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submitted 4 days ago by JRepin@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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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[-] bampop@lemmy.world 70 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 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!

[-] zer0bitz@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago

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

[-] ceenote@lemmy.world 48 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

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

Frist of all, how dare yo u

[-] Phen@lemmy.eco.br 26 points 4 days ago

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

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[-] thesohoriots@lemmy.world 14 points 4 days ago

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

[-] NutWrench@lemmy.ml 23 points 4 days ago

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

To Linux.

[-] DannyMac@lemm.ee 11 points 4 days ago

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

[-] techpir8@lemmy.ml 18 points 4 days ago

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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[-] sparky@lemmy.federate.cc 10 points 4 days ago

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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[-] NutWrench@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 days ago

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.

[-] Wolf@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days 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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[-] wuphysics87@lemmy.ml 11 points 4 days ago

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?

[-] thecoffeehobbit@sopuli.xyz 14 points 4 days ago

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

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[-] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

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.

[-] kkj@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 4 days ago

Bazzite is generally the go-to for gaming.

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[-] Alaknar@lemm.ee 5 points 3 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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[-] Pudutr0n@feddit.cl 13 points 4 days ago

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

[-] Olgratin_Magmatoe@slrpnk.net 33 points 4 days ago

IIRC there is browser support for excel

[-] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 34 points 4 days ago

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.

[-] Zagorath@aussie.zone 27 points 4 days ago

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.

[-] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 days ago

Your logic is spot on, and it does apply to most power users, but not to all.

Everyone has a different use case and experience, I think we speak based on our own experiences.

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[-] decended_being@midwest.social 6 points 4 days ago
[-] nasi_goreng@lemmy.zip 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

LibreOffice is good as a standalone software, if you're not looking for MS Office compability. I use LibreOffice, and my sister suddenly ask me to help edit their MS Office document. It was nightmare. There are a lot of hidden gotchas that rarely reported. It's absolutely not recommended to constantly changing software if you're editing your document.

Also, at the moment, Excel has more advance feature than LibreOffice Calc.

[-] NutWrench@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 days ago

LibreOffice has LibreCalc. It's free and there's a Windows version you can try.

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[-] sunbytes@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

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...

[-] corodius@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

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

[-] PieMePlenty@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

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?

[-] Venetas@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

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

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[-] bl4kers@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 days ago

10 still has over 50% market share (source)

[-] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

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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[-] dudesss@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

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.

[-] Horsey@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

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

[-] cryptix@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 4 days ago

Why 2010, is it cause of 64bit processors?

[-] Lorindol@sopuli.xyz 6 points 4 days ago

I assume it was a generalization, just few weeks ago I installed 32-bit Linux Mint to two laptops from 2007 or 2008, now my kids have their very own and fully functional computers. They do lag a bit sometimes, but learning patience is just good for the kids.

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[-] Flames5123@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 days ago

The only thing keeping me on Windows is Teamcraft for FFXIV. It has packet capturing on Windows, but not on Linux because of the way they’re doing packet capturing. There have been people who claim to get it working, but it’s still not 100%. I could even use plugins to get ACT (DPS meter) working, but sadly no plugins for Teamcraft…

[-] heavy@sh.itjust.works 13 points 4 days ago

That's interesting because pcapping is definitely not some windows exclusive feature, and the means are pretty transferable. I wonder what the hold up is.

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this post was submitted on 28 May 2025
632 points (98.5% liked)

Privacy

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