Linux user goes to the doctor. Doctor says, "Son, you have a bad case of Shell." Linux user says, "How bad?" Doctor replies, "It's terminal."

So I saw a bit too many videos praising cachy OS as the best (fast and user friendly) current distro, so I took the plunge. And here is why I am making the post.

I see many new to linux people asking the question "hey I am thinking of swithing/trying Linux, which distro should I use?".

My answer is always if you are very casual tech user you should start with mint. If you are a bit good using your pc, you should start with Ubuntu or Kubuntu and then later decide if you want to try once you get hang of stuff.

But I have seen just too many replies saying you should start with cachyos. I thought that it would be as easy as Kubuntu/Ubuntu but it is not. Not at all. And that is just from one experience: app installation.

My experience with kubuntu: open discover, search app, install. Want flatpak? Enable flatpak inside discover. Done. There are no multiple options or cryptic app names.

My experience with cachy: can't find most needed apps in cachy repository app. Google said that there is GUI for AUR called octopi... Look for it.. Can't find. Google said use paru / yay... Both say command not found. Wait what is shelly? It's an all enclusive app store with cachy+ flatpack + aur? Great. What an intuitive name. Anyone would guess what the app does. Open app AUR has all weird app names so does the cachy OS repo. Which one should I install? Take libreoffice. Wtf is libreoffice fresh? Also why does it have icon of libreoffice base (the database app)? How do I install Google chrome? Searching Google chrome gets me chromium. Also why there are so many options. Can't find vscode as well. What should I search? Code? Vscode? Visual studio code? I had to Google many package names to search on AUR.

Then there is flatpak. I try installing something from flatpak, for every app it needs to install a flatpak container? The app is less than 30 mb and it's currently downloading a 200+ mb "flatpak"? Still don't know what to feel about it.

But I will be sticking with CachyOS for the long haul. I can handle it with a bit of practice. Just need to figure out what to trust on AUR and what to avoid.

i don’t have a big boy computer that does anything fancy, i just have my little laptop i use for DnD, reading comics, and older computer games (fallout, RCT, Planescape, etc.) and that’s really it. i’m sick and fucking tired of every time i turn it on it needs an update. an update that takes HOURS. and if i don’t update it, its slows down everything im trying to do; hell this time it was stuck it couldn’t even get to the power menu in the settings and i had to CAD just to restart and then BAM! update while i’m trying to get a little work done at the library

Hi there! I have been using Linux for a while now as my daily driver, long enough to convince myself to not go back to Windows again.

I am running CachyOS (Niri + Dank Material Shell) and I am pretty happy with it.

I have already set up most of my environment (text editor, file manager, etc), but there are still some applications that I am missing:

• Lightweight image editor: think of Windows Paint or similar. I know GIMP exists, but I aim for something simpler that I can use to quickly edit some images.
• Google Drive (two-way) sync: currently I am manually uploading/downloading the files to/from Google Drive, but is is not a pleasant experience.
• Video player: with all the streaming services, I rarely use a video player nowadays, but I still have some videos that I would like to watch.

And that is it! I am amazed at how easy it was to fill in all the other caps, and how smooth the transition was.

Thanks for any suggestions you may have!

So I installed Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition on my old laptop, unfortunately I don't have any sort of LAN access right now and it came without WiFi drivers.

So I downloaded the necessary driver on my phone and plan to transfer it to the computer via a USB cable.

How do I transfer the WiFi driver file from my phone to the computer? It will not recognize the USB cable I plug in. I tried using a flash drive but my phone stopped recognizing that one after I used it to Install Linux Mint and reformatted it to FAT32.

Device Specs:

Phone: OnePlus 7 running Android 12, has a USB-C port

Computer: Acer Travelmate 5760G,

running Broadcom BCM43227 WiFi chip set.

Has at least one functional USB 2.0 port

USB flash drive:

SanDisk 128 GB. I used this one to create the installation medium for Linux Mint and have not been able to reconnect it to my phone ever since, though it is still recognized by the computer. It has both a USB-C and a USB 3.0 end.

Obviously I can't install any software on the computer to do this with, since it has no way of connecting to the internet or other devices I can use right now.

Is there anything I can do right now or do I have to wait to have Ethernet access again so I can use the driver manager to download WiFi drivers?

KDE Partition Manager: SMART Status Report
Date:     1.09.2026 22:19
Program version:     26.08.0
Backend:     pmsfdiskbackendplugin (1)
KDE Frameworks version:     6.29.0
Machine:     Linux eleck-x8664 7.2.2-1-cachyos #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Fri, 28 Aug 2026 08:05:11 +0000 x86_64
Move partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’ to the left by 382,98 GB
Job: Check file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’
Command: btrfs check /dev/nvme1n1p5
Check file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’: Success
Job: Set geometry of partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’: Start sector: 944.162.816, length: 2.251.800.576
Command: sfdisk --force /dev/nvme1n1 -N 5
Set geometry of partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’: Start sector: 944.162.816, length: 2.251.800.576: Success
Job: Move the file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’ to sector 944.162.816
Copying 109.951 chunks (1.152.921.894.912 bytes) from 483.411.361.792 to 483.411.361.792, direction: left.
Copying 2.618 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:06:39
Copying 1.895 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:08:46
Copying 1.682 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:09:16
Copying 1.582 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:09:16
Copying 1.561 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:08:49
Copying 1.548 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:08:17
Copying 1.558 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:07:39
Copying 1.543 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:07:08
Copying 1.531 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:06:35
Copying 1.514 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:06:03
Copying 1.496 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:05:30
Copying 1.482 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:04:57
Copying 1.467 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:04:22
Copying 1.460 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:03:46
Copying 1.456 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:03:08
Copying 1.456 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:02:31
Copying 1.455 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:01:53
Copying 1.450 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:01:15
Copying 1.444 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:00:38
Copying 1.439 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:00:00
Copying remainder of chunk size 2.097.152 from 1.636.331.159.552 to 1.636.331.159.552.
Copying 109.951 chunks (1.152.921.894.912 bytes) finished.
Closing device. This may take a few seconds.
Move the file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’ to sector 944.162.816: Success
Job: Check file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’
Command: btrfs check /dev/nvme1n1p5
Check file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’: Error
Checking partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’ after resize/move failed.
Move partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’ to the left by 382,98 GB: ErrorKDE Partition Manager: SMART Status Report
Date:     1.09.2026 22:19
Program version:     26.08.0
Backend:     pmsfdiskbackendplugin (1)
KDE Frameworks version:     6.29.0
Machine:     Linux eleck-x8664 7.2.2-1-cachyos #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Fri, 28 Aug 2026 08:05:11 +0000 x86_64
Move partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’ to the left by 382,98 GB
Job: Check file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’
Command: btrfs check /dev/nvme1n1p5
Check file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’: Success
Job: Set geometry of partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’: Start sector: 944.162.816, length: 2.251.800.576
Command: sfdisk --force /dev/nvme1n1 -N 5
Set geometry of partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’: Start sector: 944.162.816, length: 2.251.800.576: Success
Job: Move the file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’ to sector 944.162.816
Copying 109.951 chunks (1.152.921.894.912 bytes) from 483.411.361.792 to 483.411.361.792, direction: left.
Copying 2.618 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:06:39
Copying 1.895 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:08:46
Copying 1.682 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:09:16
Copying 1.582 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:09:16
Copying 1.561 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:08:49
Copying 1.548 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:08:17
Copying 1.558 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:07:39
Copying 1.543 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:07:08
Copying 1.531 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:06:35
Copying 1.514 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:06:03
Copying 1.496 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:05:30
Copying 1.482 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:04:57
Copying 1.467 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:04:22
Copying 1.460 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:03:46
Copying 1.456 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:03:08
Copying 1.456 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:02:31
Copying 1.455 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:01:53
Copying 1.450 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:01:15
Copying 1.444 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:00:38
Copying 1.439 MiB/second, estimated time left: 00:00:00
Copying remainder of chunk size 2.097.152 from 1.636.331.159.552 to 1.636.331.159.552.
Copying 109.951 chunks (1.152.921.894.912 bytes) finished.
Closing device. This may take a few seconds.
Move the file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’ to sector 944.162.816: Success
Job: Check file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’
Command: btrfs check /dev/nvme1n1p5
Check file system on partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’: Error
Checking partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’ after resize/move failed.
Move partition ‘/dev/nvme1n1p5’ to the left by 382,98 GB: Error

First, I removed an unused partition then saved, it completed with no issues. After that, I unmounted my Secondary partition which I use to store my games and some important stuff, move it to the left, then save.

And this happened, now I can't mount it back. I am scared because it had many things in it.

I am on CachyOS, KDE Plasma. And used KDE Partition Manager to do this.

I am currently using Linux Mint as a windoze replacement. For the most part it is working well. Minor freezes every once and awhile but it is a good replacement. I have done a few things as part of my installation I don't think I did well. I would like to correct these when I perform a fresh install on a new desktop I have coming. Yeah 5060 TI!!! Hoping some folks can help me out. I know a enough about Linux to be adequately push through but in general I am an idiot, but at least I know that. Quite possible I am doing things bassackwards so be kind.

Mapping Network Drives - I have a Synology that I share six folders via Samba that I mapped as drives in Windoze. Inside Linux I have mapped them via fstab using a credential file. I mapped them all to a `/home/USER/mapped` using examples like the line below. I am not sure this is the proper or most efficient way. It results in a lot of chasing into depths of subfolders since the mapped folder is starting 3 levels deep already. So it may be a case I need to change how I am serving these on the NAS itself. The questions:

//10.0.10.10/books /home/xxxx/mapped/books cifs credentials=/home/xxxx/.smbcredentials,dir_mode=0777,file_mode=0777,uid=1000,gid=1000,x-systemd.automount 0 0//10.0.10.10/books /home/xxxx/mapped/books cifs credentials=/home/xxxx/.smbcredentials,dir_mode=0777,file_mode=0777,uid=1000,gid=1000,x-systemd.automount 0 0

Questions:

1. Is this the proper way to be mounting a drive or should I be using another method? I have set up NFS for another system to store backups but I still have a windows machine relying on Samba...for now. Days are numbered thankfully.
2. How are people mapping drives in relation to the folder it is mapped to. Example: If you have a music directory on a NAS are you mapping it to `/home/USER/Music` to replace the defaults or is my method of creating a folder to map everything to valid? I am finding that I have to dive deeper into directories on Linux than I did on Windows. Hoping to relieve some of those extra clicks.
3. Is there anything I am missing here in my thinking when it comes to mapping drives. I have used mapped drives for awhile in Windoze with configs pointing to those paths which has bit me in the behind when trying to migrate over to Linux. What is the advice you would give when it comes to setting up these types of connections?

Thanks

Hi everyone, I'm trying to dual-boot Windows 11 + Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS on an HP laptop.

Ubuntu installation completed successfully, but after restarting, the laptop always boots directly into Windows. Ubuntu does not appear in the HP F9 boot menu or UEFI Boot Order.

My setup:

• HP laptop
• Windows 11 already installed
• UEFI/GPT
• 1 TB NVMe SSD
• Windows partition: nvme0n1p3 (~511 GB NTFS)
• EFI partition: nvme0n1p1 (~210 MB FAT32)
• Ubuntu partition: nvme0n1p5 (~511 GB ext4)
• Ubuntu was installed manually using the free space
• Windows partition was not formatted/resized
• Secure Boot was initially disabled during installation; I've since enabled it again
• Enable MS UEFI CA key is now enabled

Ubuntu's EFI files definitely exist:

S:\EFI\ubuntu\
    grubx64.efi
    shimx64.efi
    mmx64.efi
    BOOTX64.CSV
    grub.cfg

Windows can also access shimx64.efi:

Test-Path "S:\EFI\ubuntu\shimx64.efi"
True

I also created a BCD entry from Administrator PowerShell:

Ubuntu
device = partition=S:
path   = \EFI\ubuntu\shimx64.efi

bcdedit /enum confirms the entry exists.

However:

bcdedit /enum firmware

still only shows:

{bootmgr}
USB Drive (UEFI)

No Ubuntu firmware entry.

The HP F9 menu currently shows only:

OS Boot Manager (UEFI) - Windows Boot Manager
Boot From EFI File

I also tried F9 → Boot From EFI File → internal NVMe → EFI, but the HP EFI file browser doesn't show the ubuntu folder properly.

Where am I stuck, and what is the correct/safest way to get HP UEFI to recognize Ubuntu without replacing or modifying the Windows EFI bootloader as I need Windows for placement exams ?

I would especially appreciate help from people who have dealt with firmware issue + Ubuntu 26.04 dual boot.

Been running nobara on my pc for a bit now and i do enjoy linux but teh one thing that sucks is that my pc will not wake up ifit goes to sleep. I dont know if its the os or something but it seems to be this way for other distros that i tried as well. The only time i got it to work was on my laptop but never my desktop. Im just wondering if there is something im doing wrong of if this is just how it is on linux

Hello,

I recently switched from Cinnamon to XFCE on my older laptop running Linux Mint and now I can't open update manager. I have tried to reinstall it in the terminal and went back to a previous Timeshift but neither method has worked. Any advice?

I shutdown and went to work, came home and got a screen about a root locked or not found and nothing I did would fix it. Looked at all the forums I could find and they said to just try again. I tried AI and it told me about repair commands and grub or press e on boot menu and nothing would work.

Back to square 1.

Currently on pop_os. I have an NVIDIA card. I'm getting sick of pop_os!'s shennanigans. I JUST WANNA PLAY HELLDIVERS DAMNIT!

I have a 1060 GPU. Was working fine on windows. Any sugestions on which os?

I started off with the main monitor on HDMI and the second monitor on DVI, second monitor wasn't working at all so I switched both to HDMI and they work now, but when I try to use 240hz on my main monitor, there is very low brightness and I can't change it at all, this is because the second monitor is on 60hz, the main monitor works fine on 240hz if I disconnect the second monitor, when I put both monitors on 60hz it looks fine.

Is there a way around this?

This happens on all distros I tried and the monitors work properly on windows.

Hello everyone, can anyone help me find the problem?

PC Specs: Lenovo M720q - i3-9100t, 16gb ram single stick, 256gb samsung 970 evo plus NVME (firmware: 2B2QEXM7), 65w power adapter.

I am running into problems during the installation. Every time during the install process the machine reboots.

I am using an USB to install images (proxmox 8 flashed via rufus dd method, and ventoy). Reading other post suggested to install ubuntu or debian to see if anything can be installed. Those fail as well.

With the proxmox install, the furthest I can get is to the 3% "Creating LV's" and then the reboot happens, sometimes it reaches 45% and the progress bar increases and it reboots. The NVME health in crystaldiskinfo is around 94%.

I used a live debian 13 usb and tried booting from it, it crashed when i tried normal boot, but it booted right away when i clicked the fail safe method. after booting i installed debian 13 to the NVME, and it went success first try, but when i tried to boot from the NVME, i get the debian startup page, where i can select 3 options, i clicked the first one "debian/unx linux" it gave a single line of some text and rebooted again, if i dont select any option in the "3 options page" it reboots. i tried this command, still no luck,

nomodeset pcie_aspm=off nvme_core.default_ps_max_latency_us=0. i have tried different ram combinations, 2x4gb, or single 4gb, single 16gb, still nothing. EDIT: DISABLING TURBO MODE IN BIOS WORKED! IT DOESNT CRASH NOW, AND BOOTS INTO DEBIAN 13, SSD HEALTH IS GOOD, BIOS HAS BEEN UPDATED FROM 2019 TO 2026 VERSION. IF I ENABLE THE TURBO MODE, IT MIGHT CRASH AGAIN, NEED HELP TO SOLVE THAT ISSUE. THANKS!

I’m currently using windows and I want to switch to Linux but that means I cannot play windows games (I play fc26, Minecraft, Fortnite and assets corsa)
I have an external 256gb ssd if that helps
And also what distro should I use

I'm using fedora with KDE plasma. Yesterday I happened to use the microsoft edge browser concidencely in my friend's windows system. There I learned that we could create a separate browser icon for individual profiles like personal , work. I tried to find out if I can make like in my fedora. No articles have guidance for this. If you know , Please let me know.

Working with a new install of Mint 22.3 (ditched windows yesterday!) and just installed Steam. Before actually downloading games, I was wondering if there’s a best practice for such downloads as I was pretty anal with my folders on Windows. I have a minimal understanding of the file system as whole but it didn’t really prepare me for putting things where I would like them to be without disrupting anything.

Edit: I will probably end up putting games on my second ssd which is currently unmounted.

TLDR: will I regret just letting Steam download games however it likes OR can you share some simple tips for organizing things in a way that makes sense to the user.

I'm lost between those two.

Bazzite being immuatable is a problem for me but Nobara being a small team that can stop dev at any moment scare me

Help pls

I am getting an Ubuntu Touch phone soon and I would like to sync the calendar with my desktop. I've tried used Calendar but it has no facility for importing a calendar, only exporting.

I've tried Merkuro but it won't let me add new events.

Am I asking for too much?

Hello I have a old dell laptop with 4gb ram integrated graphics and 256gb storage. Which linux distro for you recommend for photo editing and wordpress web development.

I am a windows noob I am looking for user friendly linux distro without having to use sudo apt get install code everytime to install app.. I have used mint cinnamon before did not enjoy it's graphics.. I like ubuntu graphics. Which distro for you recommend me?