an older system I’ve been very pleased with the performance of Bodhi Linux. And the UI is very customizable.
“Linux is so easy just install it”
Linux is not easy. macOS is easy. Windows is easy. Linux is a jalopy that you enjoy fixing an occasionally get working.
I have had so much more trouble with Windows than Linux.
Funny you say that.I install both from time to time. And find windows mutch more a hassel to install.
When you want a local install with windows you first have to prep the whole ISO inject a unattended.XML file before install. Sometimes that’s not enough and windows will force choose the edition requiring even more work on the ISO preparation. Linux you boot and click true to non invasive menu and it just installs.
Yes their are ways to open cmd and get a local account that way, but not all work anymore and Microsoft is slowly shutting that door.
Back when I was first trying Linux out on my parent’s PC a decade ago, I’d have agreed.
But these days it’s legitimately easy. I’ve got Mint XFCE on an ancient Toshiba from 2014, Nobara on my gaming system and Fedora on my main laptop, and all of them just work. I installed Linux and the only maintenance is updates, no fresh installs or anything, and they’re all still working years later.
I recently updated to Windows 11 on my Mum’s PC and it took me an hour and a half. She also frequently messages me to ask for support. I wish I could convince her to move to Linux too…
Yet here OP is…
OP issue with Ethernet might actually be related to Windows fast startup.
And other than that, the issue OP is facing is pretty much not knowing what to choose in a plethora of options. Installing most modern distros nowadays is pretty damn easy, specially if you’re not trying to dual boot with Windows (which is also a Windows problem, not Linux).
And installing a Linux Distro does not require you to hack your way to bypass shit like TMP2 / CPU cutoff or an account creation, which are unnecessarily imposed by MS.
You are just able to say that because you spend 100+$ on the pre-installed OS. You could also spend the same amount for an IT person to install you linux and then have a very stable time anyways. Linux doesn’t force you to update, if something breaks you don’t need to interact with it. On many distros there are system backups preconfigured, if something breaks you can roll back pretty easily. There is a trade-off, ease of use and ease of fix. Linux is way easier to use, thanks to no bloat and package manager, but slightly harder to fix when a problem occurs, because you have to interact with the system. And to be honest, the system isn’t as scary. Documentation is often enough, but if you are lazy and want the fix currated there is AI to help you.
I am the furthest thing from a Linux expert, but I installed Zorin on my T450 Lenovo and it’s working fine.
Your best bet is to rely on a minimal/baremetal install and set up the things yourself – which is as easy as “sudo apt install thingsyouneed” and “cp -r /backup/directory/* ~/.”.
There are a lot of nice people here trying to help this guy out. Nice! I lurk with great interest as this autumn changing my old laptop from win 10 to unix is my project.
Uh, at least tell us what kind of computer it is, or what the spec is like.
Windows is gone
Sounds like secureboot shinanigans. Windows just needs to be on its own total drive.
I’d just use Kubuntu. Had to fix CachyOS twice this year.
If you’re having issues with your ethernet, chances are your ethernet chip is Realtek or Broadcom. They will both work on any Linux distros, however, for most distros you’ll probably have to find alternative drivers or even kernels. If you share the controller model here, maybe some of us can help you figure our the beat path forward.
You can try:
lspci -nnk | grep -A3 -i ethernetThat should bring up the information on the PCI Ethernet controller.
older computer
What are the specs?
Is there a way to just reset and do everything over like by repartitioning and installing something like Fedora or Ubuntu?
You mean wipe everything on your HDD/SSD and install something that can make use of all of its storage capacity? That’s basically included on every distro installer.
I can’t get Ethernet or my VPN working
That’s definitely not expected behaviour.
I want to be able to download “app” “installers” like you do with PC or MacOS.
What do you mean? Is it either one of the following? (Perhaps both are fine with ya?)
- Download software from a website and install it?
- Use a app/software store application in which you can find and install apps/software? This is basically what’s found on modern phones.
What do y’all think of Zorin, should I still migrate to something more ubiquitous and longer-running?
Zorin OS should be fine~ish. The problem with asking the community is that they’re often more interested in laying out their favorites rather than what would be closest to the objectively best option 😅. If, however, your problems with ethernet persist on Zorin OS while another distro’s live ISO doesn’t have that problem, then I suppose it would only make sense to switch.
What device is it? It’s unusual for Ethernet to not work .
Pc tower
It might sound stupid, but turn off your PC, switch off the power supply, remove the power cable, wait for about 30-40 seconds, then plug the cable back, switch it on and power on your desktop.
It might be an issue caused by Windows fast startup. Even though you completely removed Windows, the power state might still be ‘hanging’ around and causing issues.
I would add “press the power button for 10 sec with everything unplugged.” That should clear any remaining power storing problematic settings. That’s about as fresh as you can get!
Yeah, but that’s like saying “blue. The kind of car I drive is blue.”
If you can get logged-in and issue an
lspciit’ll help a lot.Just take a pic of the output with your phone if you’re on the console. We’ll cope.
baby steps
It’s also one step forward and two steps back sometimes like you’ve just discovered. Lol
But if you keep at it – like you are now --you’ll be sprinting wo realizing that you are and you’ll be confused as to why it’s hard for most people to understand how or why or even that it exists.
Everyone else already hit on the advice I came to write on your post so this was the only thing left I had to share. 😛
Thats why I asked here before I entertain proceeding ;) All part of the plan, babe
I started doing the same thing but then Lemmy told me to give up on my dreams. Lol
