Which distro?

Any distro is welcome here. If you're brand new, pick something friendly like Linux Mint or Ubuntu and don't overthink it. You can always change later.

Before you install

• Back up your files first. Always.

• Try a live USB before committing to a full install.

• Check that your key programs have a Linux version or a good alternative.

How to ask for help

Tell us your distro and version, your hardware, what you expected, what happened, and any error message. The more detail, the faster the answer.

Never post passwords, keys, or private addresses. Everyone here started as a beginner, so no question is too basic.

Introduce yourself below and tell us what you're trying to do.