Windows costs coin. Linux is complimentary. Every year, thousands of people consider switching to Linux, just few make the change permanent. It isn't merely because of apps, games, and a different file organization.

Information technology's because they weren't properly prepared for switching operating systems. Moving to Linux isn't difficult, simply information technology requires preparation. Become information technology wrong, and you'll be reinstalling – and putting upward with – Windows all over again. But get it right, and you'll never look back.

Hither's everything you lot need to know near switching from Windows to Linux without ever worrying about going back.

Take the Time to Prepare

Earlier you start your switch, consider how you lot currently use your computer and your expectations going frontward. Is your computing experience limited to online shopping, e-mail, and social networking? Practise you lot employ information technology for work purposes and require office software?

Perhaps you have creative requirements, such every bit multimedia editing, or adopt to play games on your calculator.

Whatever the case, a Linux operating system can handle all of these uses. The departure is, you might need some different software.

Before you become to that phase, yet, be aware that the estimator you lot're planning to install Linux will non become more powerful than it is running Windows. Hardware limits will e'er apply.

Find a Linux Operating System Y'all Like

The adjacent thing to practice is identify a Linux operating system that you can use long-term.

Many Linux operating systems are available, probably around 500 in active development, with many more that have been retired or have a slower release cycle.

Linux Elementary OS
Prototype Credit: Ilikeasking/Wikipedia

With this in mind, it is important to exist aware that in that location are some differences between Linux OSs. The three main distributions (Linux operating organisation variants, known equally "distros") – Red Hat, Slackware, and Debian – accept each borne hundreds of Linux versions, all with different desktop environments, file managers, software installers, and much more. This flexibility is inherent in Linux, which is why information technology is relied on for everything from running web servers to space programs.

But there is no need to be confused past the pick. Several distros are particularly suited to anyone switching from Windows to Linux.

Install a Linux Os and Spend Some Time With Information technology

Y'all're at present ready to effort Linux out. This might be washed by installing the OS on a second computer, or in a virtual machine.

You might install Linux alongside Windows on your reckoner so that you can choose which operating system to boot. All the same, while useful, this solution is fraught with frustration and is decumbent to neglect when Windows (or Linux) updates are applied.

The idea here is to detect the Linux Bone you can piece of work with, get to grips with it, and be fix to employ it when the fourth dimension comes.

Install the Software You Need to Use

You lot've chosen your operating organization and are familiar with it. The side by side job is to install the correct software.

This will depend wholly on how you lot plan to use Linux, just as it would with Windows, or macOS. The difference is that at that place volition be some software that isn't available on Linux, so you lot'll have to identify alternatives.

All manner of software has a Linux compatible version, from productivity and function software to browsers and email clients.

If you're into gaming, a big chunk of titles on the Steam platform can run in Linux. Furthermore, some of those that won't run by default are being augmented so that they will.

But don't worry unduly. Similar any operating system (for example, Chrome Bone, itself derived from Linux), y'all tin wait a whole host of congenital-in, pre-installed software. Much of this should be perfect for what yous demand, and you tin expect adept compatibility with files you previously used.

Have Some Wine

If you lot absolutely need Windows software to run on Linux, then Vino and PlayOnLinux are the solutions yous demand.

Using Microsoft Word in a browser on Ubuntu

Installing Wine on Linux adds compatibility to Windows software, enabling it to run on Linux. Your intended application might be an fine art package, video game, or fifty-fifty Microsoft Office.

Wine and PlayOnLinux can besides be used to run games not intended for Linux.

Use the Same Browser

As a large chunk of the work yous do is probably dependent on a web browser, there should be almost no difference doing this on Linux.

Google Chrome, the open source alternative Chromium, Mozilla Firefox, and many other web browsers are available on Linux operating systems.

If y'all browse the spider web with a user account, this will sync your history, bookmarks, and passwords from your Windows operating organisation to your Linux OS.

It's seamless!

Sync Your Files and Folders to the Cloud

One of the principal problems with transferring to a new computer or device is the location of your files. This is just every bit true when changing to a new operating system.

Moving your vital files and folders from Windows to your chosen Linux distribution is important for a seamless transition. But what is the best fashion to practice this?

run Dropbox on Ubuntu

If yous adopt a hands-on solution, a USB hard disk drive will make light piece of work of copying your data. It should be straightforward to connect it to your Linux estimator and re-create the files from it. This is useful if you lot're planning to uninstall Windows and replace it with Linux, rather than moving to a new figurer.

The best solution, all the same, is to use a deject storage solution. For this to work, you'll need a cloud storage service that offers a customer app for both Linux and Windows. Example of cloud storage services for both operating systems include:

  • Dropbox
  • pCloud
  • Mega

Meanwhile, Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive can be accessed on Linux using third-political party clients. All you need to do is prepare a cloud sync service on your Windows computer, sync the information you need to keep, then install the Linux client software for the service.

With a successful cloud sync completed, your files will exist prepare to use on Linux.

Not using cloud software? Here's what y'all need to know most transferring files between Windows and Linux.

Use Linux Similar It Was Your Sometime PC

"What does this guy know?" Well, I've been using Linux for 95% of my work for the past three months, post-obit a successful transfer from Windows.

Prior to that, the ratio was almost fifty:50, so it's off-white to say things have gone well. I've used the methods in a higher place to switch to Linux and aside from the odd cloud sync issue, things went well.

My productivity hasn't suffered at all. In fact of anything, it has improved.

Set up to switch to Linux? Exist certain to choose the correct Linux operating system.

The All-time Linux Operating Distros

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