Complete noob with obsessive tendencies

[helenakat]

Hii,

Sorry this is a bit long!
I am absolutely new, I have not yet installed Linux, because I’m in a state of constant panic, but I am considering installing Linux Mint because I read it’s the most beginner friendly distro especially for Windows’ migrants! I've been lurking here for a while, debating whether to post or not...
I've been wanting to move from Windows to Linux for a few years but it never seemed like the right time, or I just kept forgetting all together.

I like to make sense of everything and learn new skills and I obsess over things a lot which is why it takes me a long time to make a decision and it's how I found myself signed up to the freecodecamp course after finding out about it via a 6 hours’ video explaining Linux that I found during a Linux research rabbit-hole. So my current unlocked obsession is computers, IT, software, coding and digital security.

I'm a primarily analogue artist, art historian, and independent researcher so not exactly the most tech savvy person you'll meet. I'm already using Krita, Inkscape, Kdenlive for my digital art so I am familiar with open-source culture, and I recently downloaded LibreOffice to try it out. Oh I have a Wacom cintiq tablet that I want to be able to use on Linux as well, I read there’s a way but I didn’t full dive into that yet.

I am a very privacy oriented person and I have to protect my new research project and well, all of my data, and with the way the world is going it’s a matter of survival. I don't feel comfortable on my own private computer anymore if that makes any sense to anyone. So yeah! Oh and I tend to ramble a lot so I’m very sorry about that.

If anyone has any advice on how to proceed, specific books I could read to understand what I'm doing, specific courses I could take, or specific tutorials I could watch please let me know.

While transferring my data from my current windows 11 to an external drive is there a certain file type I should look out for to insure my files will open on whichever distro I end up choosing? What are some crucial steps to insure a smooth transition with no loss of data?

The switch will happen, I have made that decision, but I don't want to screw up my laptop (which is compatible with Linux) or go to a point of no return and not know how to fix it. If anyone has a specific distro to suggest I am open to it. If you need info from me to be able to help obviously I will provide that!

Um, I guess that's it for now and sorry for the long post and have a good day or night depending on your time zone!

Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name
It's helena, or kat I don't mind either (but I saw a lot of RS fans while lurking in the intros so I couldn't resist making a reference too! Ruby Tuesday is my favourite Stones song, also I’m a 32 yo woman don’t know if that’s pertinent, ok bye now)

EDIT as asked make and model and other info
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7420 (bought in 2022)
Processor 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700H (2.30 GHz)
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Graphic Card NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050

 

[Brickwizard]

, I have not yet installed Linux, because I’m in a state of constant panic,

No need to panic your choice of mint is very popular with windows refugees

While transferring my data from my current windows 11 to an external drive is there a certain file type I should look out for to insure my files will open

Linux is not windows, Linux uses many different file systems, windows uses 2 NTFS on later editions and Fat.fat32/X-fat on older systems, all 3 can be used on Linux although many consider them less secure than the native Linux

The switch will happen, I have made that decision, but I don't want to screw up my laptop

you won't screw up your laptop, but depending on make and model , some components can be challenging to find and install the correct drivers for further advice list the make and full model number off the machine manufacturers plate and one of us can check it out,
you will get people jumping in saying dont use this or only use that, what you use is your choice [my own laptops run on a mix of distributions Mint-LMDE [looks like, runs like mint22 but without the bloat from Ubuntu] Parrot home edition, MX-Linux but thease are my personal choices

please take time to read the links below in my signature

 

[Perpetual Padawan]

Welcome! I too am a technophobe. Fear of pushing the wrong button or pressing the wrong key and accidentally causing some great catastrophe used to cripple me when it comes to computers and tech stuff. Using Linus has helped me overcome a lot of fears.

Linux Mint is an excellent choice for a beginner. I might also suggest MX-Linux and PCLinuxOS, but you'll probably get a lot of suggestions for what distribution to try. Don't let it rattle you when this thread gets bombarded with "use this distro" suggestions. What's "best is what is best for you.

Welcome here!

 

[piorunz]

I should look out for to insure my files will open on whichever distro I end up choosing?

1. Make sure it's Linux, not Windows, ditch Microsoft.
2. Since you are a noob, make sure it's Linux Mint - very beginner friendly.

That's it. Have fun!

 

[//////]

being obsessive is a good thing if you are coding, learning, testing Linux etc.

welcome aboard

 

[Smilax]

I don't feel comfortable on my own private computer anymore if that makes any sense to anyone.

That's funny, it's the only place I feel comfortable online anymore.

Welcome! Long time Mint user here. I proudly wear a tinfoil crown and prefer Mint Xfce because I spent a lifetime solving problems and would rather have stability now. Any OS can be insecure, including Mint.

You've come to the right place though. There be wizards here, and a few good blokes too.

 

[Rocketing-warp9]

Welcome to the bunch!

 

[helenakat]

No need to panic your choice of mint is very popular with windows refugees

Linux is not windows, Linux uses many different file systems, windows uses 2 NTFS on later editions and Fat.fat32/X-fat on older systems, all 3 can be used on Linux although many consider them less secure than the native Linux

you won't screw up your laptop, but depending on make and model , some components can be challenging to find and install the correct drivers for further advice list the make and full model number off the machine manufacturers plate and one of us can check it out,
you will get people jumping in saying dont use this or only use that, what you use is your choice [my own laptops run on a mix of distributions Mint-LMDE [looks like, runs like mint22 but without the bloat from Ubuntu] Parrot home edition, MX-Linux but thease are my personal choices

please take time to read the links below in my signature

I like the "refugee" to my "migrant"... refugee does feel more accurate now that I think about it.
thank you so much! I will be going through the list of links and will ask questions when needed also I added the make and model to the original post!

 

[helenakat]

Welcome to the bunch!

Thank you, happy to be here!

 

[helenakat]

That's funny, it's the only place I feel comfortable online anymore.

oh I don't feel comfortable anywhere online anymore and this is one of the reasons I want to "fix" my computer.

stability is a goal so i will research Mint Xfce more! thank you

 

[helenakat]

being obsessive is a good thing

I choose to read up until here! but I get your point!
Thank you

 

[helenakat]

1. Make sure it's Linux, not Windows, ditch Microsoft.
2. Since you are a noob, make sure it's Linux Mint - very beginner friendly.

That's it. Have fun!

Thank you!

 

[helenakat]

Welcome! I too am a technophobe. Fear of pushing the wrong button or pressing the wrong key and accidentally causing some great catastrophe used to cripple me when it comes to computers and tech stuff. Using Linus has helped me overcome a lot of fears.

Linux Mint is an excellent choice for a beginner. I might also suggest MX-Linux and PCLinuxOS, but you'll probably get a lot of suggestions for what distribution to try. Don't let it rattle you when this thread gets bombarded with "use this distro" suggestions. What's "best is what is best for you.

Welcome here!

I will look into both your suggestions and thank you for making me feel less "crazy" over my technophobia!

 

[KGIII]

Welcome aboard.

When it comes to Linux, think of the Nike slogan.

"Just do it!"

 

[Brickwizard]

EDIT as asked make and model and other info
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7420 (bought in 2022)

Fingerprint reader and hybrid graphics may take some setting up, but in general Dell are Linux friendly

 

[MikeRocor]

Um, I guess that's it for now and sorry for the long post and have a good day or night depending on your time zone!

Welcome aboard.

From your intro, it sounds like you will fit right in with the folks here. Any distro advice I might give has already been given by the others. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

 

[bob466]

Welcome to the Forum.

The Distro you choose is up to you but remember Linux isn't windoze. Linux Mint is a good choice but I wouldn't say it's a beginners Distro because there's no such thing.

Like everything else it takes time to learn...forget everything windoze...don't take notice of youtube either.
We all learn by trial and error...two things I think are important...installing the Distro correctly and backing it up...not just a few files.
In no time you'll say...why didn't I switch sooner...enjoy.

 

[NicWelds]

Welcome.

I used Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition for a maybe a month or so. Just long enough to install/uninstall a few things and play around with the settings. I found it to be a very nicely constructed distro. It comes with a good assortment of graphical tools and programs which is probably why it's usually high on many lists of beginner friendly distros. The Cinnamon desktop environment has a modern polished look but still performed well on the old laptop I was using.

I usually recommend trying out any distro first. Most of them have a "try me" option and can boot up from the install flash drive. That allows you to test it on your hardware without modifying your system.

 

[Sherri is a Cat]

I've been wanting to move from Windows to Linux for a few years but it never seemed like the right time, or I just kept forgetting all together.

I finally got pissed. To Linux Mint for a test drive one night. The next morning I rid myself of the Giant for good. It a was a quick decision, but I haven't once regretted it. Linux is not hard.

I like to make sense of everything and learn new skills and I obsess over things a lot which is why it takes me a long time to make a decision and it's how I found myself signed up to the freecodecamp course after finding out about it via a 6 hours’ video explaining Linux that I found during a Linux research rabbit-hole. So my current unlocked obsession is computers, IT, software, coding and digital security.

I'm an artist too. Now I'm studying courses for cybersecurity, digital forensics, data analytics ( will be soon) coding languages. I never would have thought this would something I would enjoy so much

.... so I am familiar with open-source culture, and I recently downloaded LibreOffice to try it out.

Opensource doesn't necessarily mean it will run on a Linux machine. Libre Office does, but some things don't.
What ever apps you use now, make sure you find a good alternative before saying good bye to winblows forever, especially if you're an artist. Most of the people around here aren't professional artists and won't know how apps are different for someone who uses specialty software extensively.

Case in point: AutoCAD

I studied landscape architecture and had a landscape design business. There are a lot of opensource, free alternatives, but only a few of them come close to AutoCAD. Of the ones that come close, that use the same extensions, none of them open the same in either program. They are always skewed.

Adobe Acrobat NOT Adobe Reader, ACROBAT

Before Adobe took down their servers that authenticate licenses, I had a perpetual license for CS3. Acrobat was one that I used most. I have yet to find any app that comes close to doing everything Acrobat can do. Period.

Oh I have a Wacom cintiq tablet that I want to be able to use on Linux as well, I read there’s a way but I didn’t full dive into that yet.

I think those have an Android OS. Good luck. That's all I can about that.

I don't feel comfortable on my own private computer anymore if that makes any sense to anyone.

Since the forced upgrade to 10 in the summer of 2015, no one has a private computer anymore, unless you're using Linux. And it's even worse with Win 11 Copilot PC's. The eaves dropping AI can't actually be disabled unless you're an IT professional or happen to be able to afford the one single edition of the OS that allows you to turn it off. Copilot+ PC's are even worse.

So yeah! Oh and I tend to ramble a lot so I’m very sorry about that.

Same here!

If anyone has any advice on how to proceed, specific books I could read to understand what I'm doing, specific courses I could take, or specific tutorials I could watch please let me know.

We are two peas in a pod when it comes to making a fully informed decision, examining every option from every conceivable angle. Just jump in. That's all I can say. I doubt you'll regret it.

..... go to a point of no return and not know how to fix it.

Since you have a Win 11 computer, you should also have a MS account. You have a recovery key in that account for the lap Win 11 is installed on now. If things go south, it's no problem to go back to Winblows.

Everything else I could say has probably already been said!

Welcome to wierd-o land!

 

[Sherri is a Cat]

i will research Mint Xfce more! thank you

I have Mint Xfce installed a very inexpensive laptop with 64GB of storage, and 4 GB of RAM. Runs very well