a complete noob to linux

[bronze tapir]

After encountering multiple high resource usages from Windows MsMpEng running in the background, SChannel Issues, with multiple forced-shut downs that was needed after my laptop froze, meaning i could not open task manager, let alone command prompt to force stop a process.

I've decided to consider transitioning to Linux Mint.

And the thing about this is that I am a complete beginner, and going into this with a blindfold on, meaning this will also be my first time installing Linux Mint.

This is to also say that I have not tried virtualization on my windows.

I have a freshly bought USB Flash Drive next to me.

What should I first off do?

What I have done so far

• 1. Downloaded Linux Mint Cinnamon
• 2. Downloaded Balena Etcher and began 'flashing' onto my USB Flash Drive, the ISO file.
• 3. ||started decrypting my Drives because I had bitlocker encryption on||
• 4. Downloaded Validrive to validate my USB. (it was valid)
• 5. Waiting for decryption to finish.. (Finished)
• 6. Booted up Linux Mint Live Mode
     -# Turned out to be super fucking laggy

[naive seal]

you can try mint live mode without switching to it completely

basically you download the mint iso on ur flash drive then when you boot into it you will be in "LIVE MODE" meaning linux mint is not installe on your machine but is running from your flash drive

its main purpose and adv is that user can check/tweak "feel" what will mint look /function like
once your satisfied with it you can install mint either with windows or fully on your machine (replacing windows)

one more thing while your on live mode dont compare RAM speed since its using a flash drive memory not real machine once you download it will be very smooth

[bronze tapir]

how do i enter into "live mode" through my boot menu?

[naive seal]

its ez

[bronze tapir]

-# i will also be updating my thread post to list all the things i have done for people to read and give advices

[naive seal]

just wait for it fully decrypte and take backup u r good to go

[bronze tapir]

I forgot to mention I am using a Lenovo K110 Mini USB 2.0

I read that it will impact Linux Mint Live Mode's performance because it's tied to the read speed of the Flash Drive, or USB Memory

[naive seal]

Live Mode performance will acutally depen on your us size but it willl work fine

i recommen you use rufus though its very each and muh safe but belena is fine too

[bronze tapir]

it has a 128Gig storage

[naive seal]

just check its a real usb (i had 256 gb but it was a fake one whih resulted in my mint not booting in )

[bronze tapir]

how do i check?

[naive seal]

its ez wait hol up

https://youtu.be/xMgEHy1A9QA?si=Z-YUTnT6acm4jtAm

one of the most helpful progam

[bronze tapir]

It’s a real USB

just used Validrive to confirm

[naive seal]

great

[bronze tapir]

ah right

i want to ask about VPNs

i'm an international student and VPNs are a must in this country.. usually because of their great firewall.

[naive seal]

yea so?

[bronze tapir]

any vpn recommendations?

or does linux mint already have vpn installed?

[naive seal]

its actually good on linux (mint) its very easy to use vpn however there is no built in vpn apps

for recommendation i nordvpn since its so global and vast supoport

but avoid sketchy ones and those who dont provide native linux support

wget https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-all/protonvpn-stable-release_1.0.8_all.deb
sudo apt install ~/protonvpn-stable-release_1.0.8_all.deb
sudo apt update
sudo apt install proton-vpn-gnome-desktop

source https://protonvpn.com/support/official-linux-vpn-ubuntu/

[bronze tapir]

im in the live mode

shit is super laggy

i think its mainly because of my usb flash

i dont think i can try live mode like this..

[bronze tapir]

currently trying to setup VPN so i can surf the internet..

[vague timber]

how is it? also keep in mind that running live with no swap partition on the hard drive (virtual memory) can make it extra-slow , especially on low RAM machines

you can get full specs by doing inxi -Fxz in terminal. do note all case-sensitive

for linux mint you should have at least 4 GB of RAM, and an intel core i5 (or equivalent)

and about 1.8 to 2 GHz processor

[bronze tapir]

I’m not too worried about that

it’s the VPN

I am an international student and very much wanted to try Linux Mint and get away from windows for a while

but the main concern was the VPN

[vague timber]

well you got two suggestions above.

[bronze tapir]

i tried openvpn but couldn’t grab the server configurations

protonvpn wasn’t much help either let alone firefox’s extension vpns (i doubted they work anyway)

[vague timber]

perhaps VPN things need a reboot of the system to take effect in the network stack

for such case, you need to make a live USB with persistence (done using either Rufus, or Universal USB Installer)

since a non-persistive Live ISO won't keep any changes at all that you make during a live session.

[bronze tapir]

so try again using rufus?

[vague timber]

yep

and you'll find a persistence slider in it. just set it to about 4 to 5 GB

this only works on ubuntu-based distros

[bronze tapir]

why? wouldn’t that impact the live sessions performance?

unless its something different..

[vague timber]

no cuz most of the session runs in RAM anyway

the more u force persistence on the USB, the more it'll wear out faster, plus take a lot longer to prepare

[bronze tapir]

i wanted to intend for long term usage

[vague timber]

well this is just for trial. if u want long term, then install it to hard drive as meion mentioned

[bronze tapir]

maybe next time

despite the issues ive run into so far

the live session has been pretty swimmingly

compared to windows

i definitely saw the significant difference in performance

[vague timber]

what's 'swimmingly' mean?

[bronze tapir]

to proceed without any problems*

[vague timber]

oh ok

[bronze tapir]

in this case without running into any other issues

[vague timber]

well i'll let you play around. I'll link you the rufus advice link

[bronze tapir]

sure thing