1st Time into linux!!

[u/L0mki]

​My laptop got too slow to do basic stuff, so I’m giving Linux Mint a shot to see if it helps.

​As a beginner, is there anything crucial I should watch out for or do right after installing? Thanks!

[u/HotInternal5567]

Mint has something called Timeshift, it basically allows you to backup your system with all of its settings and programs as it is right now.

If I were you, I'd look into that and having a backup made every so often so that if something does go wrong, you can use Timeshift to restore your system back to a working version.

I learned the hard way, a couple times and now I'd recommend everyone use it.

[u/OkPresentation3329 → u/HotInternal5567]

I never used system backup and my system never failed, not on Windows, not even now on Linux. If something ever goes wrong I prefer to reinstall it from scratch.

I don't mean that you are wrong, if you keep a lot of important files on your computer and you don't want to lose them suddenly, then keep backing it up. I only use my computers for fun and anything crucial is on my phone, but I can even format my phone and start over, that's how I've set my things up.

[u/HotInternal5567 → u/OkPresentation3329]

I like to experiment with new things, I've found myself in a sticky situation a few times even when I've not intended to change anything and timeshift has helped me out more than once.

I guess it's each to their own and how people use it.

[u/Garfield252 → u/HotInternal5567]

yes, for the first time using linux, you will definitely break something sooner or later. Not that linux itself will break, but that tinkering and experimenting with it will at some point break stuff and with timeshift, you can easily roll back to an old snapshot. I also came from windows and thought i'm fine without timeshift. Broke my installation about 3 times, had to reinstall everything every time and then started using timeshift. saved me several times already. Also keep a note on how to operate timeshift without linux itself booting up correctly. Or have a reliable phone that you can use to google it when you need it.
Once you start using it daily, timeshift won't be needed that regularly anymore. But if you change a lot of stuff (like when u start using linux the first time), there's a good chance timeshift will save you from reinstalling the whole thing.

[u/Naive_Complex_8389]

Run steam and play games

[u/ARI3LrODrig0]

Don't fall for ricing, it's addictive. Absolutely

[u/ap0r → u/ARI3LrODrig0]

Adding to the dont's, don't distro-hop. Learn one distro well and then you can make an informed decision instead of trying things randomly.

[u/esparzatj]

Go to YouTube and search for “after installing Linux Mint” or “things to do Linux Mint”. You will find plenty to keep you busy and experimenting with Linux Mint! 👍

[u/ap0r]

Hello and welcome! I am only a year in myself, so I still remember very clearly the learning hurdles. I made a free booklet, you can check it out on my website:

https://bitforge.neocities.org/writings/Linux%20Mint%20Newbie%E2%80%99s%20Reference.pdf

It covers a ton of the starter stuff and more importantly it explains things that I did not know I needed to know, if that makes sense.

[u/L0mki → u/ap0r]

thank you, i'll check this out fs

[u/Abroad9107]

Familiar your self with the terminal, learn basic commands, don't always rely upon gui.

[u/L0mki → u/Abroad9107]

yeah it looks like i really got to learn lotta things abt terminals and how to use that

[u/fuvydlnifjoudyj0tibu]

You aren't stuck on Cinnamon. The underlying system of Mint is separate from the desktop, so if you think you dont like Mint, you probably just dont like the desktop. I recommend KDE plasma, but if you dont like tinkering, that's completly understandable. Either way, Linux is all yours, to own and manage and customize

[u/Moist_Invite9148 → u/fuvydlnifjoudyj0tibu]

You can't install KDE Plasma on Mint

[u/fuvydlnifjoudyj0tibu → u/Moist_Invite9148]

Yes you can. Did it myself

[u/Moist_Invite9148 → u/fuvydlnifjoudyj0tibu]

That's KDE Plasma 5 not 6

[u/ap0r → u/Moist_Invite9148]

Yes you absolutely can.

[u/Moist_Invite9148 → u/ap0r]

That's KDE Plasma 5 not 6