Considering installing Linux Mint

Cymro

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Hi all, newbie here.
Newbie to Linux at least. I got into computers 30-odd years ago when I did a higher level course in Mechanical and Computer-aided Engineering back when the only viable operating system available to me was MS-DOS. I've been using computers on a daily basis ever since but (thankfully) have forgotten everything I ever knew about DOS. I've built my own PCs ever since, the latest being a few years ago now. I've stuck with Windows 7 because I'm familiar and comfortable with it despite MS withdrawing support, but lately I've been getting warnings of impending doom due - they say - to a failing system disk. I've been using a 160Gb SATA disk as a system disk and a 2Tb disk for data to mitigate any damage incurred from the kind of failure MS is predicting so even if the system disk is toast I *shouldn't* suffer too much apart from the loss of some of the programs I use.
I've bought a 240Gb Kingston SSD SATA disk on a Black Friday deal for 17 of our UK pounds with the intention of replacing the system disk sooner than later, but I'm thinking about installing Linux Mint instead of Win 7. I'm pretty sure my CPU and memory will cope with the change - I'll post a screenshot to show what I've got.
I've been reading up on Linux Mint a bit to see if it will run any of the programs I use. I already use Libre Office under Windows so I'm familiar with that, but I do like Irfanview for image editing so I'd like to be able to use that. I also use Garmin Express to update my satnav, and Any Video Converter to manage YouTube downloads and video conversion.
Can any kind person tell me if I'll be able to use these programs under Linux, or what alternative programs are available for Linux? I'm asking because I'd like to make a clean break with Microsoft.
TIA
 

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a clean break with Microsoft.
You can definitely switch over to linux entirely given what you've said you use windows 7 for. However, i would be a little less hopeful about the "clean" aspect of it. I personally don't use windows anymore, and i ordered a cheap laptop with the intention (if it arrives in the stated condition...) of replacing windows with FreeDos and arch, and i feel totally comfortable about this since i have been linux only for a few months, and i have been using linux on and off for years.

Staying with linux %100 and not switching back to windows has a lot to do with how flexible and willing to learn you are. You might have to get rid of Garmin completely, yet in my google search i found that there are people who've made an effort to run Garmin Express on linux and have perhaps done so successfully, so it would atleast be worth a try.

If you use any of the modern smartphones, you don't need garmin, yet i can understand why you'd think it was convenient. Someone from my family bought me one of those several years ago as a christmas present, and i threw it in the trash because it didn't have as many locations as google maps did on my phone.

As far as extra technology i have bought as a result of using linux, i bought an audio interface and bluetooth speaker in order to ensure the sound works...however, i only needed that because two of the monitors i have do not have speakers on them, the linux drivers make the sound work on the monitor i'm using right now, and i'm listening to music as i try to help you out and catch up on work...mint and ubuntu accommodate the major tv monitor speakers. I don't think you will lose anything precious by switching to linux, yet if you don't like it you can definitely switch back, windows 10 works alright if you get sick of windows 7. I would not recommend windows 11, the things i have heard are absolute cringe...seems like a waste of money.
 
240Gb Kingston SSD SATA disk on a Black Friday deal for 17 of our UK pounds
That's a damn good price

welcome to the forums from East Anglia
your Athlon CPU is getting a bit long in the legs, but is perfectly adequate for everyday computing, as long as you have at least 4GB of ram
to give you some idea of what you need and how to, please read my "how do I install guide"
 
Hello @Cymro,
Welcome to the Linux.org Forums.

You should be able to find many equivalent programs in Mint. It's a great Distro. There is a learning curve but it's not too difficult. Gthumb is a good alternative for infranview. There are plenty of you tube downloaders available. As to other programs other with more experience can advise. Good luck and enjoy the journey.
 
Welcome. if you can not find alternatives you can run Win in a virtual pc using Linux. i love Mint and now 100% Linux. As Kc said
There is a learning curve but it's not too difficult
 
i for got to add. You can download Linux mint on a usb. Make it bootable, boot from it, and try it out before you install.
 
Welcome to the Forum.
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Linux Mint is the best...very user friendly...stable and has all the tools you need. The beauty of Linux is you can download the ISO...burn it to a Flash Drive and try it before you install it or run it in Virtualbox.
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I use Mint Cinnamon...haven't tried Mint 21 yet...I'm waiting for 21.1 but that's me. There is some learning but that goes for everything...you don't need to be a programmer or an expert with commands or computer wiz either.
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Most Windows software wont run in Linux...that's where Virtualbox comes in handy but Linux has heaps of software that might be of use as I have found...I will say this...once you get the feel of Linux Mint you'll say...why didn't I switch sooner.
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