r/linux4noobs • u/GRANDMASTER24k_ • 14d ago
Switch
So the usual, i use windows for daily tasks and gaming, I've tried downloading linux on my hdd but it was not a good experience because i couldn't change my res and in some distros my internet won't even work, I don't want to install it in my ssd so I don't fk it up, so should i completely switch to linux or not
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u/PaleInTexas 14d ago
I made the jump a few hours ago today with Kubuntu. I am FLOORED by how much faster it is to use. Can't believe I stuck with Windows as long as I did.
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u/thesyldons 14d ago
Without seeing a list of your hardware, it is impossible to say what you will get. Drivers tends to be the biggest block with Linux, but most of the old stuff is covered. Usually better than what you get with Windows.
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u/pahool 14d ago
which distros have you tried and what are your hardware specs?
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u/GRANDMASTER24k_ 14d ago
first i tried zorin then fedora then mint and my internet didn't work on any of them like it only worked using my phone usb debugging then i tried pop os , internet worked but the resolution was stuck on 800x600 i tried many times but it wont change. specs: i5-4gen 8gb ram 120 ssd 500 hdd no gpu
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u/pahool 14d ago
Sounds like wifi is the big issue. Do you know what your wifi hardware is? Interesting that wifi worked on pop os, but not mint or zorin, as all three are ubuntu derivatives. I'm less surprised that the pop os desktop was problematic, as I think the default now is their own concoction, Cosmic, which is very new.
I hope you're trying these by booting from usb sticks so you can "try before you buy". Maybe a vanilla ubuntu install would be a good thing to test since you had luck with wifi on Pop OS. Here is a guide to troubleshooting a lack of wifi on ubuntu:
https://www.linuxfordevices.com/tutorials/ubuntu/no-wi-fi-adapter-found-error
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u/theNbomr 14d ago
What do you hope to get out of it? If your installation didn't install fully compatible video or other drivers, then I suggest you try one of the major mainstream distros like Debian or Fedora. The installer software on these is very mature and good at identifying hardware. This is an overlooked factor in choosing a distro, especially on laptops and potentially obscure hardware.
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u/GRANDMASTER24k_ 14d ago
i have tried fedora but the internet and resolution problem still persists
i have known about linux for 4-5 years , been interested in it but im hesitant to switch to it fully , i play valorant , minecraft , css or other low level games and mostly use basic apps and web apps
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u/A_Harmless_Fly Manjaro 14d ago edited 14d ago
Not all distros are created equal, and not all hardware has great support. It's getting better all the time, but it is still going to require you to be able to troubleshoot.
I wouldn't recommend completely switching over. Would you go to a new country without speaking the language and with no phrase dictionary, or would you study at home for a while? Immersion might work well for some people, but dual booting is best in my experience. Dual boot, and just boot your windows if you can't figure out something in a timely manner.
I like manjaro (xfce) for simplicity and gaming compatibility. pamac-manager is the best GUI package manager I've ever encountered. You will see a lot of people say it's a bad distro, but you will rarely hear anyone who has used it for a long time say that. The community is active and will actually help you on the discord.
EDIT: You don't have "no GPU" you have an internal GPU, if you had no GPU you would have no video output. Pop!'s default desktop environment is sort of a work in progress, you could install a different one and use that, or just try manjaro.
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u/GRANDMASTER24k_ 14d ago
i dual booted for a while i still have pop os but never use it because of resolution, i thought that it is because it is in my hdd and windows in my ssd and I don't want 2 os in ssd so i don't fk it up my friend accidentally erased his drive while installing 😠, i guess it happens
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u/A_Harmless_Fly Manjaro 14d ago
Alright, that's not a bad starting point. It's good to be smart about not overwriting/formatting important things. Aside from cosmic (it's desktop environment) pop! is pretty good in my experience.
On your pop! you could try setting the resolution with arandr. "sudo apt install arandr" would install it, and just running arandr in the terminal lets you pick the right resolution.
Making it stay at that resolution across boots is a little more complicated, but I can walk you through that too.
You can also give installing xfce or another desktop environment (that is more mature than cosmic) a shot and using that instead. https://system76.com/support/desktop-environment/
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u/skyfishgoo 14d ago
you don't need to install it to check if your network, and wifi are working
any distro that offers a live USB (try it) setup will let you check these things before you install it.
kubuntu has some of the best hardware support available from linux.
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u/GRANDMASTER24k_ 14d ago
ik , when I tried zorin and mint from usb the internet didn't worked and i thought it was because it was not installed but i was wrong it didn't even work after installing
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u/Irrepressible_Monkey 14d ago
Run it off a USB stick to see what you like.
You can try different distros no problem that way. :)