A simple guide that may help:

IlyasLinux

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So, Hello there, recently A LOT of users have been switching to Linux (or willing to switch), so they need help, thus I am writing this small but helpful blog to guide you.
Assuming that you're going with the beginner friendly distrobutions : Mint, ZorinOS, Ubuntu.
Pre-Install :

-Make sure that your hardware is compatible.
-Try the distros either through their live mode, or in a virtual machine.
-Carefully select the drive you are going to install linux on, and backup your personal data.
-See if your distro of choice recommends disabling secure boot.


Post-Install :
-Perform system updates through the software center or by running in the terminal : sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y , and then restart.
-Install fonts, and codecs : sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer then run sudo apt install ubuntu-restriced-extras
-Install Nvidia drivers if you have an nvidia card.t
-Perform a backup using timeshift.
-Install some helpful packages/software like :btop, vlc, fastfetch.
-Setup the firewall.
-Customize your desktop to your liking :)


Software :
Most FOSS software are as capable as their propreitary counterparts :
-LibreOffice => MS Office
-GIMP, Krita => PhotoShop
-AppFlowy => Notion
But if the alternative is not enough or the software you use is not available at all, you can run it using the newly-created tool : WinBoat, or the good ol' Wine/Bottles, or even spin up a Virtual machine.

Also, FOSS is highly customizable, e.g you can make GIMP look like PhotoShop using the PhotoGIMP plugin!


Troubleshooting :
In case you got into a bug or the software is not behaving accordingly :
-Read through the docs/wiki, a lot ignore that, but it is really helpful!
-Report the bug.
-Seek help from the forums like reddit, you should describe your issue properly, include your distro, what you were trying to do, what commands you ran, and what errors appeared.


Optional but highly-recommended :
-Learn some terminal commands : how to install/update/remove packages, how to browse files, how to start/stop services using systemd.
-Learn the different package format : system packages, flatpak, and appimages.
-Contribute to FOSS : Donations, Requesting new features, help in coding (if you know how)
-Choose privacy respecting tools : LibreWolf as web browser, ThunderBird as email client, DuckDuckGo as search engine etc..

So, hope you find this small article/blog helpful, enjoy your linux journey!
Links to other post you may like :
 
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sudo apt update ; sudo apt upgrade
The above is for Debian based distributions only, and a better chain is sudo apt update && apt upgrade -y
 
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There's no such thing as a simple guide for someone who has never used Linux before...what is easy for some is very difficult for others.

We see this all the time on this Forum...download an ISO and burn it to a Flash Drive is a very easy task but most Linux beginners have no idea...it's only with experience plus trial and error we learn.

Linux Mint is user-friendly and solid but it's nothing like windoze and can easily be broken by a beginner.
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