Desktop Linux for Noobs

This page was originally made for NoobsAndNerds but due to this page not really being accessible via normal means and the greater exposure it will get on my personal site, I have decided to make this newer and more improved version.

If you would like something added or fixed, please send me a email at gremlin6482@gmail.com

Q&A

Q: What is Linux?

A: "Linux is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel" ~ Wikipedia. Linux can be just about whatever the user wants it to be. Want it to be used for a Laptop or Desktop PC? It's more then capable for that. Want to use it as an OS for your Server? It's what most servers run these days. Want to build something with a SBC or something similar? Linux has got you covered. This page will be talking about using Linux as a replacement for Windows on your traditional PCs and Laptops.

Q: What is a Linux Distribution?

A: A Linux Distro is a operating system that was made with the Linux Kernel. Some Distros are built upon other distros. For example, Debian is what we call a base distro, Ubuntu is based of Debian, Linux Mint is based off Ubuntu (except for LMDE which is based of Debian). As you can see, this can get a bit convoluted however within the chaos there is something special... user choice. You get to choose which distro works best for you! There are distros like Linux Mint and Pop!_OS which are meant for new linux users and linux veterans alike, along side more complex distros like Nix OS where you can change most of the system via config files and Gentoo where you have to compile everything. There is something here for everyone.

Q: Why should I use Linux?

A: It's free and adopts a FOSS (Free Open Source Software) culture. It's a way to remove yourself from Microsoft's suffocating ecosystem!

Q: What do you have against Microsoft?

A: That is a loaded question, what don't I have against Microsoft? Microsoft fan boys take a step back and realize there are FOSS alternatives that work for the average person, with that knowledge why would you willingly use a locked down and privately owned OS that by the day seems to lose it's edge and makes a joke out of it's own userbase? Between the recall BS, telemetry, and Microsoft's attempts to force Windows to be for online users only... why would you stick with Windows? Windows has way more issues then just these but these alone should make you scratch your head.

Q: Don't Linux Distributions have issues too?

A: Yes BUT most Linux Distros are very public about their actions and issues so you can watch these issues get fixed in real time while with Windows you just kinda gotta deal with it. Microsoft might know what the issue is but simply does not care because they are a profit driven corporation. FOSS projects don't care so much about funding and you can actively bug report with almost all Linux Distros which kinda really turns Microsoft's approach to troubleshooting into more of a invasive tone deaf joke rather then a solution.

Setup a USB Drive

The first thing you need to do in order to setup a linux distro is to make sure to have a 4gb or larger USB Drive, smaller drives will likely run into issues. For keeping things simple I recommend using balenaEtcher. Rufus and Ventoy exist but are more prone to user error so for this guide I am opting to not use them. Once you have balenaEtcher setup, it's time to figure out which Linux Distro that you want to use and download it. In the section below this one there are a few Distros that I recommend for beginners. After choosing and downloading the distro's ISO file, use with balenaEtcher to setup your USB drive.

Choose a Distro

Linux Mint
https://linuxmint.com/

Linux Mint is the distro that made me realize that Linux is a viable alternative to Windows. It is user friendly, comes with plenty of documentation, easy to find community support, and can be used entirely without ever touching a Terminal or CLI (Command Line Interface) application. (But you likely will touch the terminal as you learn more) If you are less tech savvy but still want to get into Linux then this is the perfect one to start with. Even if you are experienced Linux User, Mint has features that keeps a lot of people coming back.

Pop!_OS
https://pop.system76.com/

The fact that Pop!_OS is on this list might make some experienced Linux Users scratch their heads. When I first started making this page in 2023, I didn't even bother with adding it because I had never used it before however things have changed since then. I used Pop OS on my main PC and laptop for a bit there and while it didn't work well on my laptop for reasons that are not the distro's fault, I was genuinely impressed with how easy it was to get games setup and running acceptably on this Distro. The desktop environment is a outdated version of gnome but is heavily tweaked to make it into their own thing. If you like gaming without messing with settings too much and are not a fan of the default gnome setup, I highly recommend this Distro.

Debian
https://www.debian.org/

Debian is what we like to call a base distro which means it is what other distros use as a base to build upon. Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu and Ubuntu is based on Debian. What does this mean for the average user? It means that if you install this distro you get a very basic and non bloated Linux experience at the cost of it not being the easiest thing to understand for new Linux users. It's by no means hard though! There is a gui installer and plenty of guides out there explaining how to set that up. You get the choice between multiple different desktop environments so you can customize it to your heart’s content. If you find that you dislike how Windows and more beginner friendly distros try to hold your hands through everything + you want to learn how to use a terminal then Debian is the one for you! This distro is very stable meaning it usually has packages that some people would consider outdated however Debian backports security updates. The main advantage to this approach of holding back most of the time results in a nice combination of security and stability. If you decide to use this then MAKE SURE TO NOT ADD ANY ROOT INFO, there is no legitimate reason to not just use sudo!

After a Fresh Install

Just like after a fresh install of Windows, you should make sure your system is up to date. If you used the Debian GUI installer then you don't really have to worry about this right away but Linux Mint and Pop!_OS Users will need to make sure they have the latest security and software updates.

Linux Mint GUI

On the right side of the panel (taskbar for windows users) you will find a Shield icon. This Shield represent's the update software that Mint uses. If you are connected to the internet the shield should turn orange within a few minutes after loging in. This means you have updates to apply. Clicking on the Shield while orange will bring up all the updates you can apply. You can choose what you want and don't want unlike Windows. By default everything will be selected, don't touch anything unless you know what you are doing. Just install the updates.

Apt Package Manager

On Debian, Linux Mint, and Pop!_OS you can open a terminal emulator and enter the following commands to update your system.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

If you tried to copy and paste this with ctrl-v and got confused don't worry because that does not work in terminals, try ctrl-shift-v. It will ask you for your password because using sudo tells the system you will be preforming an action with root permissions. Press Y and enter when given the prompt to confirm. After a moment or two, your system should be up to date!

Installing Software

Now depending on who you ask, you will hear that this can either be a herculean task or as simple as it is on Windows. The people telling you that it is hard are likely using something like Gentoo but you as a spoiled Linux Mint/Pop!_OS/Debian user will likely have it easy. Key word there is "likely".

Using a Software Manager/Store Front

If you download software in .deb form off a website then all you have to do to install it is locate the file, right click on it, and open the file with "Software"

Please remember that while it's harder to get Windows Viruses and Malware on Linux, Linux Viruses and Malware still exist and can get anyone not being careful and not practicing internet safety.

Using Apt Package Manager

Find the package you want to install on the Debian repos for Debian, and the Ubuntu repos for Linux Mint.

sudo apt install package-name

Now you just need replace 'package-name' on the command above with the package's name then press enter

Using Flatpaks

Pop!_OS comes with flathub by default however Linux Mint and Debian users will need to set it up in order to use flatpaks.

https://flathub.org/setup

Note: Depending on which Desktop Environment is choosen, Debian users might need to use terminal commands to use flathub due to the lack of software centers on DEs like XFCE, MATE, LXDE, and LXQT.

Using .deb Files

Linux Mint and Pop!_OS both let you install these files using applications with a UI. All distros including Debian can use this command to install them via terminal.

sudo dpkg -i PACKAGE-NAME

You will likely need to point towards the .deb file so for example to install the discord .deb file I would need to use a command like this.

sudo dpkg -i /home/gremlin/Downloads/discord-0.0.77.deb

Essential Applications

Steam
https://store.steampowered.com/about/
Game CDN + easy access to Proton

Flatpak
https://flatpak.org/setup/
Package Manager

Wine
https://www.winehq.org/
Windows Compatibility Layer

Boxes
https://flathub.org/apps/org.gnome.Boxes
VMs to mess with other linux distros in, requires flatpak and is very basic. There are better options but none so beginner friendly.

Guides & Resources

Linux Journey
https://linuxjourney.com/
Learn how to use the terminal and find out about more distros.

ProtonDB
https://www.protondb.com/
Steam game compatibility information thats community ran.

Remeber, there is no shame in messing up. Theres no shame in reinstalling the os and starting fresh. Take a moment to learn rather then get upset and you should actually have fun getting to know how to use linux! This webpage barely scratches the surface of what you can do with this little kernel, search engines are your friends for finding all different kinds of info, distros, support, and whatever else you might need.