Posted on 10/14/2025 10:46:58 AM PDT by ShadowAce
I can still remember when I decided to install Linux on my very first computer (a Pentium 75). I'd been using Windows 95 and found myself more frustrated than not. I was experiencing constant blue screens of death, couldn't make the OS behave how I wanted, the software was expensive, and I hated the way it looked.
So, I installed Linux over Windows, and the rest is history. I've been using Linux as my operating system of choice since then, and I haven't regretted it one bit.
Also: You can try Linux without ditching Windows first - here's how
If you're starting to get frustrated with Windows, I think I have five reasons that might help you decide.
This might be something you've not really considered during a time when everything seems to require an account. Microsoft is taking this one step further with Windows, as it has announced that it's removing the last remaining workaround for creating a local account during setup. What that means is, when you first set up Windows 11 Home, you must use a Microsoft account. On Windows 11 Pro, it's still the default, but you can easily bypass it with a workaround.
To be clear, you can switch to a local account after setup is complete. You don't have to keep using a Microsoft account to sign in every time you want to log into Windows. Microsoft's own post specifies it's only removing known methods for creating a local account during the setup process (the OOBE phase), not after the OS is running.
To me, that's still a privacy red flag. It's interesting that this is happening around the same time support ends for Windows 10 (an OS that allows local accounts from the start). Why does this bother me? Encouraging you to log into a Microsoft account means the company can create a profile of you so it can push targeted ads to the OS and pester you to use more (paid) Microsoft services.
For anyone who values privacy, this is not a positive step forward. Linux, on the other hand, will always allow for local account creation, so you don't have to worry about your information being saved on a third-party server.
Today's the day. October 14 -- the moment support ended for Windows 10. It happens with every operating system, but when it does, you'd like to think the next iteration will be an improvement over what you've been using. The biggest issue with the upgrade is that many computers running Windows 10 do not support Windows 11. That means, if you want to keep using a supported OS (never use an unsupported one), you'll have to purchase a new computer.
Also: 7 things every Linux beginner should know before downloading their first distro
Or, you can install Linux over Windows 10 (after backing up your data) and experience superior performance, even on that aging machine. Even better, you can go with a Long Term Support distribution and know that in four or five years (when support ends), you can simply upgrade to the next LTS and keep going. It's a rare occasion that a Linux distribution's system requirements change from one iteration to another. Even when those requirements do change, it's incremental. Even so, if you find out your distribution of choice can no longer run on that older PC, you can always switch to a lightweight distribution, and you're good to go.
“Linux is flexible. Windows is not.”
If that were true then why doesn’t all the software I run work on Linux?
i shut down often- several times aday- so it’s happened a few times- not often though- didn’t know what was wrong when it first happened- thought the computer just locked up and would’t do anything- almost pressed the power button, decided to just wait and see what happened- glad i did- it didn’t take long to get it to respond to shut down again-
The nextcloud guys would disagree.
I’m just sharing that Clem is right. Snap does give them a backdoor and root... That is NO GOOD EVER. One of the reasons we use Linux is to prevent these kind of security issues.
bkmk
I think it is talking about access to the opensource code and even the kernel. You can literally go and edit everything in there if you like. You can’t do this with Windows... It is actually yours not Microsoft’s.
That said, there are still programs that require a Windows O/S to operate; Acrobat, Photoshop, Office, etc that many folks can't do without. And while there are comparable programs that can semi-replace those in Linux, they aren't as robust.
If a way could be made to run Windows programs in Linux without the need for virtual software, then I truly believe more and more people would gladly make the switch. Problem is, such reliable software technology is lacking. Sure, there is Bottles, Wine, and now something called WinApps, but they still do not work, "reliably."
Thoughts?
Good point. I haven’t used Snap packages, but now I’ll definitely stay away from them.
I agree, and I hope the makers of the various Linux distributions make a major push to try and garner a larger portion of the operating system market.
That said, there are still programs that require a Windows O/S to operate; Acrobat, Photoshop, Office, etc that many folks can't do without. And while there are comparable programs that can semi-replace those in Linux, they aren't as robust.
If a way could be made to run Windows programs in Linux without the need for virtual software, then I truly believe more and more people would gladly make the switch. Problem is, such reliable software technology is lacking. Sure, there is Bottles, Wine, and now something called WinApps, but they still do not work, "reliably."
Thoughts?
[[That said, there are still programs that require a Windows O/S to operate; Acrobat, Photoshop, Office, etc that many folks can’t do without. And while there are comparable programs that can semi-replace those in Linux, they aren’t as robust. ]]
I have a digital paint program that is windows onky and nothing else even co es close to it. It’s called Rebelle. It needs a bunch of gpu horsepower. I have another program called OnOne for my photography that needs a lot of gpu power, and it has no rival 8n linux software. Plus i do use photoshop, which can sort of run in a vietual machine, but it too really needs a good gpu to run well.
Those 3 programs are the onky thing ho,ding me back from going full linux. I 9nky use them occasionally these days, and use linux about 98% of the time, but when o do,need them, they are there. Unfortunateky they require windows 20 or 11 to run, otherwise id put windows 7 back on and keep it off th3 internet, and just use it with the software.
I agree with your statement about the lack of ability of wine, winapps etx. Linux just isnt ready to take,over and run windows programs that need gpu power.
It had made great progress on the games front though with steam. I can run all kinds of windows games very well on linux.
Bfl
I started my journey with Slackware floppies downloaded over a 56k baud modem, and sadly discovered early on that ‘talking someone into linux’ is a fool’s errand. You just have to hold your nose and jump.
I haven’t tried it yet, but there is a new one someone else shared here just a while back. Winboat.
Here is the deal. Those software companies know that folks are addicted to their apps. So Windows made a deal with them to never port them to Linux. Windows is paying them not to. They are using the users addiction against them. If folks just say no, get Linux, and make a sacrifice to use a slightly less “robust” of an alternative made for Linux all those apps will indeed be forced to port their software to Linux too. We have to build a new market and force them to come be part of it. And when there is more interest in Linux the Linux App Developers will take the time to polish up their Apps and make them better too.
You might like to install Linux Mint on a Win computer and have the option to run either, every time you boot up.
Down load Linux Mint into a temporary file in Win10. Now right click the downloaded file and select “Make an ISO bootable device.” Save to a thumb drive. Turn off LT and restart with the thumb drive inserted. When it first lights up, go into boot device sequence, (usually F12). Select USB as the first device to boot. Press enter and Linux will start, in about a minute, and ask if you want to run Linux from the thumb drive or install next to Win10. I suggest you install next to Win10, so when you start the LT, you will get the option to run either Win or Linux. Win will not be changed at all.
Once installed I suggest you turn off WIFI in Win. Just use Win to do things that don’t require the net. Use Linux Mint as your everyday computer. After about a week you will thank me.
In Mint you can still see the Win files and run most of them.You can even run .doc and old Works WDB.wdb files in Libre, which is installed with Mint.
Linux is void of all the windows junk that you hate.
Windows 11 has a problem with copy and paste not working reliably and has for years from searches I have done about how to fix.
Microsoft fix is to restart the computer....
Never mind all your files and programs that are open and the delay in re-opening after a restart.
They never fix issues like this. It was working in prior versions but not Windows 11.
I was skimming through all of the posts in the thread trying to see what I could pick up this morning. It is interesting to me how so many people have been able to float along for years using personal computers without ever really bothering to learn even the most basic concepts. I am not the most knowledgeable person here, but I was fooling around with a digital electronics kit that was given to me by my 5th grade teacher around 1971 to keep me from being bored and causing problems in class. In college my work study job was helping other students with their assignments and maintaining the computers in the computer lab. And I still maintain a large collection of vintage home computers, so I have picked up a few things over the past few decades.
As ansel12 noted in post 6, “I just did the 1 more year thing by signing into my microsoft account and getting the one year free update extension on five laptops.”
Personally, I “upgraded” 20 PCs for myself, friends, and family to Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 LTSC months ago which will receive security updates until 2032, long after most of them will be considered useful. The Windows 10 End of Life event is mostly hype intended to sell more hardware and software. It is not going to cause much trauma unless users do nothing which will likely be the case for the majority.
Those who are in the majority who just float along as usual will likely find that financial institutions and others will soon not allow them to log in without jumping through more hoops if they are using an insecure browser in an insecure operating system. And if they like to visit sites that are somewhat questionable, for kicks or free stuff they will be easy marks for malcontents if they take no precautions.
I assume we will continue seeing an increase in people complaining about various problems caused by malware and having their info and more substantial assets stollen through electronic means.
Of course, the easiest way to deal with this for most is to just purchase hardware that comes with Windows 11 preinstalled. Because I am a hardware hoarder, my wife and I already have several machined that came with Windows 11 installed, two laptops and three mini-PCS. The first two mini-PCs cost just $119 a piece and are capable machines that both came with 3rd generation AMD Ryzen processors. My primary laptop that I am currently keying in this post with is an approximately 7-year-old HP Envy x360 that is one of those I “upgraded” to Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 LTSC.
I have a rudimentary “home lab” set up with several servers based on 5 mini-PCs with each performing various useful tasks without using a lot of electricity. All of these machines use both Windows or Linux depending on what they are being used for on any given day. The two types of operating systems each have their own plusses and minuses. For most types of server uses Linux beats out Windows. But, I have found virtual machines and docker containers to be a bit easier to run in Windows 10 or 11 because of the GUI (graphical interface) and other reasons. And actually, Windows Subsystem for Linux is quite easy to use as well.
Of course, you can go the other way and run Windows applications on Linux machines as well, but usually running Windows applications is just easier on an actual Windows machine. But I am getting a little sidetracked in my meandering here. One of the best thing about Linux for most people is that it typically forces them to stop floating along in the computer world and actually learn a little something about the ins and outs of computers.
But from what I have seen the primary beneficiary of all of Microsoft’s semi-transparent efforts to get more of your money and information is actually Apple. In the past couple of years Apple personal computers have been steadily gaining market share. Apple has always catered to those who are willing to spend big bucks to avoid getting bogged down trying to figure out how to get their computers to do what they want them to. Most older people and most young people don’t really want to fart around figuring out the ins and outs of their computers. But I have to admit that every time Apple’s little mini-PC has gone on sale at Costco this year I have been just so tempted. https://www.costco.com/p/-/mac-mini-desktop-computer-apple-m4-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-10-core-cpu-10-core-gpu-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-storage/4000225148. One of my best friends bought one and he just loves it.
There are unimaginable amounts of money tied up in computer products companies these days. As of October 15, 2025 the three most valuable companies in the world are... Largely because of AI, NVIDIA currently holds the top spot with a market cap of $4.37 trillion, followed by Microsoft at $3.85 trillion, while Apple ranks third at $3.51 trillion.
The primary suppliers of CPUs are way down the list of the most valuable companies. “Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has a market capitalization of $353.92 billion USD, ranking it as the 30th most valuable company globally. Intel Corporation (INTC) has a market capitalization of $173.35 billion USD, placing it 103rd in global rankings.” From Grok4.
To be honest despite having had PCs running Windows 11 since the day it was released... I had not noticed this problem. Looking this up after you mentioned it. So, I asked the Grok4 AI model in Perplexity.ai. It had a few suggestions that might be somewhat helpful to you.
“The clipboard in Windows 11 can lock up due to conflicts with background applications, such as video players or resource-heavy programs like Adobe software, leading to inconsistent behavior during sessions. System updates, including the 24H2 release, have introduced specific bugs where clipboard history appears blank or stops syncing across devices, exacerbating reliability issues.” I still prefer Windows 10 on my primary laptop so that is probably why I had not noticed. More info here:
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/windows-11-has-a-problem-with-dygLG4TBTPOa10K3wszOUw#0
Interesting. I never knew that, and it makes sense. But darn it all, all this wheeling and dealing doesn’t benefit the end user. I guess they know that, though.....
“ Most average users will never even need the Comandline Terminal. It is all point and click, Drag and Drop.”
I recently bought an old Dell Latitude to build as a cheap sitting out in the shop laptop to run Linux on.
Probably it’s just the learning curve but in order to load a Brave browser onto Mint, I had to cut and paste a script into command line in order to install it.
I like Linux but apparently I must be doing something wrong based upon your comment.
#77 thanks, I installed Windows 11 in a VirtualBox window and the issue showed up right away.
Many many steps the article listed as fixes that are only temporary.
https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/solved-copy-and-paste-not-working/
You would think Microsoft would fix such an big issue.
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