this post was submitted on 28 May 2025
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Privacy

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/30792652

Support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025. Microsoft wants you to buy a new computer. But what if you could make your current one fast and secure again?

If you bought your computer after 2010, there's most likely no reason to throw it out. By just installing an up-to-date Linux operating system you can keep using it for years to come.

Installing an operating system may sound difficult, but you don't have to do it alone. With any luck, there are people in your area ready to help!

5 Reasons to upgrade your old computer to Linux:

  1. No New Hardware, No Licensing Costs
  2. Enhanced Privacy
  3. Good For The Planet
  4. Community & Professional Support
  5. Better User Control
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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 days ago

If anyone is interested to try out Linux distros, you can do it in your web browser at https://distrosea.com/

[–] [email protected] 70 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

My PC had been running like shit for a while and I was already weighing up options for replacing it, when I got the popup message from MS about Windows 10 expiring, and how my only option was to dump the PC. So I installed Linux out of pure spite. Runs like a dream now. Thanks Microsoft!

[–] [email protected] 50 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

If you bought your computer after 2010, there's most likely no reason to throw it out.

Frist of all, how dare yo u

[–] [email protected] 28 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The average retail store where I live is still selling computers with 6+ years old CPUs as "gamer edition".

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 days ago (4 children)

I just toss it in a lake so the fish can have internet.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago (4 children)

The other nice thing about Linux is that there are several Live versions you can try out on your computer without making any changes to your Windows installation.

This also lets you see if check and see if Linux fully supports your hardware (just in case you have a weird network or audio card). If the Live version of Linux works, the installed version will, as well.

Most installers let you set up a dual boot on the same hard drive, too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Even if your audio or WiFi card doesn't work automatically in the live environment, that doesn't necessarily mean that you are out of luck either. My WiFi card manufacturer doesn't support Linux (Last thing I buy from them), but I was able to find a driver that was built by the community for a very similar product that works flawlessly.

This may be more complex than some people are willing/able to solve, just wanted to put that out there for people who can so they aren't discouraged by a bad experience with a live distro.

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 3 days ago (1 children)

You don't need to buy a new computer. You just need to upgrade your old computer.

To Linux.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 days ago

Which then makes it run like a new computer. So Linux basically gives you a free new computer.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Came to Lemmy while my disk manager is processing my new partition.

If it goes well, I'm switching today.

So, probably some time early tomorrow morning. Because I'm not great with reading instructions.

Edit: it's still processing. It feels like it shouldn't take this long to partition...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

if you are shrinking or modifying an existing partition to make room, it will take quite a while

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Luckily it only took like 15 mins total.

Thanks though!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

awesome! no worries :)

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 days ago (4 children)

I’ve been dry-running a Linux only world for a few months now, dual booting and running everything on the Linux partition, only using windows when necessary. So far basically all my games run well under proton and the few non-free programs I care about work well enough under wine. I think tomorrow is the day I blow away the windows partition.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (4 children)

What distro would be good for an old (coming up to ten years) Windows 10 under-TV Steam box with a GTX870? Its job is basically to boot straight into big picture mode with no login screen and be operated by a PS4 controller, but I figure I can’t just keep it on Win10 without security patches.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 days ago (5 children)

Hmm Windows 10 LTSC and IOT will still be supported until 2027.

Debian Trixie, now is the time to shine, release soon please.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

How viable are modern nvidia cards (like 4070) on linux today? Mainly for gaming. I've heard there are some driver issues that can cause problems, any truth to this claim?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Most problems with newer cards have been fixed with version 550. Gaming related, the only thing that will cause you pain is VR or Kernel Level AC

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Thanks. So just use official Nvidia drivers and I'm good to go? Thinking of moving to fedora if it maters.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Yup, the official driver is your best option for gaming. No experience with fedora here. I think they use wayland instead of X11 by default, right? I know that wayland had a tough time with Nvidia gpus. No idea if anything has changed in the last two years.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

I have a 3070 Ti and it works flawless on Mint with the official driver

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

As someone getting back to pcs and trying linux, it warms my heart because I am scared of VR and shite at online games. This is the place for me.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (11 children)

Can I bother anyone in this thread to help with suggestions for a Linux distro that works for a gaming PC that won’t require me to have a computer science degree? I’m not afraid of some troubleshooting here and there, but I’m ~~kind of~~ dumb.

Edit: I should have known there’d be a shotgun load of different distros, good thing I’ve been gifted with e-“waste” for years, I’ve got some tinkering to do. Hyper-fixation, here I come.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Bazzite is generally the go-to for gaming.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

My journey was: Kubuntu -> Tuxedo OS -> Garuda Linux.

Kubuntu was painful, lots of issues. Maybe just got unlucky, but cannot recommend it.

Tuxedo OS was phenomenal until I bought a GPU. Then stuff broke left and right. I wasn't able to get Steam to launch anymore so I switched.

Garuda Linux is the one I still use. I had it for 53 days and had no severe issues to date. There's still a bunch of stuff that needs ironing out, but that's the case with all Linux distros, it's never "fire and forget" like Windows, in my experience.

I chose Garuda because it's advertised as "the Linux for gamers". It's packed with extra goodies that make life easier - you can pick and choose popular apps to be installed right away (things like Lutris, Steam, Heroic Launcher, Proton, Vivaldi browser), and you get an application that helps with maintenance.

The only major issue I had was due to my ignorance (but I kind of blame it on the OS because it was supposed to be "noob friendly" and this bit was very much not so) - just after installation and updates you'll get the system maintenance app ask you to "merge pacdiff files". This shows up a comparison window of two files, and if you've never used Linux you have no clue what's going on. When you get that, just don't overwrite the one on the right with the one on the left - you'll break the entirety of your package manager. :D

Other than that: I'm having a great time. The OS looks pretty, games run great. 9/10

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

What does it mean in practice for windows 10 to reach end of life? There are no more security updates? My vm will stop working? They are preventing you from using your computer?

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 days ago (2 children)

No more security updates, so it will gradually become unsafe to use online.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Linux has gotten incredibly better for gaming. Now Bluetooth controllers connect just as easy as Windows, and Steam has Proton built in so that when you run a Windows only game, Steam will automatically install the appropriate Proton and Wine software -- just make sure to turn on compatibility mode in the Steam launcher settings. Every game I ran so far runs fine on Linux.

It couldn't be a better time to switch to Linux.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Xpadneo is baked into Ubuntu 25 now? I noticed it was in Fedora 42.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 days ago (8 children)

Excel is the most important tool I need for my work. :/

[–] [email protected] 31 points 3 days ago (12 children)

IIRC there is browser support for excel

[–] [email protected] 32 points 3 days ago (4 children)

There is web support, but it lacks most actually useful functions. Libreoffice is great, but is not 1:1 compatible with excel. Then there's Onlyoffice, which is very compatible, but also lacks many functions.

Bottom line is, if you're an excel power user, you'll need to learn Libreoffice Calc, or you're out of luck. If not, Onlyoffice should suffice.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 3 days ago (1 children)

if you’re an excel power user, you’ll need to learn Libreoffice Calc

Let's be honest...most people who are Excel power users probably need to interact with other users. Sending and receiving documents and templates, etc. Simply learning Calc yourself isn't going to suffice, you'd have to convince your entire business to switch.

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