Linux

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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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How to move from Windows to Linux? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I want to move to Linux Mint without losing data, can someone help?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

OP, this is absolutely not the case. If you install in a dual-boot configuration (recommended for beginners), not only will you not lose your data, you won't lose the ability to boot into Windows. You'll get asked to choose which OS you want each time you restart and Linux can access all files on Windows (but not vice versa). Secondly, not only is windows not the only OS that markets itself to Just Work™ (that's been MacOS's entire shtick since its inception), modern Linux does that as well. You can install software and drivers, manage system configuration, etc. without even knowing what a terminal is. Knowing how to use the terminal is never a bad idea, but rest assured that by no means do you have to, especially when starting out.

I sincerely doubt the person I'm replying to has used a distro marketed towards Linux newbies at any point in the last five years.