4 ms·

Not to be "that guy", but if you're only using Windows for the Linux subsystem and web browser, why not use Linux to boot?

theanonymousone 3y ago
Maybe because some drivers don't work, plus the fact that we want to keep this one Windows machine at home, for cases of Windows only software (e.g. old book-companion CDs).
- Zambyte 3y ago
  > Maybe because some drivers don't work I find that unlikely > we want to keep this one Windows machine at home, for cases of Windows only software (e.g. old book-companion CDs). Do you have other classes of software that targets Windows that you'd like to run? "Old book-companion CDs" will almost certainly run fine with WINE. WINE excels (heh) at running older software. Most new software runs fine as well, but that is where things become less certain.
  - anakaine 3y ago
    > I find that unlikely Nvidia wants to have a word with you about gaming. > but that is where things become less certain. And this is another reason.
    - Zambyte 3y ago
      > Nvidia wants to have a word with you about gaming. What year is this comment from? > And this is another reason. How? It's the same reason they stated. I just wanted to get specifics from them.
- crtified 3y ago
  I'm not a first hand expert in this, but a highly accomplished friend who is, holds the solid opinion that modern Linux (with "WINE" of course - a free, trivial install) is, ironically!, better at running old Windows software than modern Windows is. And in my limited experience, I agree. Your driver issue might be a dealbreaker, depending upon what they are, and how important that thing is to you, when weighed up against the long term burden of Windows everyday inefficiencies and limitations. I can only echo what some others are saying when they recommend Linux. Most of us have ultimately found that the more efficient computing life lies there. Life is indeed better when you don't have the constant micro-anxieties of bloat and malware and commercials and $costs accompanying your every computing minute, and for me personally, if all I had to do to get that was to change a hardware device or two (to something suitably driver-compatible), and eschew the once-in-a-blue-moon running of old MS CDs on actual Windows (and use WINE instead, which, as mentioned, may actually do it better), then I'd find it a pretty easy calculation.
  - smoldesu 3y ago
    I can understand wanting to use Windows for better driver support or just to have an extra OS laying around. That being said, I've run a lot of pre-2000s software in DOSBox and WINE with very little trouble. If you're unsure if Linux will support your use-case, just try it; live Linux can boot from USB, install WINE and test programs all without touching your hard drive. It's worth a shot most of the time.
brucethemoose2 3y ago
This ^ Try Fedora Kionite or openSUSE Kalpa if you want something stable, or Clear Linux for absoolute max performance. But to answer your question, Github is a good place to look for up-to-date windows cleaners
version_five 3y ago
This doesn't sound like a (company issued) work laptop but I worked somewhere where even if you needed linux for your job you had to use WSL because of IT policy. He doesn't mention it but using Office natively is another good reason to have access to Windows. I have two machines, a Linux laptop strictly for developing and a macbook for admin. If you had to have one though I can see why Windows + WSL would be a viable option (if you could get all the crapware out as asked) And in any event, he wants to know if it's possible, he wasn't asking for OS advice.
- nonameiguess 3y ago
  If it's a company-issued device and simply wiping the existing OS and installing Linux isn't an option, wiping the existing OS and installing an IoT or Enterprise version of Windows instead, or running a debloater script, is likely also not an option.

theanonymousone 3y ago

Maybe because some drivers don't work, plus the fact that we want to keep this one Windows machine at home, for cases of Windows only software (e.g. old book-companion CDs).

Zambyte 3y ago
> Maybe because some drivers don't work I find that unlikely > we want to keep this one Windows machine at home, for cases of Windows only software (e.g. old book-companion CDs). Do you have other classes of software that targets Windows that you'd like to run? "Old book-companion CDs" will almost certainly run fine with WINE. WINE excels (heh) at running older software. Most new software runs fine as well, but that is where things become less certain.
- anakaine 3y ago
  > I find that unlikely Nvidia wants to have a word with you about gaming. > but that is where things become less certain. And this is another reason.
  - Zambyte 3y ago
    > Nvidia wants to have a word with you about gaming. What year is this comment from? > And this is another reason. How? It's the same reason they stated. I just wanted to get specifics from them.
crtified 3y ago
I'm not a first hand expert in this, but a highly accomplished friend who is, holds the solid opinion that modern Linux (with "WINE" of course - a free, trivial install) is, ironically!, better at running old Windows software than modern Windows is. And in my limited experience, I agree. Your driver issue might be a dealbreaker, depending upon what they are, and how important that thing is to you, when weighed up against the long term burden of Windows everyday inefficiencies and limitations. I can only echo what some others are saying when they recommend Linux. Most of us have ultimately found that the more efficient computing life lies there. Life is indeed better when you don't have the constant micro-anxieties of bloat and malware and commercials and $costs accompanying your every computing minute, and for me personally, if all I had to do to get that was to change a hardware device or two (to something suitably driver-compatible), and eschew the once-in-a-blue-moon running of old MS CDs on actual Windows (and use WINE instead, which, as mentioned, may actually do it better), then I'd find it a pretty easy calculation.
- smoldesu 3y ago
  I can understand wanting to use Windows for better driver support or just to have an extra OS laying around. That being said, I've run a lot of pre-2000s software in DOSBox and WINE with very little trouble. If you're unsure if Linux will support your use-case, just try it; live Linux can boot from USB, install WINE and test programs all without touching your hard drive. It's worth a shot most of the time.

brucethemoose2 3y ago

This ^ Try Fedora Kionite or openSUSE Kalpa if you want something stable, or Clear Linux for absoolute max performance. But to answer your question, Github is a good place to look for up-to-date windows cleaners

version_five 3y ago

This doesn't sound like a (company issued) work laptop but I worked somewhere where even if you needed linux for your job you had to use WSL because of IT policy. He doesn't mention it but using Office natively is another good reason to have access to Windows. I have two machines, a Linux laptop strictly for developing and a macbook for admin. If you had to have one though I can see why Windows + WSL would be a viable option (if you could get all the crapware out as asked) And in any event, he wants to know if it's possible, he wasn't asking for OS advice.

nonameiguess 3y ago
If it's a company-issued device and simply wiping the existing OS and installing Linux isn't an option, wiping the existing OS and installing an IoT or Enterprise version of Windows instead, or running a debloater script, is likely also not an option.