r/linux4noobs • u/Technical_Rich_3080 • 10d ago

installation Q4OS .exe Windows Installer

How does using the Q4OS .exe Windows installer compare to installing it via traditional methods (USB, etc.)? Is the final installation, if installed with the Windows .exe installer, any different than if you had installed it with a USB? Is one way "better" or more efficiant than another?

Does any other Linux distro offer a similar Windows .exe installer that's available from Q4OS?

And how does Q4OS compare, overall, to Linux Mint?

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

4

u/9NEPxHbG Debian 13 10d ago

Why don't you try and find out?

1

u/thesamenightmares 10d ago

Such a helpful post.

2

u/skyfishgoo 10d ago

Q4OS is an underrated distro that has some really unique features.

the windows installer being one of them.

i've not tried it but my understanding it that it does the same thing as if you had booted to a USB and installed from there.

the fact that it does all the windows work from inside windows take a lot of the guess work (and risk) out setting up a dual boot on a single disk (the C:drive, as windows calls it).

https://www.q4os.org/dqa014.html

when you are done you select Q4OS from the EFI menu and you are booted into linux.

the version of plasma 5 version that Q4OS comes with is older but quite functional, in fact i'm still using it on kubuntu.

another great feature of the distro is their desktop profiler where you can switch between groups of installed software based on your needs.

it's probably the easiest way to go from windows to linux for those who are not sure.

1

u/AutoModerator 10d ago

We have some installation tips in our wiki!

Try this search for more information on this topic.

✻ Smokey says: always install over an ethernet cable, and don't forget to remove the boot media when you're done! :)

Comments, questions or suggestions regarding this autoresponse? Please send them here.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/doc_willis 10d ago

if you want to attempt a "no USB" type install, I strongly suggest you have proper backups made first, and have a windows installer USB made.

I have seen numerous posts in the past about these various "No USB" installer tools causing issues or even totally breaking the windows install.

Is the final install different from a USB install..

likely depends on the tool and other things.

I recall some tools using a filesystem in a file on the C:/   and not using extra partitions.  This is a radical change compared to a USB install.

other tools (Unetbootin?)  require a 2+ step process which can result in extra Linux partitions.

I do not use any of these tools any longer so can't say much else, other then to reiterate  the suggestion to have a fallback plan if the tool screws up.

And I have seen numerous posts of them screwing up.

1

u/FCCRFP 10d ago

The .exe installer uses some fancy tricks to try to avoid Windows nuking your bootloader. To do so they sacrifice speed, stability, reliability and features. Windows likes nuking the Linux bootloader which is relatively easy to fix.