this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2025
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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I have a Windows 11 laptop and recently gotten excited to try Linux. I read good things about Mint being pretty good to go out of the box, and while I can be a fast learner I'm also tired and don't have a tremendous amount of bandwidth.

So I followed all the installation instructions, verified, flashed a USB, booted into it and started to install a dual boot of it. Made it through installation until it told me my computer had BitLocker on, and I'd need to go turn it off and try again. Fair enough.

Went back into my Windows OS (after booting it went to "diagnosing your PC"). I don't seem to have bitlocker installed - looks like a Pro version thing which I don't have. It did show that encryption was enabled, so I turned it off.

Restarted to boot to USB. Nope, "mmx64.efi - Not Found" error.

OK, googled it, renamed it, let's go.

error: shim_lock protocol not found error: you need to load kernel first

OK... I googled it just enough to see this is going to be a pain.

I tried remaking my USB just in case, didn't help. It's extra frustrating because my first attempt to boot into Linux went so well! How did it go from booting into it flawlessly to giving me a series of errors?

Did I anger the Microsoft gods and now they're blocking my path? Is this a bad omen that Linux is going to be a problem on my laptop in general?

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[–] FMT99@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You already have two answers but let me add one more: completely smooth here. I'd been dual booting for many years and rarely have any issue (besides Windows update occasionally borking the bootloader and having to reinstall Grub)

But these days gaming on Linux is so smooth I really don't need Windows any more. I still have it on my machine, dual booting, but I haven't actually booted into Windows in at least 6 months.

[–] JustOneMoreCat@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't even game or use any Windowed only programs. I watch shows, use web apps for work, and that's about it. If I can run Firefox and Stremio that's about 95% of my needs met, ha!

I dug out my old MacBook to see if I can test out some distros on it. If I find one I like and use for a bit I'd be all in on trashing Windows

[–] FMT99@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Great, for office-style work and Netflix there's really no reason to feel tied to Windows any more these days.