3StrandTech

Whats up?! This is the 10th and Final part of my “10 Things . . .” series where I show you 10 things to do after you install Linux (particularly if you’re coming from a different OS). We’ve done so many things so far: Updated the system, installed drivers and essential apps, created a shared data folder and done a backup to a hard drive (among other things). In this finale we have fun and explore the Software Store! Linux would still have the appeal without even without a Software Store, but a Software Store makes Linux all the more attractive (especially to new users). We will discuss the category system that the Software Store uses to break up the apps into easy to find areas and I’ll recommend a few safe starter apps. Thanks for being here and lets get started!

Opening the Software Store

To open the software store, click the shopping bag icon which is likely on your taskbar.

Notice that the included categories are Create, Work, Learn, Develop and play, among others. You can of course use the search section (which here is the teeny tiny magnifying glass in the upper left corner) to find a specific app if you know exactly what you’re looking for, but it is fun to browse by clicking on one of these other sections below. We will focus on the Create, Work, Develop and Play sections, but please feel free to explore the other ones as well.

An example of what the create section may show. Notice the useful apps involving sewing, Windows software and others.

The work section has a few surprising inclusions, such as Microsoft Edge, SSH and the AI app on the bottom row

The develop section has its own useful programs, including and API platform, a code editor and Git client.

Last but not least, one has to get some R & R time. There’s a Minecraft related app, an arena FPS and a strategy game.

How to Install an App

Now that we’ve browsed a sampling of the apps that we can choose from, what about when we choose an app that we want to install? Well, all you have to do is click on it like any other app. I found a cool looking one called Alpaca, it’s an app that lets you talk to multiple AI models at the same time and allows you to pull in and remove AI models at will. When you get to the Alpaca page in your Software Store, scroll down a little, I want to highlight something.

Notice the section I’ve highlighted below. This section shows the fine details of the app that you want to pay attention to as you consider downloading an app. Details include Permissions, Download size, and other details. It’s recommended that these details match the function of the app.

For example, if you download a calculator app because you want a calculator with more features than the one your OS includes, the calculator should not be asking for permissions beyond what the app should need. The calculator app shouldn’t need access to your location. It’s a calculator app! It doesn’t need location access to calculate formulas, etc. Thankfully, Alpaca doesn’t ask for anything too far out of the ordinary.

Also notice the “New in Version . . . ” section too. It lets you know what changes the software developer made in the last update. Also notice in the corner of this section that it shows that the last update was two weeks ago. Generally its a better idea to use apps that are being regularly updated, but this isn’t always the case. In this instance, I’m going to download this app.

One more thing before we download the app. Notice that I’ve highlighted Flathub, which we talked about in a previous article, but I’ll describe it in brief. Flathub is a repository (another type of app store in this case) that allows you to download apps that include all of the dependencies and other software requirements to help the program run properly on your PC; most of the time, when you can download an app from Flathub, its a good idea. To download it, click Install.

Once the app is downloaded, you’ll notice an Open button in the upper right program. Click “Open” to open the app.

As you can see, the app has opened. This isn’t an Alpaca tutorial so we will stop at this point, but I think you get the idea.

Linux Apps Have Updates Too

As you can see below, one thing to be aware of, Linux apps are like apps from traditional OS’s in that they do get updates from the app developer. Click “Updates” when you see a number near the “Updates” button.

The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP as it is known) has an update. Click “Update” to update the app.

Once all of the app updates are complete, you’ll see a screen similar to this one.

Exploration is encouraged

Whether you’re new to this series or you’ve been following along the whole time (or anywhere in between), you’re likely an individual who is either curious or a fully committed trail blazer who isn’t shy about trying something new. If that is the case, I encourage you to try some new apps that you’ve never considered before or try to find some new apps to use instead of ones that you’ve used for a long time. You might just find that the Linux alternatives work better or you might just like them better. For instance, one common theme with many Linux apps is that they don’t require nearly as much tracking or invasive access to data on your device and they don’t require location access, etc. I hope you fare well as you explore the wide world of Linux apps!

Series Conclusion

If you haven’t followed along with me for the whole series, thank you very much. If you have, thank you very much. It’s been fun. I hope that as a result of this series that you’ve learned something. Feel free to drop me a like and a comment on what you’d like to see me write about next. My goal is to provide useful, easy to follow information that helps you wherever you are in your tech journey. I hope you have great success wherever you are in your tech journey. Thank you!

If this article has helped you in any way, would you consider donating to the site to help support my work? You can donate as little as 1 dollar USD. Thank you for your time!

Hello and welcome to Part 9 of my Linux series where we discover awesome features and tools that Linux offers, especially for those of us who are switching to Linux from a different OS (particularly Windows, but others as well). When I was younger, before the cloud became what it is today, we used to back up our files to big, bulky external hard drives. They were cumbersome and time consuming because we had to manually connect the hard drive to the computer and then click and drag the folders that you wanted to backup.Today we learn how to do external drive backups in our Linux install. To find out why and how to do so, read on and thank you for being here! Today we learn how to do external drive backups in our Linux install. To find out why and how to do so, read on and thank you for being here!

Hard Drive Backup in 2026?! Why?

If you’re as surprised as I am that I’m talking about backing up data to an external drive, you’re in good company my friend! The cloud is easy, set it up and you never have to concern yourself with it ever again, right? Well, perhaps, but the problem is that most cloud service providers use syncing which means that when the file or whatever media it is gets changed in any way, the file updates and oftentimes cannot be restored back to a previous version. Some cloud services do include version control but what if your cloud account gets compromised? Cloud backups are active and accessible on the Internet by the owner of the data (you) and whoever else can successfully break into your cloud providers infrastructure.

Physical Backups: The Hero that Operates in Isolation

Physical backups, by comparison, have the distinct capability of being disconnected from the Internet; protected from bad actors, protected from malware, protected from the employee at the cloud service provider who has a human moment and clicks on an email link they shouldn’t have, compromising your data. Other than your cloud provider getting compromised, what if your monthly payment method expires and you don’t update it within 30 days? Most cloud providers end up auto deleting your data. Ouch.

I encourage you to keep using your cloud backups despite these risks because they can do things that physical hard drive backups cannot do, such as provide immediate access on any of your compatible devices. Imagine being five states away from your home and external hard drive and you your phone slips out of your hand and falls into a bridge with fast moving water: gone forever. Normally you can get to one your mobile phone provider retail stores, buy a new phone and sign into your cloud account; access restored. So cloud providers do have their benefits.

Déjà Dup to the Rescue!

So what is a Linux user to do to backup personal files? That is where Déjà Dup comes in. Déjà Dup is a backup tool built into most Linux distributions (but is easy to install if it isn’t included in your specific distro). Some key features of Déjà Dup include:

• Scheduling Déjà Dup includes 2 scheduling options (daily or weekly) and tries to run during off hours (so as not to be occupying computing resources while you work).You then choose backup retention periods ranging from 1 month to forever. The scheduler operates automatically once it is set, so set it up and be worry free!
• Incremental Backups A full backup is completed the first time and then only changed files are backed up after that. This speeds the backup process and reduces storage consumption.
• Strong Encryption The encryption protocol is GPG (AES-256) using the Duplicity backend. The encryption process doesn’t show filenames or folder structure either, increasing privacy.
• Many Storage Options The backup can be set to use external drives, remote servers, cloud services, network shares and more.
• Flexible Restore Options Entire backups can be restored or individual files or folders.
• Space saving Compression Backups are compressed using RAR/Gzip when using Duplicity to conserve space.

What is my Linux install doesn’t include it?

If by chance Déjà Dup isn’t included with your Linux install, the easiest way to get it would be Flatpak. You simply go to flathub.org and search for deja dup backups and click Install.

How to Conduct Your First Backup with Déjà Dup

First, if you’re on Zorin OS, you’ll need to open your App Launcher and then search for and click “Backups.”

Next you’ll want to click “Create Your First Backup.”

On the next screen, click Forward

On the next screen, choose where you want your backup to go. For me, I’m using a USB stick but you may choose the one that best suits you.

I definitely advise putting a password on your backup but be aware that if you forget your password you won’t be able to decrypt the backed up data. Click forward when you have typed in your password.

You’ll see a screen like the one below as your backup processes. This is normal. It might take a while if you have a lot of data, but it will finish shortly.

When the backup finishes, you’ll be taken back to the main screen, but notice the changes to the interface. Now that there is a Restore tab at the top and it shows a “Most Recent Backup” line and a “Backup Now” button.

If you want to adjust backup frequency and other settings, click the menu button in the upper right and then click “Preferences.”

In the preferences menu you’ll be able to adjust plenty of settings but the two I want to highlight are the Automatic “Backup Frequency” and “Keep Backups” sections.

In regards to “Automatic Backup Frequency,” notice the options available. I don’t recommend a backup any more often than every 3 days unless you’re changing critical settings often that can result in major damage to the system or something like that, but ultimately it is up to you. Weekly should be fine for most users.

Restoring from a backup

Lets say that you need to perform a restore. Your hard drive died, malware (yes, there is Linux malware) got onto your machine causing you to have to wipe or replace your hard drive, maybe your computer takes a hard fall on the floor and is unrepairable. Either way, to begin the restore process, click Restore.

Three Restore Options

You have three options when it comes to restoring your data from a backup. Option one is to restore a folder. Simply single-click the folder you’d like to restore and click “Restore.”

Next, you’ll need to choose where to restore the folder and files. You can restore them to their original locations or to a specific folder.

Type in your Encryption password, then click “Forward.”

If your screen looks anything like the one below, you’re all set! Now, lets walk through a file restore next.

The next two options we will discuss at the same time. You can restore multiple files or a single file. To do this, you’ll need to click into the folder that contains the files that you’re interested in. We will discuss restoring one file first. To restore one file, simply click the file you want to restore, then click “Restore.”

The restoration process from there is the same as when you are restoring a folder that we discussed above. For multiple files, depending on your Linux distro, you’ll want to hold CTRL and click all the files that you want to restore or click and drag a selection box over your desired files. If those options don’t work, try to look up the method that your distro supports.

The process is the same that we discussed above, click “Restore,” choose the options that you want to use, click “Restore” and/or “Forward” when you’re prompted, and you’re done.

Wrap Up and What’s Next?

This walkthrough taught us the differences between hard drive backups vs. cloud syncs. We discussed a few of their strengths and use cases without dismissing one over the other. We talked about Déjà Dup, what it is, its features, how to install it and a few step by step tutorials on how to set up backups. If you enjoyed the walkthrough please consider giving it a like and sharing it with someone who may benefit from it the way you have. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please comment below and I’ll get back to you with additional help or to thank you for your suggestion. In the next and final part of the series we will talk about the Software Store, which is a massive repository of apps for you to choose from, similar to the Microsoft or MacOS app stores. We discussed this in some detail in part 5 but this part is going to expand on the topic. I hope to see you there and really hope that you have an awesome day!

If this article has helped you in any way, would you consider donating to the site to help support my work? You can donate as little as 1 dollar USD. Thank you for your time!

Hey there! Welcome to Part 8 of my Linux series where we learn useful things that you can do in Linux, especially if you’re coming from a different OS (Mainly Windows or MacOS, but this is useful for those coming from another different OS too!). In this part, we discuss different terminal commands that are very useful (and even fun!) to deploy while you’re using Linux. Don’t be intimidated, there is no skill requirement to use the terminal. The only requirements are practice, patience and persistence. Lets get started! If you’re new here, you can investigate the series from the beginning or the most recent part (Part 7) if you want to get caught up. I’m glad you’re here!

Why the Terminal?

The terminal is a very useful tool for telling your computer what to do. Of course with most Linux distributions (distros) you can use the mouse to get things done through the Graphical User Interface (GUI). The GUI actually uses a set of pre scripted command line actions that you could do in the terminal. For example, if you pull up your web browser by clicking your web browser icon on your desktop, the act of clicking (even double clicking) triggers some sort of command to either run, execute or open your web browser program. Every action, as a matter of fact, on a computer corresponds to a command that can be run in the terminal. “Well,” you may think, “The GUI is easier, I just point and click, I don’t have to remember all of these complex commands.” I see where you’re coming from and it could be true, but in most cases the terminal could be better. Why? Well, read on and you’ll see!

Opening the Terminal

Opening the terminal is very simple. To begin, boot into your Linux install and open your app launcher. Depending on your distro, the easiest way to pull up the terminal is to search “Terminal.” Once it shows up in the search results, click “Terminal” at the top of the list.

Once you have the terminal pulled up, it should look like this:

The Terminal Has It All

The thing that differentiates the terminal from the GUI is that the GUI only allows you to do what the the GUI is prescripted for. Think of the GUI as the top layer of the Linux system. Whatever the developers code into it (buttons, sliders, cute little graphics that make it look nice) is what you’re limited to. I’m not saying that the GUI is trash, I’m just saying that the GUI is like a train: it is limited by the “rails” that it runs on and can’t go anywhere else without modifications.

GUI vs. The Terminal

By comparison, the terminal gives you access to your entire system There are actually a LOT more commands you can use in the terminal that aren’t available in the GUI. For example: want to rename a file in the GUI?

Take the three files below for example. Their naming convention isn’t very proper; it lacks good nomenclature. How shall we rename them?

We could of course right click on each file individually with the GUI and type each name out.

Right clicking is ok, but does it scale well?

Perfectly acceptable . . . until you have like 500 files to do this with. Of course you might not ever have to rename 500 files. But lets say you have 1,000 photos, all with random names that your PC generated that involve a weird naming convention like “010226.jpg, 010326.jpg, 010426.jpg,” etc. Of course we can easily see that naming process involves January 2026 but it offers no context beyond the date, right? What if you’re walking a gorgeous walking trail and want the convention to follow something like “MntnTrlMrngW_Mom1, MntnTrlMrngW_Mom2,” etc.? Lots more context there, right?

Well, with the terminal you can tell your file system to change the names of all three files in one command AND create a sequential naming convention for all of the files. Lets use the LibreOffice example that we discussed above. Using the below terminal command, we are going to create new file names and a sequential, sensible naming convention. First, I’m going to tell the terminal to focus on where the files are (I’ll explain this more later). Please begin by copying the code below:

cd ~/Desktop/Example

Paste it into your terminal and press Enter

Breaking down the “cd” command

The “cd” in the code means “change directory.” Literally it means “switch your focus to the following folder” so that each command afterwords will be completed on the files within the directory (I’ll show you more about what “cd” can do later).

The space between “cd” and “~/Desktop/Example” actually means something too. It is called an “argument separator.” It separates the command (in this case “cd”) and the argument (“~/Desktop/Example”). The command is the action so to speak and the argument is the target that the command will act on. Therefore, the entire command reads: Change directory to the “Desktop” directory within the “Example” subdirectory (that isn’t official “Linux Speak,” it’s just my own spin on it).

The “~/Desktop/Example” means as follows: The “~” is a tilde. Within the Linux terminal it is a shortcut that means “your home directory.” The “home” folder normally follows the “/home/username” convention. For example, mine would be “/home/threestrandtech”

The “/” as you likely know is a forward slash. It is called a “path separator.” It means “inside.” Therefore: “~/Desktop/Example” means “inside my home directory, go to the Desktop folder, then go to the Example sub folder.”

Notice that on the next line it shows “~/Desktop/Example$” which means that we are now working in the proper directory where the document files are.

Next, type the following command into your terminal and press Enter:

ls

The command “ls” tells the terminal to list all of the files in the working directory. Notice that all three files are mentioned in the output. Now, we are going to change the name of all three files with one command. The following command is what we will use. It’s not super important right now to know what it means but I will explain it simply in a moment. There is a particular way that this command has to be put in.

i=1
for f in *.odt; do
    mv "$f" "Hello-$i.odt"
    ((i++))
done

1. Put in “i=1” and press Enter
2. Type in “for f in *.odt; do” press Enter
3. Type in mv “$f” “Hello-$i.odt” press Enter
4. Type in ((i++)) press enter
5. Type in “done” press enter

The simple explanation for this command is that it is a loop that runs through each file in the directory. It basically says “for each file in this directory, name the file ‘Hello’ but put in a dash and a 1, then run the loop again for the next file, but this time increase the number from the previous loop by 1. Once all files have been run, stop the loop.” Once I ran the loop, I checked the directory. Lets see how it looks.

Perfect! Our files are showing “Hello-1.odt” and then were increased by one for each time it went through the loop. Let me be honest here, right clicking and renaming the files through the GUI would have worked just as well, but what if we had 500 files to rename? What if it was 1,000 pictures? Right clicking and renaming just isn’t an option. This is the usefulness and power of the terminal as a tool. A command would save hours of right clicking and renaming or whatever else you need to accomplish.

Terminal Commands

That was a really long explanation but I think it was worth it. Let’s go over some other commands, eh?

1. “pwd” Shows you where you are

Let’s go back to the folder that we just renamed. If you type in “pwd” and press Enter it will show you all the contents of the directory that you’re in.

Notice that the output (in white text) shows “/home/threestrandtech/Desktop/Example.” I want to point something out: only the “/Desktop/Example” shows in blue at the end of the line. But in the “pwd” output, you also see /home/threestrandtech . . .” etc. This is useful if you have a lot of subdirectories that are connected to the one you’re working with, especially if you need to change directories and go back a few levels.

2. “ls” shows you whats inside the folder you’re working with

We covered this one above but yes, “ls” literally “lists” the contents of the folder you’re working on. It helps you view what files are in the directory you’re working in without having to pull up a file manager using the GUI.

3. “cd” tells the terminal to switch focus to a new folder

We talked about “cd” above, but here are two more uses for it:

cd /

“cd /” will take you to the filesystem root (which means the most main folder of your PC. If the King of a country was citizen #1, this folder would be the King folder, so to speak)

cd . .

“cd . .” means to go up one level. For example, if you were in the /desktop/dave folder and wanted to switch to working on the desktop folder, then “cd . .” would move you to the /desktop folder.

4. “mkdir” creates a new folder for you

This one is pretty straight forward. It simply creates a new folder. There is some syntax involved of course. As you see below, the syntax is “mkdir,” then whatever options you’d like to apply to the command (more on this later), and the name of the new folder at the very end.

mkdir "options" Folder_Name

You can create a single folder

mkdir workouts

Multiple folders

mkdir workouts nutrition flexibility

Before

After

Or even nested folders (a folder inside a folder). To create a nested folder, you have to enter in mkdir and then type the “-p” option right after mkdir, followed by the parent folder name, then you’ll need a “/” (the “/” tells the system to create a folder inside another folder, with the folder on the left side of the “/” being the parent, and the folder on the right side of the “/” being the child (inside) of the parent folder)

mkdir -p health/workouts

Before

After

Let’s discuss a few more options available for the mkdir command. First, we will discuss the “verbose” option.

Verbose Option

When you are working in the terminal, there is an option to have the terminal print a line of output that effectively lets you know what happened as a result of your command. The option is called verbose and it looks like this “-v.” The format follows the same as we discussed earlier with the parent option (“-p”). The “mkdir” is the command, the “-v” is the option and “cardio” is the argument. To try it for yourself, copy and paste the following command into your Linux terminal and press Enter.

mkdir -v cardio

Before executing the command:

After:

You can also combine the -v with -p. When you combine them, you just need one “-” and then both letters. “-pv” Try the below code in your terminal for practice.

mkdir -pv cardio/treadmill/eliptical

Before

After

Referencing our above question about the terminal vs. the GUI, we have output in the terminal, a created folder on the desktop, and two subfolders created all in one command, instead of the many clicks that would be involved if we used the GUI. Quite powerful eh?

5. “cp” tells the terminal to copy something

When you need something copied, you want to use “cp.” It’s best use cases include copying configurations before editing them, duplicating files and moving files into a shared directory for collaboration projects.

The basic syntax of “cp”

cp "options" source destination

What the “cp” is essentially saying is “take the ‘source’ file and copy all the data and put it in this new file with a different name with the same data. You end up with two separate files in terms of the name but the data itself is duplicated.

Note: if the file doesn’t exist, Linux creates the file. If the file does exist, Linux erases the contents right away and writes the data over from the source file and doesn’t tell you what it did. Bear this in mind as you use cp.

Lets do an example. First, go to your app launcher and open your text editor app. Type some random text into it and save it to your desktop. Next, open your terminal. Your screen should look something like this when you’re all done:

What we are doing here is we are going to take the “Linux is super amazing” file and create an exact copy of it on the desktop. To make this easy, lets do a quick “cd” command to make sure the terminal creates the copy to the desktop and not somewhere else. Begin by using the command below:

cd Desktop/

Note: We don’t have to do this “cd” command but for convenience we are doing it this way (I’ll try to do a deep dive series on Linux commands at some point to show the myriad of available options)

Perfect, we’ve changed to the proper directory. Next, lets copy and paste this command:

cp "Linux is super amazing.txt" "Linux is the best.txt"

Before . . . (Press Enter/Return) to run the command)

And after . . .

Notice that the new file is created. There are a great many options available for the “cp” command but we will stick with this one. Feel free to try each of these commands out to get used to them. As you transition to Linux from Windows I believe you’ll find that the terminal is quite powerful, flexible and efficient.

Wrap Up

In this tutorial we learned of the terminal and why it can be very useful compared to the GUI (although without the GUI a lot of people would probably not feel comfortable using computers). We learned of a few useful commands such as “pwd,” “ls,” “cd,” “mkdir” and “cp.” They do indeed make Linux easier to use but they make the system complete in that there are so many tools and options within Linux that allow a person to do most anything that they may need to do.

I hope that you feel the same way about Linux’s utility as you learn. If you have any feedback or need any help with the exercises in this guide, feel free to leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to assist. If you found this article in any way useful please leave a like and perhaps share it with someone who might find use of it as you have.

For the next part of the series (Part 9) we are going to revisit the subject of backups, but not in quite the same manner. In part 4 we talked about Timeshift, a useful tool for reverting system settings to an earlier working state and we also discussed cloud syncing of files too. In Part 9 we will discuss backups to an external drive to complete our Linux backup apparatus. I hope you’ll join me. Have a great day!

If this article has helped you in any way, would you consider donating to the site to help support my work? You can donate as little as 1 dollar USD. Thank you for your time!

Part 7 of the series is here! We’ve been talking about 10 things to do after installing Linux! We’ve discussed many things you can do with Linux so far, including how to update the system, setting up time shift backups and customizing the desktop, to name a few. During this guide we will set up a Shared Data Folder. A shared data partition is useful if you dual boot Windows and Linux because you can access it on either your Linux or Windows OS, facilitating easy data transfer. Lets get it set up!

Setting up the Shared Partition

For most of us, our Linux and Windows installs live on the same hard drive and its likely that we don’t have a second drive installed in our machine. If you do, awesome, I would recommend setting up your shared partition on the secondary drive if possible. The best way to start the process is to boot into your Windows install. Once you’re in your Windows install, type in “disk management” in the Start Search and then click Open when you see “Create and format hard disk partitions.”

Next, we need to find the drive best suited for this new partition. For most of us, it is going to be the same C: drive that Windows is installed on. The screenshot that I show below probably looks a little different than yours, so you’ll need to use your best judgement on this. As I’ve said before, I accept no responsibility for any unintended consequences that this may cause to your OS and/or PC. See my legal disclaimer for more information on this. Now, once you find the drive that you want to use for your shared partition, right click on it and then click “Shrink Volume”

Once you click “Shrink Volume,” you’ll see a screen similar to the one below. You’ll need to determine how much space to allocate based on your hard drive size and your individual needs. for me, 10 GB is what I’ll allocate. This screen determines the the size according to MBs, but most of us think and operate in terms of GBs. 10000 MBs = 10 GBs, so 10000 MBs it is for me. Once you’re ready, click “Shrink.”

When that action is completed, your disk management page should show a new partition and it will show “Unallocated” as you see below:

Next, right-click your new partition and click “New Simple Volume”

When the New Simple Volume Wizard appears, click “Next.”

On the “Volume Size” screen, click “Next.” You can allocate all of the space available to the drive.

On the “Drive Letter or Path” page, make sure that the “Assign the following drive letter:” you can assign whatever drive letter that you’d like, but I chose “D” for mine. Click “Next” when you’re ready to advance.

On the “Format Partition” page, select the “Format this volume with the following settings:” radio button. Choose “NTFS” as the file system. You can leave the “Allocation unit size:” as “Default” and give the partition a volume label that clearly indicates what it will be used for, such as “Transfer” or some other cool name. Click “Next” when all of your settings have been selected.

Once you get to the “Completing the New Simple Volume Wizard” page, review your settings if you’d like, then click “Finish.”

Fun fact: If you forget the name the drive (like I did), you can always go back to “Disk Management” and right click the drive and click on properties as I demonstrate below.

Once you get to the “Properties” screen, type in the new drive name and then click “Apply.” After that, restart your PC and then boot into your Linux install.

Once you’re in your Linux OS, click into your file manager.

Depending on your OS, this next screen might look different. for me, I had to click on “Other Locations.”

Once you’re able to see your other drives in your file manager, you should see the partition that you created in the list. I named mine “Transfer” in Windows and now it shows in my Linux install. Hopefully yours shows up as well. If it doesn’t, let me know in the comments and I’ll do my best to help!

Lets test it to make sure that files in this volume will be accessible in both OS’s. Right click within the volume and then click “New Folder.”

Name the folder something meaning if you can. If not, lets name this one “Test.” Then click “Create.”

Open up a LibreOffice document, then type something simple. Click the save icon (as I indicate in the following screenshot).

On the save screen, be sure to save the file in your created partition. Also save the document in the “Word 2010-365 Document (.docx)” format. Click “Save” in the upper right of the save window.

If you get the following warning screen. Click the “Use Word 2010-365 Document Format.” After you save your doc, restart your PC and boot into your Windows install.

Once you’re in your Windows install, do a search for “Word” and open Word.

As you Open the file, navigate to your partition, then click into your test folder and open the test doc.

If your TestDoc opens, awesome! Nice work! If it doesn’t, still awesome! Just comment below that it didn’t open and I’ll do my best to help you.

Things you can (and can’t) use the shared partition for

This next part is very important, because while this shared partition is incredibly useful, it isn’t without its boundaries. The files that are ok to use in this shared partition are any that do not involve Linux system files, the Windows C:\Program Files, Windows system folders and anything similar. If you think of it this way, both Linux and Windows are like a house. You can change the flooring, wallpaper, you can even knock down a couple walls and put up different ones within reason.

You can’t, however, remove primary support beams that hold up an entire floor without potential consequences. The same is true for an OS; if you mess with or move critical files, that is like trying to switch out the foundation or remove a major support beam in a house: there is likely to be a catastrophic consequence. So what can you put in this drive? Well, anything that isn’t critical or immovable without major consequence. Documents, game saves (if compatible), project files, music, images, videos, etc. I hope this helps!

Wrap Up

In this guide we set up a shared disk partition, formatted it as NTFS so that Windows and Linux could both use it, then we tested it by creating and then opening a document in Linux and Windows to make sure it worked on both OS’s. The shared partition will make it easier to start migrating your digital life over to Linux as you start using your everyday files, pictures, and other data in Linux, even if the file is created in Windows. On the next part of the guide, we discuss something that could be intimidating: useful terminal commands in Linux! Don’t skip this part, you are quite capable of using terminal commands without fear or intimidation (you may even find the practice not only useful, but fun!). I hope to see you there! Have a GREAT day!

If this article has helped you in any way, would you consider donating to the site to help support my work? You can donate as little as 1 dollar USD. Thank you for your time!

Hey ya’ll! We are onto part 6 of the series! AMAZING! This series is about 10 things to do when you’re migrating from a different OS (Primarily Windows for this series but it does apply to others too). Here we really talk about the look and feel of Linux. Specifically we talk about how to make your Linux install look however you’d like it to look; to give it a cool look and feel that you love! For this walkthrough we are going to look at the topic from the Zorin OS standpoint of things. I imagine that there are other launchers and customization options for other Linux flavors though, so feel free to search the greater Internet to obtain and download other customizations if you wish. Let’s decorate!

Customize your Desktop (Make Linux look and feel comfortable)

The Zorin OS version of Linux offers many different options to change the look and feel of your OS. To begin, click the app launcher (the Start Menu-like button in the bottom left) and click on “Settings.”

Once you’re in Settings, click on “Appearance.” You’ll notice that this section focuses on how your desktop looks. After clicking into “Appearance,” click on “Zorin Appearance.”

Once you’re in “Zorin Appearance,” this is where lots of customization options live. First, make sure that “Layout” is selected, then click on each type of layout to see what each one looks like. For my previous screenshots, I had dark mode selected. I went ahead and made the succeeding screenshots with the light theme enabled so that you can get a good view at multiple styles.

This is the default theme. The selected theme is the graphic that is highlighted in blue, as I’ve indicated in the following screenshots. Also note how the taskbar at the bottom of the screen looks different from screenshot to screenshot. Also note that this option makes the desktop look most Windows-like. The bottom left Zorin icon functions like the “Start” menu from Windows. Click it and it opens up a menu that you’re likely used to from Windows. Also note that with this setting you’ll have a system tray in the lower right that looks just like the Windows system tray. I challenge you to try the Windows layout for a little while but once you get the hang of Linux, try another one. You may like it more.

As discussed, you see the Windows-like start menu on the bottom left and the system tray on the lower right.

Notice that the icons in the taskbar on the bottom have the name of the apps displayed next to the app icons.

This setting shows the app icons moved to the center of the task bar; this one is more MacOS-Like I believe.

This one is quite different from the others as it shows the taskbar on the top of the screen and the date is in the top center.

FYI for the setting that puts the taskbar at the top, you can click on the window switcher icon in the upper left to easily switch applications.

Once you click the window switcher icon you’ll not only see the windows that are open; you’ll also see the taskbar appear in the bottom middle. On the far right side of the taskbar you’ll the app launcher icon. Click it to reveal your app menu.

When I click on the app launcher in the lower right corner, you’ll see that the app launcher appears and the open windows move to the top middle of the screen. To cycle through all of the available apps on your machine, click the arrow in the far right middle side of the page as indicated.

Get even MORE desktop Layouts!

Zorin has even more Zorin OS focused desktop layouts if you’d like. To obtain those layouts, you’d need to upgrade from the free Zorin OS to Zorin OS Pro. As of this writing, Zorin OS Pro is 47.99 and according to the folks at Zorin, that includes additional apps, office productivity software, integration between your phone and computer, 8 premium desktop layouts and many other features. You can also upgrade to Zorin OS Pro from the Appearance settings page, as shown below.

I’m not trying to sell it to you and I get no commissions from Zorin for mentioning this, I just want you to understand that you’re getting way more than desktop themes for the 47 dollars. Ultimately I would recommend starting with the free version and if you really still want the premium experience later on or need enhanced software, etc. then purchase the upgrade. 47 dollars isn’t a high price to pay for a very well developed and supported OS, after all.

As referenced earlier, you can switch between light and dark mode and even schedule between the two depending on time of day, as referenced below. In the screenshot below, light mode is selected. Also notice that the red accent color is selected, causing the accent on the selected menu item to be red as indicated with the green rectangle and arrow.

Notice when I select the scheduler option that a schedule menu appears, allowing me to select the times that dark and/or light mode should be selected. For convenience, you can also select Sunset to Sunrise and Zorin will automatically adjust the setting based on the time of Sunset/Sunrise, respectively.

Feel free to experiment with all of the customizations in this menu to find one that suits you well. I won’t be focusing on all of the settings but one that I found noteworthy was under the Windows Appearance settings. Notice in the below screenshot that if under the “Titlebar Buttons” option that the “Right” setting is clicked, the “x” button and “minimize” (“-“) button are on the upper right corner of the window.

Conversely, when “Left” is clicked, the x and minimize are on the upper left side.

As mentioned previously, free to explore the other options on your own.

Set Your Wallpaper

This part is always fun: setting your wallpaper. It functions a lot like other OS’s, such as Windows. Simply right click on the desktop, as shown below, then click “Change Background . . .”

You’ll see the stock backgrounds that come with Zorin in the background section; simply click any of them and the background will change right away. If you want to use your own picture, click on the “Add Picture . . .” option and choose the picture you’d like to use.

I chose the mountain background for my machine. I like it

A better look at the Zorin OS stock background that I chose

Pin Essential Apps to the Taskbar

In Windows (as you likely know), you can right click on just about any app and click on “Pin to Taskbar” and it will keep that app’s icon permanently on the taskbar. Zorin OS lets you use that same feature with some of the appearance options.

In the screenshot below, you’ll see that LibreOffice is currently on the taskbar. I’ve right clicked it and you see the menu that appears. All I have to do is click “Pin to Dash” and the app icon will stay docked to the taskbar even if closed, so that I can access it anytime I need it.

Wrap Up and Next Steps

In this guide we talked about how to customize your Linux Install (from the standpoint of Zorin OS). We discussed different themes to make your desktop look like various other OS’s, depending on your preferences. Zorin OS Pro was described along with the benefits of it but ultimately the decision to do or not to do the Pro upgrade is left up to you. Lastly, we changed our wallpaper and learned how to pin an app to the dash within Zorin OS. I enjoyed explaining these features as I hope you did as well. Please consider liking or sharing this guide and let me know in the comments of any questions or suggestions you may have. If you’re struggling with anything, let me know there too and I’ll do my best to assist. Next time we talk about setting up a shared data folder in Part 7 of the series. This part is helpful because if you’re dual booting as you migrate from Windows to Linux, this folder will be accessible on both Windows and Linux, so you’ll be able to move files from one OS to another. See you there!

If this article has helped you in any way, would you consider donating to the site to help support my work? You can donate as little as 1 dollar USD. Thank you for your time!

This is part 5 of my series on what to do on a new Linux install when moving away from another OS (such as Windows). We are getting to the fun part here: apps, apps and more apps! Time to get the productivity tools installed that get this done and fun stuff for when you need to decompress! Be sure to review previous posts of this series to catch up or if you’re new. Let’s do this!

It’s all about the Apps

In the days before the Internet was around, office workers worked on desktops. Big pieces of wood with compartments called drawers that stored pieces of paper called docu- I think you get it. We work on computers because they have the tools we need to get things done . . . or have fun. Windows has been (and as of this writing, still is) the dominant OS worldwide, but Linux is creeping up, and even before now, Linux has had many essential apps that do most or all of what Windows does: help you get things done. This tutorial breaks down what apps on Linux replace their Windows counterparts so that you can get things done on Linux nearly or exactly how you did it on Windows. Let’s get it done!

Productivity Software

Some Linux distros include LibreOffice automatically when the OS is installed. You can skip this step if you fall into that category. For the rest of us, we need to install them manually.

Windows Offers: Microsoft Office

Linux Offers: LibreOffice (and a LOT more but LibreOffice is what we will talk about here)

Comparable LibreOffice Options:

Writer -> Word substitute

Calc -> Excel substitute

Impress -> PowerPoint substitute

Other than the three programs mentioned above, there are a few other programs included with LibreOffice. They include:

LibreOffice Draw (comparable to Microsoft Visio/Publisher)

LibreOffice Base (Database program similar to Microsoft Access)

LibreOffice Math (A formula editor. Note: Microsoft used to have it’s own formula editor but due to security issues they removed it and integrated math functions directly into the programs that need them, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

Installing the LibreOffice Suite

To install LibreOffice, run this command into a Terminal Window on your Linux system:

sudo apt install libreoffice

You can see what this might look like in your system with the example screenshots below

It’s always a good idea to verify that the installation completed properly by searching for the apps in your app launcher.

Note-Taking Apps

Note-Taking Apps are commonly used in Windows and Linux is no exception.

Windows Offers: Evernote, OneNote, Notion, many others

Linux Offers: Obsidian, Joplin and many others

App Highlights

Obsidian: Good for those that want a DEEP, connected app experience that helps one make connections between note files

Joplin: More traditional notetaking experience, encryption built in, multi-device syncing with no subscription required

App Installation Options

When a person installs an app on Linux, there multiple options that one can use:

1. The GUI app store that comes with the distro, and the terminal
2. Flatpak (which I’ll describe more in a minute)
3. AppImage (apps that don’t require installation)
4. Source code (aka manual installs)

For some apps, using the GUI app store and/or the terminal works just fine. However, the app store often doesn’t include dependencies (background structure that allows an app to run properly) that Linux apps rely on. This is where Flatpak helps.

What is Flatpak?

Flatpak is a packaging format (a packaging format is like a digital box (called a container) that holds all the things that an app needs to run, sort of how a gas powered car has a chassis that holds the engine, sparkplugs, radiator, etc.) that is compatible with all Linux systems. It makes sure that each app that it supports has everything it needs to run: dependencies, libraries, repositories, everything.

In addition, Flatpak runs the apps inside of a sandbox, so it isn’t fully integrated into the Linux system and therefore has a much lower chance of causing issues within Linux. Desktop apps (such as what we are about the discover) run well when they use the Flatpak packaging format. Automatic updates are integrated into the apps themselves and exist outside of the OS. Similar to Google Play and the Apple App store, Flatpak has its own app store called Flathub that is extremely large and community supported.

Installing Flatpak

To install Flatpak, we will need the terminal to begin. depending on your Linux distribution, enter in the following command to get started

Ubuntu based distros (Perppermint OS/Zorin OS/Mint)

sudo apt install flatpak

Fedora (normally already installed)

sudo dnf install flatpak

Arch / Manjaro

sudo pacman -S flatpak

openSUSE

sudo zypper install flatpak

Debian

sudo apt install flatpak

Solus

sudo eopkg install flatpak

Adding the Flathub repository

Next, we will need to add the Flathub repository. The Flathub repository is the digital warehouse that contains all of the apps that use the Flatpak package format.

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Downloading apps from Flathub

Now that we have flatpak installed, we can download apps from flatpak easily.

Go to flathub.org

Choose an app that you want to download

Next, click the down arrow next to “Install.”

Click the “Copy Text” button

Open a terminal and paste in the command

You’ll need to respond “Y” to a few prompts in order to fully install the app

Search for the app in your app launcher

The app should open successfully. You should be able to use this process with any app within Flathub, including Joplin and Obsidian!

Install GIMP

For a free Photoshop replacement photo editor, install GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). For this process lets get practice using the included Software Store

Open your Software Store

Search for GIMP in your Software Store

Click Install, then click “Open.”

Set up Cloud Sync service(s)

Cloud syncing of course is important for the versatility it brings. Even with the stability of Linux, it is important for regular, seamless backups. Let’s get the cloud set up for your Linux system.

Windows cloud services: OneDrive, Dropbox, others

Linux cloud options: Dropbox, pCloud, Mega

Windows and MacOS have their respective cloud services directly integrated with their OS. Thankfully, most of these services offer either a native Linux client as well or sync tools over the web. As of this writing, if you’re using Ubuntu, you can actually add and sync OneDrive directly to Ubuntu. However, assuming that you’re wanting to move away from Windows, I’m going to give you a thorough demo for one such service.

The one I chose to demo for you is pCloud. I’m not affiliated with pCloud and I don’t get any commissions from sharing this information with you. For more information on terms and conditions of viewing this walkthrough, be sure to consult my Legal Disclaimer page.

Proceed to pcloud.com (NOT an affiliate link) and then (if you’re interested) roll your mouse over “Pricing” at the top of the screen, then click Individual Plan.

On the next page, click “Monthly,” then “Get Now.” Please note these prices are probably subject to change (I’m typing this in mid-late 2026 as a reference)

From here it is a self explanatory payment screen where you get to type in your email (or use a 3rd party service as your login information, etc.) and submit payment info.

Once you submit payment info you should be shown a screen that says “Go to Account.” Click that button when you see it. Next, you’ll be on your main account page. Click on “Download App” in the lower left corner of the screen.

pCloud’s system autodetected that I’m using Linux. Next, I click the Download button.

When the download/save dialog box appears, click Save

Click “Show in Folder.”

Click “Run anyway” if you’re shown a warning dialog box

Click “Sign In.”

Once you go through the sign in process, you’ll be presented with the main application window. Click “Sync.”

Next, we will chose a local folder to sync our files with pCloud Drive. Click “Select” next to “Local folder.”

Next, select the folder you’d like to sync. I chose my documents folder. When you’ve chosen your local folder, click “Choose device folder” in the upper right corner.

Now, for the pCloud Drive folder, click “Select.” You’ll be taken to a selection screen. i recommend creating a new pCloud Drive folder. Click “Create New Folder.”

Name this folder “Backup,” then click “Create.”

Once your folder is created, click “Backup” and then click “Select.”

Lastly, click “Start sync” to start the sync. According to pCloud Drive’s support article, synced folders continuously sync automatically whenever files are added, removed or changed, so at this point, you’ve got your backup and sync solution set up within Linux!

Wrap Up and Next Steps

At this part of our journey we did the fun stuff: apps! We discussed productivity software and walked through installing LibreOffice. Next, we explored Note taking apps and installed the Flatpak repository to help us install apps that include the means to install dependencies. We talked about and installed GIMP and a cloud backup solution in pCloud Drive! Our Linux installation is really beginning to take shape! Following our path towards customizing our Linux install, we discuss various desktop settings and decorating options that Linux offers (the options are pretty huge). Please leave a like, comment or share this article with others if it helps you. I look forward to seeing you explore part 6! Have an awesome day!

If this article has helped you in any way, would you consider donating to the site to help support my work? You can donate as little as 1 dollar USD. Thank you for your time!

In Part 4 of this Linux series we learn how to set up Timeshift, an efficient and safe way to roll back your Linux install to a safe point in the event something goes wrong, without having to do a clean install of the OS. Previous parts of this series involved items like updating the system and video codecs for example. Feel free to check out Part 1 if you’re new to the series.

Timeshift isn’t like other backup solutions though; it includes system files, configs, and critical OS components in the backup, which is very useful if you break the system as you try to learn it. Simply roll back the system to a previous useful state and you’re good to go. Lets start our learning journey by installing Timeshift

Install Timeshift

Start by opening a terminal on your system. Then enter the following command:

sudo apt install timeshift

Once the terminal installs Timeshift, search for and click on Timeshift in your app launcher

Select Snapshot Type

Make sure that RSYNC is selected as it composes snapshots into files and folders for easy access. Click “Next.”

Select Snapshot Location

Click on the partition that you’ll want to use for your backup. Ideally you’ll want to put this on a separate hard drive. If you don’t have that option, use what you have access to. Notice the partition that I chose was the only one I had access to.

Once you select your partition, click “Next.”

Select Snapshot Levels

This is the Timeshift Setup Wizard. It allows you to set up how often a backup is captured and how many previous backups are kept. It starts at monthly and gets increasingly more often as you go down the list. Unless you’re engaging in extensive lab or testing work that could break your system, everyday users should choose weekly or daily.

Keep Levels

As mentioned previously, the “Keep” section of each interval governs how many of your newest backups are kept. For example, if you choose “Weekly” keep 5, then 5 of the newest backups are kept. On the sixth backup, the oldest backup out of the 5 will be deleted automatically.

Stop cron emails for scheduled tasks

Cron is a scheduler that runs within Linux and it manages background jobs. If the box is unchecked, then Timeshift could send notifications about snapshot creation. If the box is checked, no email will be sent. Leaving it checked is the preferred option.

Additional Details Below the List

Snapshots are not scheduled at fixed time

This means that the snapshots don’t always run at the same time everyday, it simply checks the system for any changes

A maintenance task runs once every hour and creates snapshots as needed

Seems obvious what this means, but what is really happening is a cron job runs in the background based on the time it is set to run. .

Boot snapshots are created with a delay of 10 minutes after system startup

What this means is that if you check the boot box, Timeshift won’t run the backup until the system has ample time to boot up properly, preventing a system slowdown.

For this instance, I kept the Daily box checked and have set the Keep section to 5. Click Finish

Create Your First Snapshot

Now that we have our snapshot parameters configured, it’s time to create our first snapshot. To begin, click “Create,” then wait for the process to finish.

You’ll see a screen like this while it processes

When the process finishes, the Timeshift window will look like this:

How To Restore a Snapshot

The next set of steps/screenshots is for demonstrative purposes only. If your system isn’t broken, do not do these steps. Be sure to back up all data before attempting a restore. I accept no responsibility for any unintended results and/or lost data.

.

Lets say that something goes wrong and you need to restore your system to a previous snapshot. First, click on a snapshot and then click “Restore” to begin the process

You’ll notice on the next screen that there are many options. You can leave these options untouched unless you dual boot your system, in which case you want to see the next point

If you dual boot your system with another OS

This is very important. If you dual boot and there isn’t anything wrong with your bootloader, click where it says “Bootloader Options (Advanced)”

When the Bootloader Options screen loads, uncheck the “(Re)install GRUB2 on:” and “Update GRUB menu” boxes. This prevents the restore function from hiding or otherwise messing up your dual boot setup. Click “close” once the boxes are unchecked.

Once you’re back on the Restore Snapshot screen, click Next.

Click Next when you see this screen.

Check any and all warnings on this final screen. If anything doesn’t seem right, cancel the process, research anything thoroughly to make sure that everything is set the way you need it to. Read the Disclaimer before you proceed as well. When you’re ready, click “Next.”

Your screen will run lots of activity and will look something like this:

You system should restart normally after the restore takes place. I hope this ending process provided a nice visual for how a restore would look for you, should you ever need to run one.

Wrap Up

In this guide we discussed installing Timeshift, a very useful program that restores a system in case we break something accidentally, among other things. We discussed the various backup time intervals and how many backups to keep so that we can choose the restore point that best serves our purposes. Lastly, we created a snapshot and demonstrated how to perform a restore from a restore point. I hope that this guide was helpful and that you feel that you’ve increased in skill level as a result of this guide. In the next part of this series, we talk about something quite fun: apps! Yes, we get into the good stuff, what apps shall we run that offer the same functionality as those on Windows? There are quite a few good (potentially better?) apps that perform the same tasks as their Windows counterparts. I’ll see you there!

If this article has helped you in any way, would you consider donating to the site to help support my work? You can donate as little as 1 dollar USD. Thank you for your time!

In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series we talked about updating your Debian Linux system and installing drivers, respectively. In this third part of the series we discuss Installing Media Codecs! Media codecs are important as they enable your machine to play media. Lets get your Linux install media ready!

Wait . . . what are Codecs again?

Codecs are important, they are algorithms that shrink a video to a smaller size (compress) and then decompress it so that your machine can play it in the highest quality. If your machine doesn’t have the codec that your audio/video file needs, then it won’t play. Debian/Ubuntu based distributions can easily add the proper codecs through a terminal command.

Open a terminal window, put in this command and press enter

sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Your terminal may show this output. If it does, type “Y” and press enter

In case you didn’t notice, a set of Microsoft Fonts was included in these packages. Therefore you’ll probably see this notice:

This is just legal stuff saying that you’re about to install proprietary content on your machine. Press tab until “ok” is highlighted, then press enter.

You’ll see another screen where you have to use your arrow keys until “yes” is highlighted and then press Enter

Once you press Enter you’ll see a bunch of computery stuff happen as the package installs

Once the installation finishes, you’ll see a screen that looks kinda like this

Easy Mode: VLC Player

Chances are you’ve probably heard of VLC Player, its pretty much the best media player you can use in terms of overall utility. Installing VLC player is also very easy in the terminal. To install it, open a terminal window and insert this command:

sudo apt install vlc

Like the last terminal flow, type “Y” when you see this window and press Enter

You’ll see a bunch of activity in the terminal window and then it will look something like this when the process is complete

Time to Test It!

Time to see if all of these processes worked! VLC player can play CD/DVD disks and a LOT of other video files. An easy way to try it is to click on “Media” and then one of the many “Open” options in that list:

Open the video or audio file of your choice and check to see (or hear) if it plays. I hope it works! If it doesn’t, comment below and I’ll help you as much as I can!

Wrap Up and Next Tutorial

In this tutorial we discussed video codecs, including what they are, why they are important, and how to download a lot of them for the best overall experience. We also downloaded VLC player to create a very well rounded video playback setup on our Linux system. in the next part of the series we will discuss Timeshift, a way to back up and roll back your Debian Linux system in case something bad happens. I hope you have a great day and see you on the next one!

If this article has helped you in any way, would you consider donating to the site to help support my work? You can donate as little as 1 dollar USD. Thank you for your time!

This is Part 2 of my series where I walk you through how to set up a new Linux install, particularly if you’re switching from another Operating System (OS), such as Windows. Be sure to check out Part 1 of this series where I teach you how to update your system.

Yay! You installed Linux, you’re set to go . . . but are you?

Technically once your Linux install is up and running you can start clicking into programs and messing around with the OS. That might not be the best idea, though. Your PC has a bunch of other devices in it that support various activities (your network cards, Bluetooth antennas, GPU, etc.). Each of these devices speaks its own “language” so to speak. With multiple devices all communicating with your CPU in their own way, there needs to be a way to translate that machine talk into something your computer can understand. That is where drivers come in.

What are drivers and why do I need them?

As alluded to earlier, drivers are “interpreters” that translate the “language” that your devices speak into something that the CPU can understand. They are integral to the proper operation of your PC. Oftentimes a driver update can fix an issue, such as if your Wi-Fi antenna stops working. If you have NVIDIA devices in your PC, then updating drivers can really make a big difference! This is because Linux can use drivers that are made by the device vendor or it can use open source drivers. Whenever possible, proprietary drivers are preferred for the best performance.

How can I tell if I really need these drivers?

Do you have peripherals installed that could benefit from driver updates? Are you planning on adding enhanced functionality to your machine? As you explore answers to these questions, the best thing to do is to check your machine and see what what driver options you have:

If you have Zorin OS, Ubuntu, or most other Linux distros, go to your app launcher (or start menu as I demonstrate below) and click on “Settings.”

Depending on your distro, click “System” (or “about”)

Click “About”

Click “System Details”

Once you get into “System Details,” you should see your system’s basic peripherals. Take particular note of your graphics card. I’ve highlighted my PC’s Graphics section for convenience

What other devices should I check?

Other than your graphics card, you may want to check on your Bluetooth or Wi-Fi antennas, but only if they are not working properly. The same is true for printers or other physical devices such as drawing tablets, CD/Optical Drives (if you still listen to CDs like me), or anything else that fills a slot on your motherboard or a USB port.

How to check your drivers for updates

You can use this guide for most items that may need a driver update. To get started, be sure that your machine is connected to the Internet. Next, follow the earlier steps by going to Settings, System, but this time, click on “Software Updates.”

Depending on your system, you may see a dialog box pop up that immediately shows a status bar, essentially searching for available updates. Once the check is complete, the dialog box will look something like this:

Click “Settings” in the lower left corner, you’ll then see this window or something like it:

As shown above, click “Additional Drivers.” If there are any drivers, you’ll see them on the next screen (shown below). This is where you would see driver updates for the items I mentioned previously (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Antenna, printers, etc. along with graphics card updates if there are any). Click the ones you’d like to apply and click on “Apply Changes” in the lower right corner of the window.

Important Point for NVIDIA Users

If you do have an NVIDIA GPU, it is HIGHLY recommended that you install the proprietary NVIDIA drivers as you’ll experience the best stability, animation quality and frame rates.

How Do I Know That the Driver Update Worked?

The best way to check that the driver update worked is to use the same steps as above (Settings, System, About). If you see NVIDIA and a model number under the “Graphics” section, you’re all set! If you don’t see NVIDIA/whatever you’re expecting to see, consult the manufacturer of your peripheral for additional options.

Wrap Up

We have updated your Linux system in Part 1 of this series and now we have updated your drivers here in Part 2. AWESOME! Be sure to read Part 3 we will update the media codecs to make sure that videos play properly on your PC. I hope you’re enjoying the series so far. If you have any feedback or questions about this tutorial of any kind, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll do everything I can to assist you. Have an absolutely awesome day!

If this article has helped you in any way, would you consider donating to the site to help support my work? You can donate as little as 1 dollar USD. Thank you for your time!

You installed Linux. Perhaps you installed it to get away from Windows or MacOS, maybe you’re trying to learn some new tech skills or your computer is really old and you don’t want to buy a new one yet. All valid reasons. However, you’re glaring at this new world of an OS and you’re thinking . . . “Well, what do I do now?” I’ve got your back my friend! In this 10 part series, I show you step by step, screenshot by screenshot, how to get your new Linux install set up just the way you need it for your goals.

In Part 1, we talk about how to update your system. Often, your Linux install ISO file doesn’t have the latest updates, hence the need to update. Updating your system also helps lay the foundation for other awesome Linux experiences including productivity, content creation, even gaming. Let’s get started.

Update Your System

There are two primary ways that you can update your system: the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the terminal. The GUI is definitely the easiest way and the way that we will start with, but I encourage you to learn how to use the terminal as well. The terminal actually allows you to do more with Linux and allows you greater OS control. Finally, there are tasks that require the terminal to complete. As you attempt these steps leave a comment below if you run into issues and I’ll get back to you shortly. When you describe the issue, include as much detail as you can (error codes, screenshots, pop up error dialogs, etc.) as it will help me resolve the concern. Let’s learn how to update your OS with the GUI:

Updating your OS with the GUI (Popup method)

Often, the GUI Software Updater may deliver a popup informing you of an update, as you can see below:

To update your system, click “Install Now”

An “Authentication Required” prompt will appear. Type in your admin password and click “Authenticate.”

Once you click authenticate, a status box will appear showing the download status of your updates.

Once the download completes, you’ll see a new prompt asking to install the updates now or to remind you later. For this tutorial, we will focus on installing them now. Click “Install Now.”

You’ll see another “Authentication Required” dialog box as seen previously. Type in your admin password and click “Authenticate.” With most Linux updates you might need to restart in order for them to take effect. Unlike Windows, Zorin will not forcefully restart your computer after an update is installed unless you configure it to do so (I won’t be covering “how to set up an auto-restart after an update” for this tutorial). I’m clicking “Restart Now.” For further reading on this, you can investigate this Zorin forum post.

Once your system restarts, it is ready for any other tasks that you have. Now, lets talk about how to update with the Software Updater if it doesn’t give a popup and/or if you want to manually check for updates:

Checking for updates with the software updater manually

There’s a couple methods that you can use to open the software updater. The first one is to open the menu (especially if your Linux distro has a Windows “Start” menu style of app launcher) and type in “Software” as shown below:

Click Software Updater at the top of the search results

Once you click “Software Updater” in the list, the system will populate a new dialog box showing search activity:

Since we updated the software in the previous process, it shows that the software is up to date. If there were any updates, then the system would provide a similar dialog box as we saw in the previous process.

That covers the Software Updater software. Now, we move on to updating the software via the terminal (which in my opinion is the better option).

Updating Linux OS via the Terminal

The Linux terminal is often intimidating for people as there is a lot to know and a lot that can go wrong if one doesn’t understand how it works. As mentioned above, the terminal is very useful and allows complete control over the OS. When you use a GUI for other programs like a web browser, the buttons that you click on within the software actually execute terminal commands on the system “in the background,” so to speak.

This works well for many situations, but the problem is that there are normally more options and commands to use. If the software developer doesn’t code a button for each and every command, then you lose access to those commands if you only use the GUI software to complete your work. If you instead learn terminal commands, you gain access to every option available for that software in addition to others. Imagine the access and control that this gives you! I’ll publish a series at some point about the terminal to help you become more familiar with the terminal. For now, lets use the terminal to update the software

To begin, open terminal by either going to your distro’s (Each type of Linux OS, be it Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, etc. is called a distribution, or distro) app launcher and searching for “Terminal” or by simply browsing your app launcher menu, as shown below.

Once your terminal is open, it will look like this:

Now that the terminal window is open, it is time to execute two easy commands to get the OS to fetch upgrades from the Linux server. The two commands, which are actually combined into one command (explained in a moment) are: “sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y” (when you type these in, do it without the quotes. I used the quotes to illustrate exactly what is included in the command.)

Before we execute this though, lets break down this command a little to explain what each part does:

Sudo = run the command with administrator capabilities (also called superuser or “root”)

apt = Advanced Package Tool (manages the application software packages within Linux)

apt update = check for any updates to the local package index (check if any software or OS updates are available)

&& = run the command after the && only if the command before the && runs properly

apt upgrade = install the upgrades that are downloaded onto the system

-y = if the upgrade process generates any questions, answer yes to all (most updates or upgrades trigger yes/no or similar questions. This command tells the system yes to all)

Understanding a little terminal language now will help you later as you continue to learn/explore Linux.

Press Enter once you have placed the command in the terminal. When you enter a command with “sudo” in it, it will require a password most of the time. Enter your admin password (which you would have set during installation of the OS). One thing to note is that the cursor might not move/show any characters that you’ve typed in when you type this password in, that is normal and it is a security feature. If this is the case with your OS, type in your password as if the cursor is moving and then press Enter. The terminal will tell you if the password was wrong, but if it was right, you’ll see the terminal start to perform its work:

As you can see, we performed the software update earlier, so the terminal shows “0 upgraded, 0 newly installed,” etc. If there were available packages, we would have seen lines showing upgrades being downloaded, packages put in place, etc. and it would have all happened automatically because we included “-y” at the end of the command.

Wrap up

In this guide, we began a series involving updating Linux through the GUI and the terminal. We discussed the ease and/or difficulty of each and how to execute an upgrade with each method. We learned little bits and pieces of what happens behind the scenes when we click a button within a GUI, and actually worked “behind the scenes” with the terminal, which gives more options and control over the Linux system.

In the next part of the series (coming soon), we will go over how to upgrade the drivers on a Linux system. Drivers are important for proper functioning of everything on a system. If there is a certain topic you’d like me to cover here, feel free to let me know in the comments below and share this tutorial with someone that you think would find it useful. Thank you so much for your time and have an awesome day!

If this article has helped you in any way, would you consider donating to the site to help support my work? You can donate as little as 1 dollar USD. Thank you for your time!