Ask HN: Windows 11 Update Fail – Linux Distro Suggestions? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Windows 11 Update Fail – Linux Distro Suggestions?

4 pointsgiardini7 comments

Friend bought a Windows 11 refurbished at GoodWill and after a year of working OK a Windows 11 updates bricked the PC.

1. Could you suggest Linux distros easy for a Windows users to move to?

2. Is there a Linux distro that would allow me to regain access to the Windows 11 files/filesystem in-place?

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Windows worked for a full year? Oh wow.

My two cents: 1. Manjaro with Plasma, 2. Most distros can access ntfs.

You say "easy" so you probably never used anything Linux related.

If possible, try to get help from someone you know who uses Linux.

If not, spend a few days learning the Linux filesystem and commands. Get the software you need, use AI to get help and ask what software you use on Windows if there is the same or close on Linux, and how to install that on Manjaro for example.

So, what do you want to do on the pc?

Thank you for the suggestions.

She (my friend) uses:

- a browser (Edge or Chrome),

- Google Sheets,

- MS NotePad, and

- MS Paintbrush.

The only other idiosyncrasy is that she backs up to a variety of flash drives: old stuff on old drive, newer stuff on newer drives, etc.

Perfect. Google Sheets works on Chrome browsers so you can install Chrome.

MS Notepad and PaintBrush do not exist on Linux. Alternatives are GIMP, Krita or Paintbrush.

Since Notepad is very simple, you have Mousepad, Gedit and many more. I would install also LibreOffice and use Writer. Also take a look at Calc that is like Sheets.

Linux has everything you need.

Oh, you should access the Windows hard disk with the file explorer you have on LinuxMint or Manjaro. They both include ntfs-3g that is the program that can read ntfs filesystems.

As a complete linux beginner I would suggest something like:

Linux mint XFCE or Linux mint Cinnamon

A Linux distro will allow you to access the files on your windows partition when you boot into the live usb. back up or move your files to an external drive while logged in the live usb before you install the new distro.

download linux mint xfce or linux mint Cinnamon here:

you will see Cinnamon Edition, Xfce Edition, MATE Edition. Xfce, Cinnamon, and MATE are just different desktops.

https://linuxmint.com/download.php

here is a decent installation guide

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/lates...

I have been a linux user for 20 years

enjoy the freedom of linux

good luck

dont use any ai to do anything. I dont understand why anyone would recommend using ai for a linux beginner!

just enjoy the distro and use your search engine or linux mint forums to get ay support.

My suggestion is for him to write "I have Manjaro installed, how do i update the system?" but Manjaro also includes an updater. "How I install on Linux Mint the GIMP program for photo editing?" these are examples. Since it is very diferent from Windows where you have to go to a website and download some installer, you do have to learn how to use Linux and ChatGPT or Perplexity will help him.

I don't recommend Linux Mint just because it is Ubuntu based and I don't like Ubuntu. I would rather install Debian and put XFCE4 than any Ubuntu derivative.

I started to replace Windows with Linux full time, a few years ago.

I personally still think Kubuntu or Xubuntu is the way to go, granted it is a bit of an 'easy' answer. Here are some of my reasons.

1. Manjaro is decent but every arch distro being a more rolling release, tends to encourage keeping it up to date all the time. Debian based distros are still periodic releases. I could go into detail why I believe this is ultimately easier to deal with, some other time.

2. Debian is great and has a ton of good reasons to use/support it. That said the package system seems a bit cluttered in a way. I always found it easier to deal with installing packages on Ubuntu based distros. They both ultimately use the same deb/apt based system but Ubuntu seems to implement it in a way that is cleaner.

3. Sort of related to the last point. Deb files just seem like the easiest package system to deal with, in Linux land. RPM being a close second. App images even more so but those are not as wide-spread.

4. Debian based distros are also the easiest to modify the ISOs/installers of. Using a tool like Cubic, for example. One could create a modified version to be installed without much trouble.

I usually spin up a modified Kubuntu with Wine, Kolourpaint and other Windowsy stuff, as well as remove a bunch of stuff I have no need for.

In terms of the apps you listed, a quick and dirty list of equivalents:

MS Paint - Kolourpaint (This one is VERY similar.)

MS Notepad - Mousepad (Pretty basic text editor a la Notepad.)

or Kwrite (Stylistically fits in with KDE better and has some very nice features I miss with other programs.)

Google Sheets - Probably continue using Sheets. Otherwise, Only Office or Libre Office.

Edge/Chrome - Could continue using these just fine. Though I would like to suggest Librewolf or Vivaldi as alternatives with much less BS.

Backup stuff - I use Timeshift to back up my install. You could use this for other stuff too but there are probably better drive sync options. The name of some escapes me at the moment but I could look into it.

I would be happy to go into things in more detail, or even help directly over some form of messaging, but I don't have much time today. If you might be interested, just reply here or not, I guess. I could help more next week.

PS, as others have said, Linux Mint is great too. It's based on Ubuntu, so pretty much everything about Ubuntu applies.

(Edited for formatting.)

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