Are there any good tools for listing your current programs, maybe exporting settings etc. Listing hidden settings and save locations would be great too.
I'm about 90% ready to switch to Linux full time, and I want to make sure that I've got everything. I've got a horrible feeling that I'm missing something, but I can't think what it might be.
EDIT: Ironically, I forgot to mention my ADHD / memory issues. I could do with a tool like this because I forget about anything that I'm not currently using, or actively thinking about using soon >.<
Dual-boot, and if anything is missing, boot back into Windows to do that while you work on figuring out how to do it on Linux. There might be something to do what you're asking, but I find it unlikely because Windows and Linux are very different internally.
That's what I'm doing at the moment, but I find myself staying on the OS I'm using until I'm forced to reboot to the other for whatever reason. e.g. If I boot to Windows for Photoshop, I tend to start browsing and checking my emails, and the next thing I know, it's three weeks later and I've forgotten to switch back >.<
My 2¢: Pick a free time, make a small list of tasks that you do in Windows and spend time diving into what options exist for doing that in Linux (usually there will be multiple). The aim should not be to remember how to do it (less memory used 😁) but on figuring out menu structures, terminologies, etc. While going through your lists, you'll end up familiarising yourself with (hopefully) gimp, the terminal, libreoffice, etc. You'll hopefully also develop some tricks for searching for information on stackoverflow, GitHub, or in the various forums. That should help resist the urge to just switch over to Windows, and find a solution quickly.
It will take time. Sometimes, things will just not make sense - but finding solutions to problems is (probably) what is making you interested to begin with. Don't look at it as a decision, more as a journey to start.
Note down every tool you use in windows and use alternativeto.net to find linux alternatives for them. Thats what I did, saved me what you are going through. Everytime I tried to switch usinf a sifferent method I just ended up using Windows to not deal with the "pain point" of switching
I'm about to update my post. Ironically, I forgot to mention my ADHD / memory issues.
I find that I focus on one 'task' for a while, like photo editing or programming, and forget about the other software I use. I might be on a streak with something today, and completely forget about what I was doing last week.
create a windows VM of my current windows state and delete the dual boot (only boot into linux)
write out complete list of all windows apps you've used, as well as any CLI apps, extensions, packages (e.g. chocolatey).
1-by-1 (!!!) find an alternative, install it, copy all it's config (text or screenshots) across.
I would also delete or disable the app in Windows if I find the alternative to be sufficient... You don't want to be using both apps on both OS's at the same time. The Windows VM is just for apps that have no sufficient linux alternative.
All those points assume that you would have compatible apps for both platforms. For some small subset of applications might work... Like VLC player, Firefox, Chromium browsers, ... You could try to run Windows apps with Wine, but that can be done on app basis and will not be generic
Get an external disk and maybe dump your home folder and appdata there. One of the best features of Linux is the available free software. Although daunting, I would recommend having an open mind with regards to what tools and procedures you need in order to accomplish different tasks. Your preferences should change a little (I think, did for me atleast) and if you need some of your old stuff you have your config files and such on the external partition.
What I did when I switched was to create an image of my existing install with clonezilla then used it in a vm. This way I didn't have to worry about a dual boot configuration.
Been a while since I did this but it should still work
I've got a copy of Macrium Reflect that does the same thing, but mostly automatically, and I'm pretty sure that it runs on Linux too. I'm going to check now :)