Finally had enough of your Windows PC? Nick Peers reveals how to fully road-test – then switch to – a user-friendly Linux distro.
There’s a myriad reasons for why you might have fallen out of love with your computer. Perhaps you’re tired of the constant updates and upgrades that slowly sap the life out of it unless you invest in expensive hardware upgrades (or even a completely new computer).
Maybe it’s the slow erosion of your privacy as personal information is leaked, and your computer is targeted with adverts. Or you might simply hanker after a new experience, one that takes you back to a time when you still enjoyed computing.
The answer to all these concerns is Linux. It’s supported for much longer than many OSes – up to 10 years, depending on Long Term Support options – freeing you from that constant upgrade/update cycle. Linux is also optimised for older hardware, so can give your existing PC a new lease of life. No personal data is collected, and the OS doesn’t try to sneak any ads in.
Ah, you say, but Linux is difficult to use, right? Wrong. There’s a multitude of Linux distros out there written with the normal, everyday user in mind, and in this feature, we’re going to introduce you to one of the most popular: Elementary OS. Its slick user interface is easy to master, and it’ll instantly feel familiar. We’ll show you how to test it thoroughly before installing it on your PC, either alongside your existing Windows installation or in place of it.
So, are you ready for a fresh start? Then buckle up as we take you from a Linux Learner to Linux User in around 60 minutes* . Let’s go!
Prep for a Linux OS
An ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure.
The good news is that you don’t need to commit to a full-blown install of Linux to T determine if it’s right for you. Many Linux distros – including Elementary OS – come with a live version of the operating system that can be run directly from DVD or USB flash drive. This enables you to get started with Linux in minutes without committing any hard drive space. Reboot your PC with the drive inserted, then look for an option to bring up the boot menu just after your PC switches on (typically F11 or F12). Press this, then select your boot media from the menu – if there’s a choice, try UEFI first.
If you’ve installed Ventoy, you’ll see a list of ISO files stored on the drive – choose the Elementary OS ISO option and it should then display a menu inviting you to Try Or Install Elementary OS. Select this to be taken through a quick language/keyboard setup wizard. From here, select Try Demo Mode and click Next.
Once Elementary OS has loaded, you can browse its desktop as if you’d installed it on to your hard drive. Sadly, you can’t install a
