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+--- Thread: Switched from Windows to Zorin OS (/showthread.php?tid=56)
Switched from Windows to Zorin OS - BoxPressured - 07-26-2026
As an experiment, decided to backup my C:\ drive and install Zorin OS. One of many distros, but this one imitates Windows, while still with it's own character and features.
When you have the USB ready, there's also a basic checklist to unWindows yourself.
- Backup your C:\ drive
- Download Rufus to "burn" image to USB stick (At least 8GB): https://rufus.ie/en/#download
- Download Zorin OS: https://zorin.com/os/download/
- Write Zorin OS to the USB stick
- Check for your motherboard's "BIOS Boot selector key" that will allow you to select the USB to boot from
- You may need to re-select your "boot storage device" after Zorin OS is installed, just keep that in mind if you get "No bootable device found" after your install it.
Some of the issues encountered:
- In Windows power settings, make sure to uncheck "Turn on fast startup" - Windows locks drive C:\ when shutting down and may prevent new OS installation
- If on older hardware, sometimes Windows was working with IDE storage configuration, make sure to set BIOS storage to AHCI just so that you're running storage at it's full potential
- Reset overclocking to stock clock speed - Linux is less stable with overclocking and may freeze due to voltage spikes or bad voltage config
All things considered, one only other issue is Linux may require you to select a driver for your graphics card. Due to Linux still adapting to new hardware, you may need to play around with what works. You may even reinstall the operating system to retry something.
So far after the upgrade, my system is running smooth, but knowing Linux it's best to have a backup solution.
Things to also consider:
- Zorin OS has a "Software" app that has extensive list of apps that can be installed
- LibreOffice is preinstalled, but may look into installing OpenOffice
- Download the IDEs, Thunderbird, Steam to get going
For the most part software alternatives are already made to work on Linux, and it's nice to see Memory usage at 14% instead of 50% just to idle with 24GB of memory.
If you encounter an issue with freezing, make sure to first try - hold ALT+PrtScn while pressing individual keys R+E+I+S+U+B. The key presses are separate instructions that store, terminate and prepare the system for safe restart.
Often if that doesn't work, your option is likely only to press the reboot button to carry on doing what you need to do.
After getting through the hurdles, I'm glad to have a functioning alternative to Windows and not having to be a lab rat for it's new updates and never ending decisions how to screw you over without giving you any choice.
You won't know if you will be recorded by a ghost "Recall", if your files will be trained on by their AI, or if Copilot comes back to haunt your rented office suite, or files will be copied to OneDrive without your explicit permission, or make you sign in into MS account for any reason even just to boot up your PC first time. They've been looking how to disable local account for a while, which is a big no-no to IT community. It's a big violation of privacy to play with user's data as they please. Also they easily comply with regulations that ask for ID verification/face scan/biometrics planned in the future. It's just too far, and too much to be considered normal.
Old outlook is also to be phased out by 2029, while I'm sure Thunderbird is picking up on the black hole Microsoft is creating.
Another notable thing that comes to mind about Linux, is the speed. It may not be noticeable at times, but some sites will load in fraction of the time. While their "Software" app seems to lag a bit as they don't take advantage of redistributing installers using other people's computers like Windows.
All-in-all, linux can be fiddly and sometimes doesn't allow you to run software that you may need or used to in Windows. I'm hoping Linux will remain true to it's users with minimal bloat and everincreasing support by developers to allow users to have freedom of usage of their own hardware.
It turns out as a bit of "Windows hate", but most will agree that not knowing how your data is being misused and restricted is not a nice feeling.
With their K2 project, I think they will only debloat system, they're very unlikely to undo Copilot, Office subscriptions and Recall may get a new use.
I'm sure Zorin OS will have it's struggles, especially as all Linux distros, sometimes to install or configure, you may use the terminal to dowload/install a package. But otherwise, it's a capable system worth giving a good shot.