We’ve mentioned before that you can install Linux on a computer that can’t run Windows 11 as an alternative to buying a new computer. Here we’re going to go into more detail about that option.

With Windows 10 having reached its end of life, it’s increasingly unsafe to keep using it, as unsupported software is a tempting target for threat actors. Currently, users in the UK can enrol in the Extended Security Updates program, which continues to give security updates to Windows 10 until mid-October.  Once this ends, however, using Windows 10 will entail significant risk.

Zorin OS

A variety of Linux distributions are available to potential users, with different versions made for different needs. We’re using Zorin OS, which functions similarly to Windows in terms of interface and general usability.  Upon installation it will guide you through signing into user accounts, including the big ones like Google and Microsoft along with its own app store.

Zorin OS receives regular security updates, covering the primary reason that switching away from Windows 10 is so important.

It’s open-source and free, so there’s no need to worry about hidden costs or secrets in the code. In addition to the development team’s ongoing support, community contributions help ensure that open-source software is kept up to date, and that bugs and security exploits are found and patched quickly.

Trial Boot

Changing an operating system can be a major undertaking. Wouldn’t it be great if you could try it out without making any commitments and installing it on your computer? The great news with Zorin is that you can do that.

A USB stick can have Zorin installed on it and you can then run it from there. This allows you to test out the OS, and if you like it, commit to having it fully installed on your computer. If you don’t like it, you can just restart, take out the USB stick, and boot back into Windows.

Installation

There are various installation options available to users. You can install Zorin alongside your existing operating system, allowing you to choose which one you boot into every time the computer turns on.  Alternatively, you can clear out your existing data and operating system and carry out a completely fresh install. If you do this, make absolutely sure that you’ve backed up all important data to another location, such as cloud storage, as the installation process will delete everything saved on your computer’s hard drive.

If you’re unsure which option is the best for you, contact an IT professional before proceeding. We can handle the installation for you to ensure everything goes smoothly and the new installation works for you the way you need it to.

App Support

When people talk about Linux, a common concern is support for applications. The good news is that these days, many commonly used programs can run in Linux, or have compatible equivalents (LibreOffice for Microsoft 365, for example). Additionally, most browsers can function without issue in Linux, meaning that any application that runs in a web browser is available to users, including Microsoft 365 Online.

The functionality of more specialised applications will vary, and you can run many Windows programs via WINE, a helpful piece of software which goes between the program and the operating system and enables them to work together.

Overall

If you’re not ready to say goodbye to old hardware yet, but don’t want to risk the security issues that stem from unsupported software, switching to a Linux-based operating system such as Zorin is a viable alternative. If you have any questions, concerns, or need any help with Zorin, just get in touch.