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The Beave 5mo ago

Next Linux question:

My new laptop has a 2TB drive. Once I obliterate the windows install (I mostly will update the firmware for everything first, save the windows key, and then nuke the drive), how would you partition it so that I can install 2-3 Linux flavors? Or would you not bother and just use VMs to play with other distros?

In any case, I want to save my data on a separate partition that would be visible to all OSs installed. I also want to be able to roll back dumb changes I make so it seems I'll want to use btrfs?

I will not bother installing windows onto this laptop, at all, so that's not a concern.

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Discussion

The Beave 5mo ago

Dangit.

#linux #asknostr #devs #devstr

nostr:nevent1qqsrkk06p64gykye5c378psggl4en8fhxrcmwq9g584tyfu88slr5fgpz3mhxw309ucnydewxqhrqt338g6rsd3e9upzqp5fmavy02xnxa5f9k3fvgkhcr7urmcetr6tc3r3myykd2s7e20jqvzqqqqqqy3yre2a

d33503ed... 5mo ago

Hey nostr:nprofile1qyt8wumn8ghj7un9v9k8jtndd3jkkafwv3jhvtcprdmhxue69uhhg6r9vehhyetnwshxummnw3erztnrdakj7qpqq6ya7kz84rfnw6yjmg5kyttuplwpauv43a9ug3cajztx4g0v48eqyz40jh -- check out Ventoy:

https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html)

It allows you to load and run multiple Linux distros from a single USB drive. Easiest way I've found to not only keep a bunch of different distros handy but also to run any of them at any time (downside of course is you're running them from a USB and not natively, but I routinely run Linux from USBs without any noticeable performance issues).

Give it a try...

The Beave 5mo ago

I've used before. Thanks for the reminder.

use one as a base and experiment in virtual machines, makes it much easier to FAFO and then you can always reinstall everything once you commit to one distro (in the end you're mostly selecting for package manager and desktop env, even tho you can easily switch the desktop env on distros)

The Beave 5mo ago

The only issue I have with that is, in my ignorance, wouldn't running VMs not be a fair comparison to a bare metal install?

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴍʟᴇᴋᴜ 5mo ago

VMs usually the graphics sucks. this can be worked around but usually entails modifying BIOS settings and fiddly configuration in the VM app. it is even possible to partition off the video card to dedicate it to a VM, but it was difficult to get it to play nice. with that tool i was able to get Windows to use the GPU dedicated.

reminds me, this might be a good way for me to get around the problem of AMD ROCm GPU compute setup. with the ... i forget the name of the thing for partitioning PCI-express devices, enabled, you can then use the dedicated GPU for a windows or other OS installation even have it run on a separate screen. that was another hassle with it, multi monitor setups can be a real pain for this kind of case. unless you get a hardware switcher for the displays.

The Beave 5mo ago

I'll be running 3 screens, so that might be an issue with VMs. This laptop just has Intel graphics, so nothing special at all, but at least I don't need to worry about nvidia drivers this time.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴍʟᴇᴋᴜ 5mo ago

yeah, intel graphics are really simple and just work. they just are shit slow for 3d.

i guess the first question should be - whats the purpose of exploring multiple distros?

The Beave 5mo ago

To find something easy (enough) to use, fast, reliable, and cool.

is it your first time using linux for primary desktop?

The Beave 5mo ago

HEck no. Been on Linux nearly exclusively for most of a decade at this point. I am just not into code/dev. I can use a terminal and cut and paste with the best of them.

Ah ok, i thought its a new thing since you're trying to experiment with distros

The Beave 5mo ago

Well, it is still new. I have only stayed within Debian distros, being with Mint first then Pop!. Time to branch out a bit.

Oh you save the key? 🤭 yes, btrfs

Bill Cypher 5mo ago

This might not be necessary. At some point they started tieing windows keys to the device firmware. So laptops sold with windows initially can have windows reinstalled at any time without entering or knowing the key.

This saved my butt when windows crapped out on the laptop I was forced to use windows on for a bit.

The Beave 5mo ago

Well, yes. Why wouldn't i?

Guess I like to live dangerously. Windows isn’t an option.

The Beave 5mo ago

Well, I don't like throwing away resources. I don't have a W11 key yet.

Sacred Peak 5mo ago

what are you testing in the VMs?

The Beave 5mo ago

The whole thing. How it functions, how much hassle it is to install stuff, how fast things run, etc.

The Beave 5mo ago

Mostly the subjective "I like this" or "I don't like this."

Abstract Equilibrium 5mo ago

Just run QubesOS on bare metal and sleep well at night

The Beave 5mo ago

That is beyond my ability or desire at this point. 😱

Abstract Equilibrium 5mo ago

The Beave 5mo ago

Thank you.

I would use Linux live USBs for playing with different distros. VMs feel janky.

The Beave 5mo ago

Is that so?

Live USB Linux thing feels like bare metal install since everything is loaded into memory. Disadvantage is that usually all the changes you do will not get saved for the next session. Depending on your goal, maybe VM is better for your use.

kyle-moore 5mo ago

I would live boot to test and have one system installed as my main. any Linux system can read other Linux systems files so no real need for a separate partition

Grace and Truth 5mo ago

Definitely check out Ventoy.

You can boot into a Linux distro on a USB stick and use GParted to create as many partitions as you like. Mine are mostly ext4, I believe, but I don't know if they need to be.

Having a partition for each distro separate from your files makes updates easier, and you can reinstall things if you mess them up.

I'd keep the existing boot partition, I think, but you could replace it. I kept Windows and added 4 distros beside it, for different sets of tasks.

If it's EFI boot, you can check out rodsbooks.com/rEFInd, nice for booting into different distros.

There are a few tricks to it. If you install multiple related distros ( like variations on Ubuntu), they may overwrite the boot folder from the last one, if you don't go in and rename the existing ones first. I found Linux Mint handiest for getting into the system files to set those things up - it allowed me access where others didn't, so installing it first worked nicely.

Have fun. If you have different use cases in mind, Ventoy makes it easy to try a bunch and see what works best for each purpose.

The Beave 5mo ago

I definitely don't need windows on this laptop. I have a laptop that is dedicated to that purpose.

I do like the idea of having at least a second partition for direct install, so I think I'll do that instead of relying on a live USB to test out different distros.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴍʟᴇᴋᴜ 5mo ago

ventoy is pretty cool but it's more for multi-distroy install USBs, since it is pretty uncommon anymore to even see much under 32gb, which would fit like 7 typical linux installers. and also you can put windows installers into it as well

The Beave 5mo ago

Yup. I've used to before.