Windows to Linux transition

[aSPIRIn4]

Hi

I was wondering if there is a software that can check everything that I have installed on my Windows machine and then tell me what works and doesn't work on a Linux machine.

To make switching from Windows to Linux easier.

[Eigenvektor]

If you expect to use all the same software you used on Windows on Linux, you're going to have a hard time. Ideally, use Linux native alternatives to as much Windows-only software you can.

 

That said, there is: https://appdb.winehq.org/

and more specifically for (Steam) games: https://www.protondb.com/

[MC Morrado]

Open-source alteratives like LibreOffice take some time to get used to but you'll be spending a lot less money on software overall. I can see Linux-native FOSS software replacing most mainstream Windows stuff unless absolutely required for your profession.

[OhioYJ]

If you need Windows software, I would just dual boot. 

 

Personal opinion, but Wine does not belong on a Linux machine. 

 

Just boot up different distros using USB, and see what you like or don't like before installing anything. Most all live boot environments will even let you install software so you can test to see what works for you in that regard as well. 

[Dutch_Master]

The main thing to remember is that Linux is NOT a free Win-OS   

[okkee]

1 hour ago, aSPIRIn4 said:

Hi

I was wondering if there is a software that can check everything that I have installed on my Windows machine and then tell me what works and doesn't work on a Linux machine.

To make switching from Windows to Linux easier.

Like @OhioYJ has said, you don't need to make a clean break when trying out linux. Especially if it's your first time and you're just trying to see what works for you. Distros like LinuxMint even have webpages showing you how to set up dualbooting so you have both windows and linux on your system.

Also, what distros were you looking at?

[Dutch_Master]

If you have the budget, purchase a small capacity SSD (128GB and up), then disconnect (!!) the existing Win-OS drive and put the new drive in. Install Linux and see what hardware is supported. Assuming your main activity on that machine is gaming, try Bazzite as it's best geared towards gamers switching from Win-OS. As a non-gamer, I didn't try it myself but others report good experiences with it. If you plan on running AAA+ games under Linux, I'd suggest a minimum of 1TB SSD so you can install more then a few games.

[manikyath]

assume none of it will work out the box, that's the safest bet.

[Ha-Satan]

The thing to understand is that (desktop) Linux can do every kind of task that Windows can do...but not necessarily in the same way, or with the same programs*.

 

If you want to fully switch to Linux, you're probably going to need to find a different workflow and/or a different program for at least some of the things you do.

 

Like, you can still edit videos on Linux just like you can on Windows, but if Premiere Pro is your software of choice on Windows, then you'll need to learn to use a different software.

 

At first, it might feel like you're limping along, and like everything you do is overly complicated compared to Windows. But this is really just a matter of familiarity. If you use Linux long enough, you get used to doing things "the Linux way." I've used Linux as my daily driver long enough that I default to the way Linux and Linux programs do things and I get annoyed when I have to do things the Windows way.

 

*Note that "or with the same programs" means that, yeah, you can't expect to play all your Windows games on Linux. Just like with any other task, you might just have to not play all of the same games that you did on Windows. But you can still game on Linux!

 

[TudorFinalBosz]

      

On 10/27/2025 at 10:04 PM, aSPIRIn4 said:

Hi

I was wondering if there is a software that can check everything that I have installed on my Windows machine and then tell me what works and doesn't work on a Linux machine.

To make switching from Windows to Linux easier.

https://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Linux_software_equivalent_to_Windows_software

[Mark Kaine]

On 10/27/2025 at 9:56 PM, OhioYJ said:

Personal opinion, but Wine does not belong on a Linux machine. 

But isn't steam os etc using that? Basically any "gaming" linux distro?

 

Sidenote, but not unimportant, I just saw a new project that makes it really easy to use windows apps (but it's "virtualization") and the problem is like with any other such solution "NO GAMES CUZ VIRTUALIZATION"...

 

It makes zero sense to have to use a "passthrough" for GPU and then you need two...?

 

But you don't need a passthrough for CPU? At least they never mention this (you also don't need TWO CPUs lol)

 

Fix this nonsense and Linux will thrive, despite the cumbersome UI and weird, esoteric file structure*... Put some work in,bribe Nvidia, idk, but fix it or else Linux will always have a hard time to compete.

 

Spoiler

*reminds me of TempleOS, but at least that had a philosophy behind it, actually worked without discriminations and was "finished"

 

ps: 480p is fine! 

 

[OhioYJ]

1 hour ago, Mark Kaine said:

But isn't steam os etc using that? Basically any "gaming" linux distro?

Wine runs good and bad stuff. I learned my lesson with Wine many years ago. I had setup a Linux machine for the Mrs's little sister and installed Wine so she could play the Sims. She downloaded something from the internet, I don't remember now, mouse pointers, mods for the game, something. What it actually was a virus, that wasn't harmful for Linux, but Wine let the Windows code run. 

 

Now I could have done a few things differently. However I setup it up to have the least amount of friction to a new user. This also meant I got to hear the I thought Linux couldn't get viruses for a little while. It was a pretty easy fix, and Wine came off. It became a dual boot machine for gaming.