In part 1: why?, I gave various reasons to consider switching to Linux Mint as your (main) operating system but did not discuss specifics of the possible difficulties, nor how to deal with them. Here in part 2, let’s have a look at both hardware and software compatibility, and the preparations you can take for a smooth installation.

The comments on part 1 already contain quite a few specific questions about software compatibility and/or replacements, so do check those out as well! (And keep them coming!)

hardware compatibility Assuming you want to keep using (most of) the hardware you already own, you will need to check whether it is compatible with Linux (and specifically, Linux Mint). Few manufacturers advertise Linux compatibility, so this is mostly something to try out for yourself. The most basic form of compatibility is whether or not there is a Linux driver available. If you’ve installed printers on Windows, especially a decade or longer ago, you’re already somewhat familiar with this process: a driver is required for the device to work, but if you’re lucky, your operating system already includes it or is able to locate one for you. In Linux Mint, the situation is similar, but there is one additional concern: a driver may support only part of the device’s functionality. The key question is then: is it the part that you care about? It’s also good to note that the incompatible hardware might not be a peripheral like a printer or headphones, but a component of your desktop/laptop, such as the wireless card or track pad. Replacing these may or may not be possible, so it’s essential to check the compatibility before you commit to switching to Linux Mint. One of the easiest ways to find out about compatibility is to use “bootable media¨, formerly known as a “live CD”. This is a USB memory stick (or DVD) which contains the entire Linux Mint operating system. It can be used to install Linux but also to try it out first, without any changes to your current operating system. The Linux Mint installation guide provides the following instructions for making the bootable media and another set of instructions for starting the live session. (You will need to use the BIOS menu of your computer.) Once the live session is running, make sure to use any hardware features you care about: pinch to zoom on your laptop, gestures on a Bluetooth headset, scanning files on an all-in-one printer, connecting to a NAS... It’s best to assume that by not testing a particular feature, you’re accepting the risk that you will not be able to get it to work.

software compatibility While your live session is running, you can also check out both the software that comes pre-installed and what’s available via the Software Manager, which acts kind of like an app store. Note that if you end a live session, you will of course be able to start a new one later, but all your modifications will have been lost. If you’re already accustomed to finding open source alternatives to commercial software, you’re likely to find many of your favorites, such as LibreOffice (an office suite), Thunderbird (e-mail application) and Inkscape (svg image editor). If not, consider starting to investigate these alternatives while you’re still running Windows as your operating system, to ease the transition. A popular way to find alternatives to well-known applications is AlternativeTo, though it does not limit itself to open source. For alternatives that are specifically open-source, a good search term would be “[application name] FOSS”. (See further down for an explanation of the term and concept.) Or search for the proprietary application in the Software Manager - the replacement’s description may mention it explicitly and be findable that way. In general, there are two aspects which can make it difficult to use or replace software on Linux and another two that make it easier. The difficulties are name brands and DRM. These can sometimes be mitigated by Steam (the gaming platform) and working via a browser. For example, consider the iTunes store. As a brand, Apple is not interested in supporting Linux, so there is no way to install iTunes on Linux. Alternative music players can allow you to play files you already have but not connect to your iTunes library. However, many things that can be done via the official application can also be done in the browser - any browser, including those on Linux. In some cases, this can even be used to create something that acts like a regular application (including working offline and getting ‘installed’ on your system). This is how we can get Spotify on Linux Mint. There are even applications for OneDrive and Dropbox that integrate with your file manager. Though the look-and-feel will be different, you will at least be able to access your cloud storage. DRM is trickier, since encryption and open source are opposing concepts. Open source decryption and pirating accomplish similar goals and publishers are inclined to guard against both. There is no Linux alternative for Adobe Digital Editions (which manages DRM on epub files) and Adobe does not plan to release one (source). Suggested solutions generally involve cracking the encrypted files rather than unlocking them officially. When it comes to gaming, Linux has come a long way. From having (more or less) amateurish implementations of the usual categories (Tux Racer for racing, for example) but none of the mainstream titles, the Steam deck has given developers reason to care about Linux compatibility. A large number of well-known games can be played without issues. This includes both casual games like My Singing Monsters and multi-player games like It Takes Two, including controller support.

preparation: long-term (far in advance) Besides steps to take in the day(s) before installing Linux Mint, discussed further down, there are things you can do at a lower pace, possibly well in advance. As mentioned previously, using open source software on Windows is helpful because most (though not all) open source applications that are available for Windows are available for Linux as well, largely with the same features and user interface. In many cases, you will be able to export settings or a user profile to import on a new installation. When looking for open source software, “FOSS” is a good search term to use. This stands for “free and open source” and has become the conventional way to indicate that software is both “free as in beer” and “free as in speech”. When you start using FOSS software, you may notice some subtle differences with respect to commercial software. The number of tools for any particular purpose (say, a text editor) tends to be rather large and they’re likely to have settings to configure things you never even thought of. This is true for Linux Mint as well: not only is Linux Mint only one of several version of Linux, Linux Mint itself is available in three ‘flavors’. It can be somewhat overwhelming, but it does have the advantage that when the defaults don’t appeal to you, there are plenty of other options to try. If you’re not interested in installing something new on Windows, you can also try out FOSS software while using Linux Mint from a USB stick (see “bootable media” above). Many useful applications come pre-installed. Using live Linux at least once is recommended anyway, to confirm that your hardware is compatible. Once you’re feeling confident about both software and hardware, consider who could support you for the installation of Linux Mint, and possibly afterwards. Linux users tend to be enthusiastic about it, so if you know someone (even just an acquaintance), they might be delighted to help you with the installation. Via the “End of Ten” campaign you can even find (real world) places to go for Linux support by volunteers. If there are none nearby, or it’s outside opening hours, the Linux forums contain a wealth of information. Lastly, there are some decisions to take about how exactly to install Linux. Linux Mint comes in three flavors Cinnamon, MATE and Xfce, of which Cinnamon is the most popular. (You can switch these later, so you won’t be stuck with your choice.) You can fully replace your Windows installation with Linux, or you can configure your system for a “dual boot¨, where Windows and Linux live side-by-side and you choose every time which one you want to use. There are also various ways to encrypt your hard drive. These last two choices affect the installation, so if you change your mind later, you will (probably) need to re-install.

preparation: short-term (shortly before switching) If you have a second hard drive or are installing Linux Mint on a different system than you used for Windows, you’ll be able to run them side-by-side or at least to retrieve files afterward. This is convenient (and reassuring), but not essential, so let’s assume that this is not the case. I recommend making a list of all the software you have installed, whether you’re still using it or not. (This will come in handy when you remember, years from now, that you once had a handy application for [whatever].) Be sure to check both the “Programs and Features” part of the Control Panel (for regular applications) and the “Installed Apps” (Windows 11) or “Apps and Features” (Windows 10) (for apps from the Microsoft Store). If you use any portable apps, make a note of those too. For any software you intend to keep using in Linux, check whether there is a way to export your preferences and/or profile. Consider other customizations as well: custom presets in GIMP or your collection of installed fonts. If having things in the same place is important to you, consider taking screenshots of things like your desktop (including start menu) and the way you’ve arranged dialogs and menus in your favorite applications. This will help to customize your new setup and minimize the feeling of things being subtly wrong. Finally, copy your files/data to either an external hard drive, NAS or cloud storage. (You did confirm compatibility, right?) Most of your personal files are likely to be in My Documents (and My Pictures, etc) but saved games may be stored elsewhere and things like e-mail archives tend to end up in AppData folders. If you have enough space available, consider copying everything under C:/Users/[yourusername]. Double-check that you’ve copied any stored bookmarks and passwords. Also, if you’re logged in to any websites via a cookie, make sure you also have the password, or reset those passwords now. Check the ‘Recent Files’ list for anything you may have overlooked. If it would bother you to lose files or settings that don’t immediately come to mind, consider buying a second hard drive to install Linux Mint on. You can then keep your current (Windows) hard drive and use it as an external drive.

installation I have no personal experience with the installation process itself, because I was lucky and my support person took care of it for me. The process is straight-forward (or so I am told) and starts by making (or re-using) the same “bootable media” that’s used for the live Linux session, since that’s also the environment used for the installation. In your live session, there’s a shortcut to “Install Linux Mint” and from there, a wizard will guide you through it. Instructions are available on the Linux Mint website and of course there are plenty of YouTube videos documenting the process.

Since installing Linux Mint is really only the beginning, stay tuned for part 3: “now what?” Based on my own experiences, I’ll give some recommendations for things to do immediately after installation, what to expect and some new habits you might want to build. If you’re hesitant because it’s hard to imagine what the switch will feel like, this final part will hopefully reassure you without glossing over the harder parts.