Hello, apparently hanging out in Lemmy inadvertently makes you thinking about using Linux. I am planning to install Linux Mint cinnamon on an older laptop, which I want to bring to LAN Parties. From what I read I can just format my C:\ windows disk, install Linux via bootable drive and from what I understand, proton is basically included when installing steam after setting up my new Linux OS? Thanks for your comments:)
Yup! Install Steam (with your package manager!) and play. Nothing to it.
Enjoy!
Thanks! I make sure to use the package manager, even, as of now, I’m not 100% what that means but I will find out
There is a GUI, but I prefer the terminal:
sudo apt update sudo apt install steam“Update” fetches the latest package information, and “install steam” does exactly what you think it does :)
I will probably use your approach, because the windows like gui should only help me transition. Getting to know how to use the terminal is my next step. Thanks!
Just as a note, I believe you still need to tick the “Enable Steam Play for all titles” in Steam settings to allow it to be used with non-verified games.
Thanks!
Welcome to the club!
Just want to mention that "C:" is a Windows-specific convention for identifying hard disks. Linux doesn’t have quite any concept of a “C:\ drive.” You’ll of course still have your OS installed on the same disk that today Windows calls "C:", but on Linux it’ll be (and I’m oversimplifying a little bit here) “/”.
I’m a little bit jealous because I can’t start learning such things for the first time like you will be soon. Ha!
My advice: don’t feel like you have to learn it all at once. Don’t feel bad about just accepting the defaults that the installer suggests where you don’t know what to do otherwise. If the command line intimidates you (we were all there once) use the gui tools exclusively as much as you like. Some day you might start to feel limited sticking with gui tools. (Or maybe for your particular purposes, the guis will always be perfect.) Until you do start to feel like you want to learn more about such things for your own sake, don’t let anyone tell you you’re doing it wrong by using the easy way.
(This from someone who does basically everything from the terminal. Lol!)
And don’t be too afraid to break things. Breaking things is arguably the best way to learn. And do feel free to reach out to friendly communities for help when you need it. It’s likely that if something has gone wrong (which is pretty unlikely with Mint), you’ll need to do some terminal stuff to fix it, but people can help you out with that if you ask. :)
Godspeed!
Excellent choice of a starter distro. I hope you have fun
Yes, via your package manager install Steam. You’ll have to go into Steam settings to activate compatibility with proton if I remember well
Since you have LAN parties in mind, be sure to check this list to know what games are (or are not) well supported by Proton under Linux.
Proton is the compatibility layer that allows Seam games developed for Windows to run under Linux. Some games, unfortunately, may have problems that cause you to be left out.
You love to see it. Linux Mint was my daily driver for a long time, it’s a great choice.
Oh and one additional question, is it recommended to uninstall all programs I had under Windows, so I won’t have to deal with "ghost files "? As to use windows helping me remove installation data? I have my laptop partitioned into C and D, where in D I have all my documents plus installed programs, C is solely for the OS.
Good practice is to backup your D drive, before installing to C drive.
In case something goes wrong, etc.
Great choice. Definitely Linux Mint.
Or you could try Zorin.
You could but it often updates much later than others, and is way too white everywhere
true. but it does have a Dark Mode.
Lol I’m going through the same thing, I’m choosing the distro that helps my needs, but I’m not sure how to use the vst bridge and wine for my audio plug ins.
I don’t know whether I have gotten some settings wrong in Steam, but I have to open the Properties window of every freshly installed game, and set it to launch using Proton GE, otherwise it just defaults to nothing. So if a game doesn’t work for you, always check if it is configured to launch using at least some kind of Proton thingy.
Have a look at Linux mint: Debian edition (LMDE)
