Chicago
Track Your Order
0
How to replace Windows with Linux Mint on your PC
I must have used more operating systems than almost anyone else. I cut my teeth on IBM 360/OS in the 1970s. Since then, I've used every Apple and Microsoft operating system you've heard of, and many you've never known, such as A/UX and Microsoft Xenix. I've also used well over 100 different Unix and Linux distributions. So, when I say Linux Mint 21.2 -- the latest long-term support (LTS) version of Linux Mint -- is not just the best Linux desktop, but the best desktop, it means something.
But is Linux Mint the best desktop for you? The only way you'll know for sure is to try it yourself. Here's how to first give Linux Mint a spin. It's simple to try. And, then, if you like what you see, I also explain how to replace Windows with Mint.
- Materials needed: Windows PC, internet connection, and a DVD-RW or USB stick with 3GB or more of storage
-
Estimated time: 2 hours
-
Estimated cost: $5
How to try Linux Mint
FAQs
What are Linux Mint's system requirements?
If you have a computer from the last decade or so that still works, it can almost certainly run Linux Mint. Technically, Linux Mint requires:
- 2GB RAM (4GB recommended)
- 20GB of disk space (100GB recommended)
- 1024×768 resolution (on lower resolutions, press ALT to drag windows with the mouse if they don't fit on the screen)
You can probably buy an old PC from a junk shop, and it will run Mint. I've done that very thing.
Is there any problem with running Linux Mint and Windows on the same PC?
No. It will take about ten seconds, plus the boot time, to switch from one operating system to the other, but that's it.
If you want to run them both at the same time, that's a different thing entirely. To do that, you should look into running one system in a virtual machine (VM), such as Oracle VirtualBox, or think about running Linux under Windows using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2.0. In these configurations, both operating systems will run a bit slower. But unless you're editing video or playing complex games, you shouldn't see any real slowdowns.
Can I run Microsoft Office on Linux?
Yes. There are complex ways to do this task using programs, such as WINE, Crossover Linux , and WinApps for Linux. But the easiest by far is to simply run Microsoft 365, formerly Office 365.
You can, of course, also run many great Linux desktop programs, such as GIMP for photo editing, LibreOffice for office work, and Chrome or Firefox for web browsing.
