Hey there! Last time, we talked about What To Do After Windows 10 Support Ends You can check it out if you haven’t already, because I shared some solutions for different situations. One of the last solutions was switching to Linux, whether your device doesn’t support Windows 11, or you just don’t like it and want to give Linux a try.
So today, we’re going to talk about the best Linux distros for beginners that feel similar to Windows, so it’ll be easier for you to switch without feeling overwhelmed. I’ll also talk a bit about the terminal, and why you don’t need to be scared of it anymore, so keep reading!
The best Linux distro ever?
Actually, there’s no single “best” distro it depends on what you’re going to use it for: work, browsing, gaming, and also your device’s specs. In my opinion, the best way to figure it out is to try them yourself using a virtual machine. That way, you can test them before switching completely.
But today, I want to talk about a Linux distro that’s super popular, highly recommended online, and feels very similar to Windows, it’s called Linux Mint.
Why Linux Mint?
Linux Mint is a free and open-source operating system based on the Ubuntu. Here are the key points about Linux Mint:
- User-Friendly Interface: It comes with desktop environments like :
Sleek, modern, innovative: Cinnamon Edition. The most popular version of Linux Mint.
Light, simple, efficient: Xfce Edition. is a lightweight desktop environment.
Classic, traditional: MATE Edition. It is a classic desktop environment
- Pre-Installed Software: Includes everyday applications like LibreOffice (Microsoft Office alternative), Firefox, VLC, and GIMP out of the box.
- Software Manager: A graphical package manager for installing, updating, and removing software efficiently.
- Long-Term Support (LTS): Based on Ubuntu LTS releases, Mint receives updates for around 5 years, making it stable for long-term use.
- Beginners transitioning from Windows.
- Users who want a stable and visually familiar Linux desktop.
How to Install Linux Mint
So first thing we need to do is download the ISO file from the Linux Mint official site: https://www.linuxmint.com/
Go ahead and click “Download” from the top menu, then click “Latest version.”
Here, you can choose the edition you like, hit Download, scroll down a bit to Download Mirrors, and choose your location, or just pick “World CIKU Mirror” (it’s fast everywhere).
Once you’ve downloaded the ISO, I’m not going to explain this part (the flashing/bootable drive process) in detail here.
But if you want me to go over that step-by-step, let me know in the comments and I’ll show you the easiest ways, depending on how you want to install:
- If you’re switching completely or doing a dual boot, I recommend Rufus
- If you’re using a virtual machine, I recommend VirtualBox
Now, let me show you how to install Linux Mint after booting from the USB or Virtual Machine:
This is the menu that will show up after booting in Linux Mint for the first time. Choose the first one as the screenshot below, use the arrows to select, and hit the Enter key on your keyboard.
After that, just wait and let it load until you see this screen (screenshot below).
We’re not done yet, this is just a live test environment loaded into your RAM. And that’s actually a good thing, because here you can test whatever you want!
If you don’t like it and just want to cancel, no problem, just shut down from the Linux Mint menu, remove the USB, and you’re done. Nothing is saved, and your main system is untouched.
Okay, let’s say you’re done testing and you like it, let’s install it!
Go ahead and click the CD icon that says “Install Linux Mint” to start the actual installation.
The next steps are really easy.
First, choose your system language, then click Continue.
Next, select your keyboard layout and click Continue again.
On the next screen, check the box that says “Install multimedia codecs” and click Continue.
(Multimedia codecs let you play videos, music, and other media formats out of the box like MP4, MP3, and some streaming content.)
Now this part is important be careful here!
If you want to dual-boot, choose the first option.
But if you’re just in a virtual machine or you want to switch completely and don’t care about your previous system, choose the second option that says “Erase disk and install Linux Mint”, then click Install Now and continue to confirm. Then you will be asked to choose your location for the time and date, choose it and click continue.
Next is User Setup (These steps for the window that is in the screenshot below):
- Your name – Enter your real name or anything you like.
- Your computer’s name – This is how your PC will appear on networks (like file sharing).
- Pick a username – This will be your Linux username (used for login and terminal).
- Choose a password – Type a secure password.
- Confirm your password – Re-enter it to confirm.
- Login options:
- You can choose to log in automatically (not recommended for shared devices)
- Or leave it at “Require my password to log in” (default and more secure).
- (Optional) – Check “Encrypt my home folder” if you want extra security for your personal files.
Once done, click Continue to move on.
And that’s it, it’s downloading, just wait for it to complete, you can continue testing while waiting if your internet is slow. After the installation is done, a pop-up window will tell you that the installation is completed. Click Restart Now.
After that, the system will restart and congratulations, you’ve installed Linux Mint!
No account required, no privacy questions, just like that, you have full control over your device.
The first time you log in, it’ll ask for the password you created during the User Setup.
Then you’ll see the Welcome screen, and you’re ready to go!
Oh, and I just remembered, I still haven’t talked about why you shouldn’t be scared of the terminal anymore.
Honestly, with AI assistants, you don’t need to memorize anything. You can just ask for what you need, and I’m pretty sure you’ll get used to it over time.
That’s it for today, have a good one, and Thanks for reading!
