Linux @lemmy.ml MintyFresh @lemmy.world 1mo ago

Need a good resource to learn linux

I just fucking can't with windows anymore. I'd preach about it but I imagine you've heard it all. I have minimal computer expertise.

I use my PC mainly for streaming, downloading torrent files who's copyright you don't need to worry about, and light gaming. Usually just messing with New Vegas mods.

If someone knows of a good YouTube channel or guide or something written for andelder millennial caveman I would be grateful.

Edit: after having been recommended mint OS and giving it a quick Google, I got this! I haven't fucked with anything linux scince the early aughts. And holy shit has that come a ways. Guess I remembered back and got a little intimidated. Mint is downloading now. As a small f.u. I booted up edge to do it. Ty you beautiful people!

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Hey, others have already replied to a lot of things and you've already downloaded Mint (which is what I would have recommended also), so I would like to point out some things I always tell newcomers and some specific things for what you said.

First of all: Linux is not Windows is the hardest lesson to learn, there are a lot of things you're used to doing one way, but that doesn't make that way correct. The main example is installing software, looking on the internet and downloading a binary from a website is NOT how you do it, the example I always give is that of a smartphone, it's just as ridiculous to do in Linux than on a smartphone and for the same reasons. Instead use the package manager of your distro, that should work like the play/app store (except it's free), and if something is not there maybe you can add a repository to it, or maybe the program doesn't exist on Linux, only as a last resource should you do it manually.

Partitions and drives: Linux doesn't have the concept of a C: or D: drives, instead drives/partitions are mounted onto regular folders, so navigating through them is seamless. This means that if for example you were t mount the folder that contains all of your personal user data (/home) into a different partition from the root of the system (i.e /), you could format and change the system entirely without losing any personal data. This is very useful because it's very likely you will poke something and break stuff, with much freedom comes much power to break things, so being able to reinstall your system without worrying about your personal data is a good thing.

Drivers: mostly you shouldn't worry about drivers on Linux, unless your GPU is Nvidia, if so you should worry about drivers a lot. Nvidia's work best with the proprietary nvidia driver (instead of the default open nouveau driver), but the fact that the driver is proprietary makes it a pain in the ass to deal. You should 100% use it since you're gaming, but you should steer away from distributions that use Wayland (nevermind what this is for now) instead of X11 (Mint so far uses X11). If you have a Radeon you shouldn't worry about this.

I use my PC mainly for streaming

Be careful, afaik not all streaming software/sites are compatible with Linux. But that's not a world I dabbled much, I know OBS works excellently, but other than that don't know much.

downloading torrent files who's copyright you don't need to worry about

We all have torrent downloaders, for our Linux iso which are distributed via torrent of course

and light gaming. Usually just messing with New Vegas mods.

Iirc new Vegas is not on the supported list on steam, so you need to go to settings and enable Proton compatibility for all titles. I've never put mods so not sure how to do that, but you might need to read something before because the game is being run through a compatibility layer, so the files are not exactly where you would expect, and if you need to run a binary to find those files it needs to be in the same profile as new Vegas (each game creates their own profile based on steam ID, and each profile is in a different folder). Other than that New Vegas works perfectly on Linux, I've played it a long time ago, and now with the TV show I've started again.

Last but not least: Welcome!
- Excellent reply!
  
  I just want to add that partitioning your drives is not backups and can never replace backups. It just increases the likelihood of making it easier to fix should you fuck something up with your install.
  
  Also, if OP means "watching streaming services" and by "streaming", there should be little to no setup. Mainly the browser might ask you to enable DRM for the service to work.
- Piggybacking on to this excellent comment to elaborate on modding New Vegas. Everything except NVR works great! I'd recommend using this to install MO2
  
  4GB patcher has a Linux specific version on the Nexus Mods page.
  
  You can run most tools like the BSA decompressor or the TTW installer using Protontricks.
  
  xLODGen can be added as a tool to MO2 and just works.
  
  edit: Forgot to mention, Wabbajack doesn't work. Best just to run it on a Windows VM and move the files. Also, the current working version of MO2 doesn't support Root builder. So just move any files that need to be in the game folder directly to the game folder.
- Proton is a godsend. Some games can be a little unstable, but I've yet to find one that doesn't work at all. Even was able to install and mod a game from 2000. For what doesn't work on Proton, Lutris can hopefully handle. Takes a little doing sometimes but I got Battlenet/WoW working almost prefectly with CurseForge.
  
  Nvidia drivers are a huge pain in the ass, though, and haven't played nice with Wayland in my experience.
  
  There are games that don't work with Proton, but at this stage is 99% games that are actively trying not to work with Proton, e.g. DRM infested games.

77 comments