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I fucked up my old spare PC trying to install Linux and I'd like to freshly install a more compatible Linux for an older computer (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by cheese_greater@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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It had Windows installed and it was taking up 3 partitions or something so i destroyed its recovery drive and i probably need to start fresh with just Linux

Is there a way to just reset and do everything over like by repartitioning and installing something like Fedora or Ubuntu? I tried to jnstall PopOS and i think i settled on the ZorinOS or something but I can't get Ethernet or my VPN working and I want to be able to download "app" "installers" like you do with PC or MacOS.

Baby steps

Edit: fucked up the pc is way harsh. ZorinOS is technically stable-y-ish installed, its just Windows is gone but maybe thats the opposite of fucked 🤔

Edit: so i checked and its ZorinOS. What do y'all think of Zorin, should I still migrate to something more ubiquitous and longer-running?

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[-] mko@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 2 days ago

Replying after your two edits. A couple of things

  • Assuming you just want a working PC on hardware you are not sure works with Linux, I would try Ubuntu as a first step. The latest 26.04 LTS is up to date at the moment, and Ubuntu includes a bunch of proprietary drivers that should help not faffing around with that the first thing you do on a new install. Use the Live boot to try things out - things like network drivers should work in that environment before you install.
  • Suggestions here suggest Mint or Fedora. Try the Live boot on those as well. Mint is based on a two year old Ubuntu release (24.04) and Fedora does not include non-open source drivers that might be the solution to an issue you may have.
  • Zorin is also based on Ubuntu 24.04. Any driver issues you might have there has a high probability of being the same on Mint.
  • You might also like to dip your toes into Bazzite. It is based on Fedora, but also includes a bunch of proprietary drivers ready to go.

Installation of apps works differently on Windows. Generally on Linux you install via the software tool that is included with your distro. Check out which one is used on the distro you choose. Sort of like the app stores on Windows or Mac but first-class citizens and without the bloat. There are exceptions to this rule (AppImages or packages not included in any distro’s repositories), but just in general use the default as far as you can. Your apps will automatically be kept up to date by the OS so there are tangible benefits.

End of the day - Linux is neither Windows or Mac. There is a learning curve, but it’s more of one getting to understand the workflows than anything being intrinsically more difficult nowadays.

this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2026
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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