I'm considering switching but I have some specific questions that I hope you all can answer

[WigglyTBY]

I've finally decided to look into making the switch to Linux for one of my laptops currently running Windows 10. I've compiled a list of things I want to ask about that'll hopefully help me find the right distro for me and clear up various things about switching in general. Most of these are pretty specific and/or unusual because I'm already pretty aware of most of the major concepts around Linux, but I hope you'll be able to answer them anyway.

• I want something that's very easy to initially configure: I'm very anxious that I might accidentally screw something up, so the less moving parts I need to worry about the better.
• I want to preserve my current workflow as much as possible. Mainly this just means being able to open common media file types and run executable files out of the box, without me needing to install a program for it myself. Again, just to minimize the amount of moving parts so I'm not worried that I'll break something important.
• In particular, I'm looking for something with a built-in audio driver like Windows has, since I frequently use various digital audio workstations.
• I rarely turn my computer fully off (I knowww I know I should I'm sorry) because I like being able to sit down at my computer and immediately go back to the thing I was doing the day before without having to wait for it to boot and/or having to re-navigate to a file explorer/internet browser location I had open for it. Is this something that would pose more of a problem on Linux than on Windows or can it be mitigated in some way such that I could turn off the computer more often? Would it be worth it to dualboot if I rarely reboot in the first place?
• This next point is both an example of my level of computer literacy as well as something I'm worried may cause a problem when I switch: Several years ago I accidentally split a large percentage of my hard drive space into a New Volume. I have no idea how I managed to do that, and I'm scared to try and merge it back with the rest of the hard drive in case I lose data or something. I assume this wouldn't be an issue and Linux would recognize the volume just fine, but it's always good to make sure by asking someone else who knows more about this kind of stuff.

I think that's all of the stuff I wanted to ask. I hope these questions and concerns aren't too weird/ridiculous/unanswerable, but any answers and recommendations would really help me find something I'm happy with.

 

[Brickwizard]

I might accidentally screw something up,

an important part of learning Linux

I want to preserve my current workflow as much as possible.

let everyone know what are the important Windows apps you use

you will get suggestions from the members

I rarely turn my computer fully off

we have members who only turn off/re-boot when needed for an update

This next point is both an example of my level of computer literacy as well as something I'm worried may cause a problem when I switch:

if you are not keeping windows then i would recommend you get a big enough eternal [usb pendrive] to save any and all important files and folders to and do a clean install using the whole drive, [you can then re-load the files if nessasary

read the links [in blue] under this post

 

[Brickwizard]

Addition, let us know the make / model of the machine you intend using [or its specification]

 

[kc1di]

Hello @WigglyTBY
Welcome to the Linux.org forum, enjoy!
I would recommend you start with Mint or Zorin. There are many other good distros but those two are fairly close to window and you should have no problem adjusting and learning them. For the most part Mint work on most hardware out of the box. But try several Distro Live usb. That way you can test them without making changes to you present system. If and when you choose to do an install make sure you back up any important files off computer first so you won't loose anything. Good luck and there are many good people here willing to help so don't be afraid to ask it you need it.

 

[Terminal Velocity]

You will preserve your current workflow if you are lucky enough and all your apps have Linux versions, something unlikely so you will have to use native Linux alternatives.

Also forget about the various digital audio workstations you use, Linux have some native DAWs, you will have to chose from those

Leaving your computer on works better in Linux than in Windows, some distributions are made to run until the hardware is dead

 

[WigglyTBY]

let everyone know what are the important Windows apps you use

Let's see...

• Various DAWs, mainly (but not limited to) Mixcraft 7 and FL Studio
• FamiTracker
• Moonscraper, Clone Hero, and YARG (Plus the YARC Launcher); I'm pretty sure at least some of these have dedicated Linux builds but I'd like to keep using the executables wherever possible.
• Camtasia 9 (Screen recording software, but I mainly use it for video editing now.)
• A few Steam games, but the only ones I play semi-regularly are Peggle and Peggle Nights
• FreeTube (I also think this one might have a dedicated Linux build)

I'm vaguely aware of Wine, but I'm not entirely sure how exactly it works or if it would be viable for me.

 

[WigglyTBY]

Addition, let us know the make / model of the machine you intend using [or its specification]

It's a Dell G3 laptop

 

[Brickwizard]

Dell G3 laptop

so a gaming laptop, being a dell there should not be any serious problems, the only one that springs to mind is if it has hybrid graphics you may need help from one of our gamers to set it up

 

[Condobloke]

G'day & Welcome to Linux.org

Linux is NOT Windows

 

[KGIII]

I'm very anxious that I might accidentally screw something up,

You will. You didn't come into this world knowing how to use Windows.

It's okay to break your operating system. Things are easily fixed, and installation takes minutes. However, it's important to learn how to back up your important data -- and to learn what data is important to you.

I want to preserve my current workflow as much as possible.

Much of it will be entirely similar.

In particular, I'm looking for something with a built-in audio driver like Windows has, since I frequently use various digital audio workstations.

I do not know what Windows has. I have no issues with a DAC and a DAW.

There are free DAWs out there. We tend to use (non-free) Bitwig Studios at my house. Though, I often do quite a bit with just Audacity. (There are a zillion plug-ins for Audacity.)

I rarely turn my computer fully off

Me either. Modern devices are pretty good at sitting idle while using limited energy. I do have my monitor turn off after enough idle time has passed.

I have a server that hasn't been rebooted since 2021. The only reason it doesn't have a 100% uptime is because of the network going down. Further, I have another system with 100% uptime since 2023. To be fair, I use a CDN with that one.

run executable files out of the box

Linux does not natively support .exe or .msi files. You can use Wine to run Windows applications. You can also use Bottles as a front end for Wine.

Linux's executable files will need the executable bit changed. Linux is a multi-user system by design. As such, you'll sometimes need to modify the file's permissions. You can also use sudo to open things with elevated permissions.

You'll adjust to it quickly.

Would it be worth it to dualboot if I rarely reboot in the first place?

Only you can answer that for you. Most of us exclusively use Linux on our home computers.

This next point is both an example of my level of computer literacy as well as something I'm worried may cause a problem when I switch:

This is your chance to start anew. During the installation process, while you're booted to the live version (normally via USB), you can just open the disk manager directly. With that, just nuke all the partitions and turn it into one large partition. After that, let Linux do its thing during the installation process.

FL Studio

You can use Bottles for this, or so I'm told. As FL Studio is popular, it actually comes with some settings to make it work properly with Linux.

There is a learning curve.

You will not know what you're doing.

Things are going to break.

But, in a short time, you'll be comfortable with your newfound knowledge and grateful that you made the change (if you stick with it).

Before doing anything, make a backup installer for Windows. That way, you can go back to Windows if you want. Making the backup tool in Windows is the best idea. Some folks have difficulty doing so with Linux tools. So, do that within Windows BEFORE you try to install Linux.

If you have kept Linux for 6 months, you can repurpose the recovery drive.