I have tried to learn Linux for ages, and have experimented with installing Arch and Ubuntu. Usually something goes wrong when I try to set up a desktop environment after installing Arch in VirtualBox. KDE gave me a problem where I couldn’t log in after getting to the point where my username was displayed in a similar format to how it is for Windows. My end use case is to help keep my workflow more organized than haphazardly throwing files somewhere on my desktop or in a folder nested somewhere that I’ll just inevitably lose :(
Somehow after all this time, I feel like I actually understand less about my computer and what I need to understand regarding its facets. Is it an unrealistic goal to want to eventually run a computer with coreboot and a more cybersecurity heavy emphasis? I’m still a noob at this and any advice would be appreciated!
i wouldn’t say that it’s unrealistic.
The “Problem” is however, that there are a gazillion different approaches to everything. And everyone will tell you their method and maybe even badmouth other peoples methods… That way you don’t really know what to do anymore.
Imho, don’t install them in a VM. Get yourself a new cheap SSD. Unplug the one with windows on it and just install a well-known Linux distro that has a big open community on your PC.
If you want something Arch-based: I’d highly recommend you Garuda-Linux. Don’t get scared off by it’s … flashy default looks. This can be changed very easily. But they have one of the most welcomming and helpful communities i have ever witnessed. They aren’t really here or on reddit, but rather have their own forum.
This thing will give you everything you need to start. And if something breaks, it does automatic snapshots of your system everytime you install a new package. So if something breaks, you turn off…turn on…and in the boot menu you’ll find your snapshots. Pick the last working one. and that’s it. Good to go again.
But these are just my 2 cents…
You can try a boot from usb key too for example.
It sounds as if OP was beyond the stage of playing inside a live-boot… plus you’ll never get to really get a feel for a distro if you can’t even install new packages properly.
You can install the os to a thumb drive too. Performance will be meh but it’s fine for testing and can be brought with you while out and about
Yes, with the caveat that it could overwrite the Grub menu/boot partitions of other Linux installs on the device. I’d disconnect all disks with working Linux partitions and possibly all Windows ones too while installing to USB from a Live USB.