What a desktop operating system is
The operating system is the layer between you and the computer: the desktop, the file manager, the settings and the way you install apps. Most computers come with Windows or macOS. Linux is a free alternative that comes in many versions, called distributions or “distros”. Each one takes the same core and adds its own desktop, apps and habits for updating.
People usually switch for one of three reasons: a PC that can’t run Windows 11, a computer slowed down by adverts and preinstalled software, or wanting more say over their own machine.
The first reason has a deadline. Normal support for Windows 10 ended in October 2025. Home users can still get security updates until 12 October 2027 by enrolling in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates programme, which has a free option. After that, a PC that can’t run Windows 11 gets no more fixes, and Linux is the usual way to keep it safe and useful.
Check your must-have programs first
Before you change anything, list the programs you use every week and look each one up. Most land in one of three groups:
- Runs on Linux. Firefox, Chrome, Spotify, Discord, Zoom, Steam and VLC all have Linux versions, and LibreOffice comes with Mint.
- Works in a browser. Microsoft 365’s web apps, Google Docs and most online tools work the same in any browser on any system.
- Won’t run. The programs named in the warning above, and anything your school or job requires that is Windows-only.
If something you can’t do without is in the third group, keep Windows alongside Linux, or stay on Windows and tidy it up with the tools in the list below.
Try it, keep both, or replace
You don’t have to decide all at once. These are the four ways to go, from the most cautious:
| Way | What happens to Windows | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Run it from the USB stick | Nothing. Linux runs from the stick | Trying it for an evening |
| Install alongside Windows | Shrunk to make room; you pick one at startup | Keeping one or two Windows programs |
| Install on a second drive | Untouched | The tidiest way to keep both |
| Replace Windows | Erased | A PC that’s moving to Linux for good |
Running from the stick, called a live session, is slower than the real thing, and nothing you do in it is saved. It’s a safe way to check that the Wi-Fi, sound and screen work before you commit.
What it needs
- A USB stick of 8 GB or more that you can wipe.
- Enough computer. Linux Mint asks for 2 GB of memory (4 GB recommended), 20 GB of disk space (100 GB recommended) and a screen of at least 1024 × 768.
- A backup of your files. Installing alongside Windows resizes its space, and replacing it erases everything.
- Your BitLocker recovery key, if you’re keeping Windows (see the warning below).
- An hour or so, plus time to reinstall your programs.
How Linux Mint fits in
- A familiar layout. The Cinnamon edition has a menu in the bottom-left corner, a taskbar and a system tray, where a Windows user expects them.
- Software Manager. An app store: search for a program and click Install. It includes many apps from Flathub, the main Linux app library.
- Update Manager. Lists updates and lets you choose when to install them. It doesn’t restart the computer on its own.
- Timeshift. Takes snapshots of the system. If an update goes wrong, you pick an earlier snapshot from a list and restore it.
- Driver Manager. Installs graphics and Wi-Fi drivers with a click.
- Welcome screen. A first-steps checklist covering snapshots, drivers, updates and the firewall.
- Media playback. Tick one box during installation and common audio and video formats play straight away.
The easy way to set it up
Nothing here needs the terminal:
- Download the Cinnamon edition from linuxmint.com.
- Write it to a USB stick with balenaEtcher, which Mint’s own guide recommends on Windows and Mac: choose the file, choose the stick, then Flash!
- Start from the stick. Restart the PC and open its boot menu, often with F12, F11, F9 or Esc as it starts, then choose the USB stick.
- Try it. Mint opens as a live session. Check the Wi-Fi, sound and screen.
- Install. Double-click Install Linux Mint on the desktop. Choose your language and keyboard, connect to the internet, and tick the box for multimedia codecs.
- Choose where it goes. Pick the option to install alongside Windows, or Erase disk and install Linux Mint to replace it. Then set your name and password.
- Finish. Restart, take out the stick, and work through the Welcome screen: make a first Timeshift snapshot, check the Driver Manager, and install updates.
If the PC refuses to start Mint with a “Secure Boot” message, turning Secure Boot off in the BIOS is the quick fix, and Mint’s installation guide describes other options.
Questions people ask
Can I go back to Windows?
Yes. If you installed alongside it, Windows is still there in the menu at startup. If you replaced it, back up your files and reinstall with Microsoft’s own installer, from the list below. A PC that came with Windows usually reactivates once it’s online.
Will my games run?
Many will. Steam runs a large share of Windows games on Linux through Proton, a compatibility layer built into Steam. Games with strict anti-cheat often refuse to start. For a PC that’s mainly for games, look at Bazzite in the list below.
Do I need antivirus?
Mint doesn’t come with one, and most Linux users don’t run one. What protects you is installing updates and getting programs from the Software Manager rather than random websites.
Will it run on my old PC?
If the PC runs Windows 10 acceptably, it will usually run Mint at least as well. For very old or slow machines, Mint’s Xfce edition is lighter than Cinnamon.
Is dual booting safe?
It is if you prepare. Back up first, have your BitLocker recovery key written down, and in Windows turn off Fast Startup (Control Panel, Power Options, “Choose what the power buttons do”). That setting leaves Windows half-asleep instead of shut down, which can cause trouble when you switch between the two.
