I keep seeing those really long posts about how to get around all the windows 11 mandatory features and AI and bloatware and I need to get one linux post out of my system about it:

if you're able to spend that much time digging through settings, installing scripts, and/or using commandline, even if it's only while you're following instructions, you won't struggle with linux. you will spend less time doing all of that shit, because your OS will cooperate with you (and you won't have so many things you want to get rid of).

the most 'beginner-friendly' distros have graphical installers that you don't need to delve into too much if you don't want to, try and minimise the amount of time you need to spend in terminal, and have user interfaces designed to let you hit the ground running. there are tons of easy to find resources if you get stuck, and people will help you. if you can follow those instructions about how to get deep into your windows settings, you'll be able to install linux. mutuals I will literally sit on a discord call and go through your install step-by-step with you if you still find it intimidating, or do it for you if we know each other irl!!

I really really promise that linux isn't scary, and especially not if you've been spending time trying to force windows to cooperate with you. You Can Try It.

(obviously some of us don't have the choice about using windows in certain situations – I can't so much as update software I already have installed on my work laptop, let alone switch operating systems – but in these circumstances you're probably not going to be able to run powershell scripts or get into advanced settings either.)

hello prev! yes there is :)

first step is to get your bootable ISO, some instructions if you need them: here. some guides suggest balenaEtcher, but there have been some privacy issues raised with that, so Rufus as shown in this guide is a better bet.

once you’ve got that, boot into the BIOS configuration screen. this is explained in most linux distro installation guides, an example from linux mint’s documentation: here

now you’ve selected your USB, you can boot into the live environment! for some distros, this is automatic once you’ve selected the ISO in the previous step – in others, you might get a screen asking to choose between going straight to installation or running the live environment. another example from linux mint’s documentation: here

you’re now in a session of your chosen linux distro without installing it! if you want to get back to your currently-installed OS, you can reboot your computer. or you can carry on to installing the distro you’re trying out :)

(also as an aside, you don’t necessarily have to wipe your PC! you can set up a dual-boot, which will install your chosen distro alongside your current OS. though of course it’s still a good idea to back up any important files)