linux4noobs

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linux4noobs

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Is there anything I would still need a windows dual boot for? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 17 hours ago by arudesalad@sh.itjust.works to c/linux4noobs@programming.dev

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I've been meaning to switch my pc to linux for a while but have only recently gotten enough time to switch. Is there anything that I would need a dualboot for? I was previously concerned with VR, specifically using a quest wirelessly. I heard about a year ago that it is possible but not the best. Has it improved since then?

And is there anything else I would still need a windows machine for? I don't know specifically what doesn't work and I don't mind using FOSS alternatives.

I was running a raspberry pi with raspian on it as a homelab for a few years (until the SD card died :( I still need to fix that) so I am not completely unfamiliar with linux and the terminal and am willing to use it to make programs work as long as they work as well as they would on windows.

(I've decided on swapping to mint if that matters)

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[–] bleistift2@sopuli.xyz 4 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

I have been dual booting for years now, even though I almost exclusively use Linux. I’ve been in the situation where I fucked up configuration and left my Linux in a not-so-good state. In these circumstances it was nice to know that I still had access a functioning computer while I figured out how to repair Linux. Sure, you can use your smart phone for basic digital necessities, but that’s not something I’d want to be forced to do.

Another thing you might need Windows for is helping family and friends troubleshoot their shit. I don’t know if that applies to you.

If disk space is not very constrained, then I’d always recommend dual booting. Shrink the Windows partition(s) to the bare minimum (add some head room) if need be.

Something I’ve never done personally, but which may be scary, is flashing the BIOS via Linux. Most vendors assume Windows in their software.

[–] arudesalad@sh.itjust.works 2 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Helping friends and family troubleshoot is something I would still have to do. I always assumed that I would be able to fix any mistakes quickly enough with a live boot usb but having a working windows install to fall back on is a good idea.

Also, you can flash BIOS via an OS? I thought it could only be done from within the BIOS?

[–] bleistift2@sopuli.xyz 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I have never had to manually flash a BIOS. Usually when I’ve seen it done, some program was executed in Windows that would prepare the flashing, then the computer would restart and flash the BIOS before restarting again.

[–] arudesalad@sh.itjust.works 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I think what you saw was the usb getting flashed (like how you make an installable drive), rebooting to bios and flashing the bios from the usb. That's how I did it anyway.

[–] bleistift2@sopuli.xyz 3 points 16 hours ago

Possible. I’m not proficient in the firmware realm. But since there was no external drive attached, that “installable drive” would have to have lived on the main drive.