From Windows to Linux in 1 Afternoon (It’s Easier Than You Think)

A Guide For Privacy Focused Individuals to Transition From Windows to Linux in 1 day

For years, I straddled two worlds:

Kali Linux for ethical hacking experiments, and Windows for my “daily driver”.

Kali was my toolbox, my learning lab, my way of testing boundaries. But Windows? That was just... comfortable. Familiar. Convenient.

Until it wasn’t.

At some point, the convenience stopped being worth the price. Not the monetary price—the privacy price.

I started noticing just how hard Microsoft makes it to maintain any semblance of control over your data. Even with all telemetry settings disabled, even with group policy tweaks and third-party tools, Windows kept calling home.

And the updates? Constant. Unpredictable. And often resetting privacy settings without asking.

Eventually, I hit a wall. I realized I was spending more time fighting Windows than using it.

So I made the switch.

And honestly? I should have done it years ago.

This post is for anyone who's finally ready to leave Windows behind and step into the world of Linux. Specifically, Linux Mint — the distribution I recommend for beginners because it feels the most familiar to anyone coming from Windows.

It makes the transition easy and honestly I think you’ll love it.

But don’t worry: if you end up choosing something like Ubuntu, Zorin OS, or Pop!_OS, most of these steps will still apply.

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Step 1: Prep Your Windows Machine

Before anything else, back up your important files. Seriously.

Even if you're planning to dual-boot or install Linux alongside Windows, mistakes can happen. Use an external hard drive, cloud storage, or both.

Next, go to Settings > Recovery and disable Fast Startup. You can also do this via Control Panel under "Power Options" > "Choose what the power buttons do."

Also, while you're in Windows:

• Make note of your Wi-Fi password (Linux won't pull it from Windows).

• Download Linux Mint ISO from linuxmint.com. This is what we will use in the next few steps to install the operating system on your computer.

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Step 2: Create a Bootable USB Drive

To make a USB that can install Linux, I used a tool called Balena Etcher. It's free and works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

1. Install Balena Etcher.

2. Plug in a USB stick (at least 4GB).

3. Open Etcher, select the Linux Mint ISO, select your USB, and click "Flash."

Alternatively, you can use Rufus (only for Windows) if you want more control over partition schemes.

Once it's done, leave the USB in the computer.

One note to add if you are using a USB hub I suggest connecting the USB stick right into the USB port on your computer or laptop. Sometimes the computer won’t read correctly for the next step.

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Step 3: Boot From the USB

Reboot your machine and press the key that opens the boot menu (usually F12, F2, DEL, or ESC, depending on your specific desktop or laptop).

Use the arrows to move over to the “Boot” tab.

Select your USB drive from the list if you have an interactive interface or in most cases you will need to move the usb to the top of the “Boot order”.

Save and exit to restart. Your computer should now boot from the USB.

This will launch Linux Mint in "live mode" without installing anything.

This is your chance to try it out first. You can browse the web, poke around the interface, and make sure your Wi-Fi, keyboard, and display work. If something doesn’t, it’s fixable—but good to know upfront.

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Step 4: Install Linux Mint

Once you're happy, click the Install Linux Mint icon on the desktop.

You’ll be guided through the install:

• Choose your language

• Connect to Wi-Fi

• Decide whether to install codecs (yes, do it)

• Choose how you want to install:

  • Replace Windows (erase disk)

  • Install alongside Windows (dual boot)

  • Manual partitioning (advanced)

If you’re switching fully, choose the first option to replace Windows.

**Important this will ERASE all your files and programs. Be sure you have backed up any important files before this step.**

Set your timezone, username, and password.

You will also have the opportunity here to encrypt your home directory (folder in Linux speak)

Then click install.

Go grab a coffee. It usually takes about 10–15 minutes.

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Step 5: First Boot & Updates

Once installed, reboot (remove your USB), and you’ll land on the Linux Mint desktop.

Before anything else, run updates.

Here is where your entire world is going to change, I will make this as simple as possible.

Linux can be like driving a manual car. You have a lot more control than you are used to but that comes with a learning curve.

I will explain how to do things with the GUI option (Graphical user interface, or interactive window) or in the terminal (that scary black box that you’ve seen hackers use in the movies).

So first you can use the Updates Manager which will be really easy for most people. This can be done in a couple of clicks and you’re done.

You can alternatively use the terminal (which will be the little black icon with a dash on the bottom panel) to run a “comman”.

Here is what it looks like:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Hit enter and you will be prompted to enter your password.

This will get your system fully patched and ready.

sudo = super user do, which allows you to run elevated commands which effect major settings. This would be similar to Administrator on Windows.

apt= advanced package tool, this downloads and install packages on your computer. Basically when installing software you need certain packages to run certain versions of software.

Updating makes sure that you have the most recent packages helping to ensure security and functionality.

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Common Troubleshooting Tips

• Wi-Fi not working? Try connecting via Ethernet first and installing drivers via Driver Manager.

• Secure Boot issues? Go into your BIOS and disable Secure Boot.

• Black screen after boot? Try the "nomodeset" boot option from the live USB boot menu.

• Touchpad or function keys weird? Most of this can be fixed with a little tweaking post-install.

If you hit any weird edge cases, the Linux Mint forums and r/LinuxMint on Reddit are goldmines. Or of course send me a message.

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Final Thoughts

Linux Mint made my transition from Windows smoother than I expected for my everyday use.

The interface felt familiar, the software manager handled everything I needed, and the fact that I was no longer fighting against my OS was a huge relief.

It’s certainly not the only option, Linux has many “flavors.”

If you’re someone who’s been on the fence about switching, let me tell you: it's not nearly as scary as it seems.

And once you're in, you won't look back.

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So what’s the next step?

Now that you have this fancy new operating system you need to do a few things first.

Before you go putting all your favorite programs on there.

Before you start browsing the internet.

Even before you change the background image.

You need to setup security.

I put together a Linux Mint Security Setup Guide that walks you through how to harden your system, configure a firewall, enable encryption, and set up real-time malware detection.

It's available here: 👉 Get the Linux Mint Security Setup Guide

This will be the perfect way to complete your transition to Linux.

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Questions? Drop them in the comments below — happy to help.

And if you've already made the switch to Linux, I want to hear your story too.

Know others who need to make the switch but may be having second thoughts? Restack this so they can see how easy it is for them to make the switch.

Don’t forget tomorrow we have a very interesting post from Guest Author The Storm Writer. You won’t want to miss it!!

Until next time…

Stay Informed. Stay Secure. Stay Curious.