I am about to build a new PC, as the old one is sitting in a 10 year old tower, MB and chipset.
Instead of going with a Windows project, how to build one based on Linux, and how hard it will be to migrate files, browser links etc to the new one.
Am I crazy? I am simply tired of of throwing money at Gates, as I will have to pay for Windows 10 Pro, which will go away someday, or I will have to pay again if my hard drive takes a dump.
Any tips? Links to helpful instruction? I have built PC’s before, but never without using a Windows system to run the processor.
Here’s a few links the first one explains lots, the second one your on your own lol...
https://www.dedoimedo.com/linux.html
https://archive.org/details/software
Linux Mint Cinnamon all the way.
I use Mint with Mate DE. It works for me.
Linux Lite is another one for a beginner.
And let’s not forget Peppermint 10. I use that for my WFH OS.
Once you start doing it you will be hooked!
You are not at all crazy, and it will be one of the wisest things you could ever do to make the move away from MS. Never too soon. I did it almost 5 years ago now and immediately realized I should have done it even sooner. And it’s free and easy...
1. Use BIOS to detect the new drive of course because it is all new hardware.
2. Set BIOS to UEFI boot and set the boot order to USB first.
3 On a Windows machine use “Rufus” to make a Linux ISO USB stick.
4. Boot into the Linux stick on the new machine and install.
5. Using the Update manager bring all the programs in the system up to date.
6. Using the driver manager have it check the system for any suggested new drivers, such as video drivers.
After Linux is installed it will let you move and folders and files you like from of another machine to any USB stick, and from any USB stick into the folders in linux. Everything is compatible, even the MS .doc files if you have Libreoffice suite in your Linux distribution.
I highly highly recommend Mint Cinnamon as the best and easiest to use full featured turnkey package. It comes with just about every GUI program you are going to need all boxed with it ready to go. You will rarely need to use the Terminal interface with this Distro. Other than labels to interpret, it functions and feels like Win 7 and understandable immediately. You will be pleasantly surprised at how familiar it is right out of the box.