this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2025
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I do not have the skills to work-on/repair OSs alternative, if something goes wrong. Are there any top alternative Computer OSs that have IRW computer repairpeople that was work on computers that use their OSs? If the answer is yes, then around what USA cities?

Thank You, for everyone seriously trying help me. Which is most the replies:)!

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[–] joshchandra@midwest.social 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Just checking: are you aware that you can try Linux on your machine without installing it? You can use Balena Etcher to write a disc image (.ISO) to any flash drive (that's the one catch: you must own a flash drive), and plug it in, have the PC boot from the flash drive instead of its own internal parts, and test-drive Linux entirely in it.

Alternatively, you could run it in a virtual machine via Oracle VirtualBox, which is free, last I checked.

I had not known that I could use/test-out without downloading.

I have been thinking of installing both & chosing to keep the one I like best, because Microsoft Windows forced downloaded to my machine, buy family member buy both Framework 12 LT & Windows.

[–] joshchandra@midwest.social 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Yes, you can try a copy of Linux from a USB flash drive and then shut down the computer, pull out the drive, and boot right back into Windows as if nothing had ever happened. The installation process is typically a desktop icon on the Linux distro; if you don't touch that icon, then it's all temporary. Glad to be of help!

Okay, that sounds awesome, but I have three-questions. 1st. Is it the same for Mint version? 2nd. Can test out/actually use The Linux Mint or Distro version, then backup it all, remove the same thumb drive & it is as if nothing occurred? & 3rd. Can I save both OSs’ files to same thumb drive & still do 2nd. question?