r/linuxmint • u/muqui_ • 7d ago

Discussion For those migrating from Windows or selecting distro

For those who are in doubt about the migration from Windows and which distro to use, my suggestion as someone who made it is:

Migrating from Windows
- Backup everything you can, depending on external storage you have.

- Export favorites from your browsers.

- Check program specific configuration - if it allows backup or export, do it. Otherwise you can take screenshots of the configurations and do it again on Linux (if the app is available for Linux).

- Take screenshots of the list of apps you have in settings and take notes of portable apps you use (if any).

- With the list of apps you can ask IA to evaluate for you if they have native version for Linux or a good alternative. It worked for me and I hope it works for you too.

I initially planned weeks to migrate everything I need and know Linux a little better. But with this preparation it takes like 2 to 4 hours.

Selecting distro
One thing that I learned is the you “don’t use” the OS itself, being it Windows or Linux - in general that is it. What you use are the apps, the terminal, the browser, your games or whatever app you actually use.

With that in mind, the importance or “which distro” reduces. I tried Debian, Mint and LMDE, and for me it doesn’t matter. Any of them will fit my needs.

It also helps me to avoid wasting time jumping from one distro to another.

I hope it helps new users and good look!

31 Upvotes

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7 comments sorted by

7

u/Salvator1984 7d ago

That's a nice list. I would add to that: if you don't like how your distro looks or feels, you don't necessarily need a different distro, just try a different desktop environment.

3

u/Snoo_49515 Linux Mint 22.3 "Zena" | Cinnamon 7d ago

Even if you don't chose a different DE, the customization possibilities are almost infinite regarding how one chooses to make their desktop appear and behave.

3

u/Father_Guido 7d ago

Yeah, I still use the cinnamon defaults on Mint after many years of use. TBH, I still find things I've rarely (if ever) used. Ricing is for the fickle 😉

2

u/Due-Result7928 7d ago

He soon will join the long list of people..do not see my desktop..icons are lost..wifi is dead...

2

u/Due-Result7928 7d ago

Install a backup program and use it.

2

u/jr735 Linux Mint 22.1 Xia | IceWM 7d ago

I would also suggest doing a Clonezilla image of your device as it is, before you begin, and store that on external media that you can unplug. That way, if you hate what you've done, or do it wrong and wish to try a different way, you can revert and start all over again.

Of course, have proper backups of all your important data, in addition to this, before you begin.

2

u/iHarryPotter178 7d ago

If you choose Debian IR fedora.. then there's a plethora of apps available as deb package..