I’m going over tutorials for installing duel booting Linux Mint next to Windows 10 ioT Enterprise LTSC right now (guaranteed updates until 2032).
Was going to clean install over the computer’s drive (easiest way) but found that you can trick your current version of Windows 10 into thinking it’s getting a regular update through a few registry tweaks - thus replacing Home or Pro with LTSC while retaining all personal files, bookmarks and installed programs; bypassing having to reinstall all that stuff.
Fortunately I have a 15-year-old computer to goof up on before trying it on the newer one. Whichever way works best is way better than giving in to Redmond’s spyware posing as an operating system.
Switch Windows 10 to LTSC Without Losing Data
Whatever one does always make physical back-ups first. That little internet outage the other day was a good reminder of how dependable "the Cloud" really is.
“I’m going over tutorials for installing duel booting Linux Mint next to Windows 10 ioT Enterprise LTSC right now (guaranteed updates until 2032).”
“Mint Cinnamon” is the go to for a first time user. I have been using Linux for ten years now and have test driven just about all of the best major players. It operates almost like Windows 7. If you have used Win 7 you will be able to fly right away.
1. First download and install a program called “Rufus”.
It is the top option: rufus-4.11.exe
2. Download the Mint Cinnamon .iso file from the Mint site. The “James Madison University” Mirror source is known to be a clean download.
https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=322
3. Insert a USB stick that is empty or that you do not mind being wiped clean of current data.
4. Start Rufus and go select the Mint .iso from your downloads. It should autodetect the USB stick as the destination for the .iso to be installed, MAKE SURE THE TARGET DRIVE “IS” THE USB STICK!. The default settings in Rufus are all fine. Just answer yes to any options it asks and then select create.
(* Default Rufus settings are fine for just test driving Linux. But it will not remember any changes you make, it will revert back to default when shut down. But you can make it have “persistent storage” with with Rufus per these instructions:
https://thelinuxcode.com/rufus-persistent-storage-debian-live-usb/
5. When done close Rufus and power your computer off.
Now here is where the only challenge can arise. You now have to make the computer boot from that external Linux stick. There should be no problems doing this. But on some computers Windows has locked out the ability to see that external Operation System and so it will not boot from it. So there is a process of elimination that has to be done sometimes. But 9 times out of 10 the following does indeed work...
6. With the Linux stick inserted power on your Computer, stay right there and be ready to hit the key that will give you your boot options for that computer make. When the Manufacturer’s logo comes up tap that key. Depending on make it might be the Esc key. F2 key, F9 key, or on a Dell it is the F12/Star key. Select the USB as the boot option.
7. Be patient because the screen may go Black a few times as the Linux boots up. And from a stick it is a bit slower to do this.
8. If it does not boot from the stick as it should then there will need to be some configuration in the bios that needs to be done. That can be addressed later as a separate issue.
But it should Boot for you if you did everything above step by step. Now you will be in Linux and running from off the stick completely isolated from your internal drive and Windows. It should auto detect your internet connection and you will have to put in your password to access your internet source. Bottom right in the same place it is in Windows 7.
It will tell you when it makes the connection. Then you can use the Firefox browser to access the net if you like and check out all the stuff it comes with and what can be done with it. Basically you are in test drive mode. But nothing can be installed, and while you can make temporary changes they will be forgotten and it will go back to default when you shut down.
Run it for awhile from off the stick when you have extra time and check it out, Go explore and discover what the apps are and what they do, go look at the System Settings and how they work. Then after you feel comfortable with it then you can install it if you like. There are two options, wipe the drive completely and install only the Linux, or you can install it “Along Side” (Dual Boot) the existing windows and have both. Although I have NEVER had a Mint dual boot install fail, you might want to back up your existing important stuff first in case.
The installer will do all of the partitioning and disk work for you during the install. So no need to worry about complicated partitioning and disk preparation first, it does it all for you. Just take your time and read the options well as you step through it. Just one note when it asks you if you want to “unmount” the target drive agree.