I have tried several times to get Mint 22 and/or Zorin to work on my PCs in order to eliminate Windows/Microsoft., but with not much luck. The basics eg emails, sheets, word all taken over by Libre Office, however data links do not work here. I run Bluestacks in order to run my IPTV app, but Waydroid does not want to work. And how can I use an equivalent to One Drive to save and share my data. Any help greatly appreciated, thanks.

why bother?

Just now, JBChiangRai said:

why bother?

Well that's what I am starting to think after four days trying, with Gemini helping with all the sudo apt commands. But it was Microsoft's outage of their server for a week which made me try.

Some things like finding and installing apps seems so easy on Linux, but other things are impossible for me to understand, simply a load of unintelligible cutting and pasting.

We have a few windows pc's here and a linux server (UNraid). Windows just works, it makes life easy, there are so many programs out there when you want something.

I'm not reliant on any Microsoft service, I host all my own data in multiple places.

1 minute ago, JBChiangRai said:

We have a few windows pc's here and a linux server (UNraid). Windows just works, it makes life easy, there are so many programs out there when you want something.

I'm not reliant on any Microsoft service, I host all my own data in multiple places.

Yes, I have W11 working just as I want it after years of tweaking and knowledge of how to do things.

There are many programs for Linux out there as well, the ones I have tried seem equivalent to the Windows versions.

Unfortunatly we cannot all have our own servers .

Courtesy of AI.

Switching to Mint or Zorin is solid—both are user-friendly for ditching Windows. On LibreOffice data links not working: Ensure your source files have named ranges set up (via Data > Define Range), as that's often the culprit in external links failing. If it's hyperlinks, try the HYPERLINK function instead of the toolbar. Update to the latest Libre version or test in Calc's safe mode if issues persist.

For your IPTV app via Bluestacks: Skip the emulator hassle and use native Linux options like Hypnotix (pre-installed on Mint), Kodi, or VLC—just load your m3u playlist. If you must run Android apps, Waydroid's your best bet, but it needs a Wayland session (log out and select it at login on Mint If that flops, install Weston compositor, run it, then start Waydroid inside via terminal: waydroid show-full-ui. Alternatives include Genymotion (paid, but reliable) or Android-x86 in a VM like QEMU.

For a OneDrive equivalent: pCloud or Mega have good Linux clients for easy sync and sharing, with free tiers. If you want self-hosted, Nextcloud's free and flexible—set it up on a VPS or home server.

Or use Insync to sync your existing OneDrive on Linux.

3 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Courtesy of AI.

Switching to Mint or Zorin is solid—both are user-friendly for ditching Windows. On LibreOffice data links not working: Ensure your source files have named ranges set up (via Data > Define Range), as that's often the culprit in external links failing. If it's hyperlinks, try the HYPERLINK function instead of the toolbar. Update to the latest Libre version or test in Calc's safe mode if issues persist.

For your IPTV app via Bluestacks: Skip the emulator hassle and use native Linux options like Hypnotix (pre-installed on Mint), Kodi, or VLC—just load your m3u playlist. If you must run Android apps, Waydroid's your best bet, but it needs a Wayland session (log out and select it at login on Mint If that flops, install Weston compositor, run it, then start Waydroid inside via terminal: waydroid show-full-ui. Alternatives include Genymotion (paid, but reliable) or Android-x86 in a VM like QEMU.

For a OneDrive equivalent: pCloud or Mega have good Linux clients for easy sync and sharing, with free tiers. If you want self-hosted, Nextcloud's free and flexible—set it up on a VPS or home server.

Or use Insync to sync your existing OneDrive on Linux.

Thanks Charlie. Been there and done it all. Could not get Hypnotix, Weston, Waydroid to work after HOURS of chatting with Gemini and cutting/pasting the sudo commands. Mega seems to work OK. I gave up and back to W11.

2 hours ago, wil iam not said:

Thanks Charlie. Been there and done it all. Could not get Hypnotix, Weston, Waydroid to work after HOURS of chatting with Gemini and cutting/pasting the sudo commands. Mega seems to work OK. I gave up and back to W11.

Did you try the Mint forums?

If you try again worth looking in here for specific issues -

https://forums.linuxmint.com/

Also this is great when first setting up -

https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/p/1.html

Not suggesting they will absolutely solve your specific issues however.......

1 hour ago, topt said:

Did you try the Mint forums?

If you try again worth looking in here for specific issues -

https://forums.linuxmint.com/

Also this is great when first setting up -

https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/p/1.html

Not suggesting they will absolutely solve your specific issues however.......

Thanks, but not much help. There are SO MANY videos on You Tube telling how it is so simple to go from W11 to Mint. IT IS NOT!

54 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

how it is so simple to go from W11 to Mint. IT IS NOT!

Well it is - but not to run an android emulator in Linux unfortunately which sucks for you and those others who want to do that.

One option is to run Linux with 11 in Virtual Box and run the emulator in that - which doesn't unfortunately solve your issue of removing Windows 100%.

42 minutes ago, topt said:

Well it is - but not to run an android emulator in Linux unfortunately which sucks for you and those others who want to do that.

One option is to run Linux with 11 in Virtual Box and run the emulator in that - which doesn't unfortunately solve your issue of removing Windows 100%.

So I must run W11 in a Virtual Box in Linux, then install Bluestacks Android Emulator on that W11 in order to run my IPTV apk.

56 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

So I must run W11 in a Virtual Box in Linux, then install Bluestacks Android Emulator on that W11 in order to run my IPTV apk.

It was simply a suggestion as to what may work for your use case until Linux fixes the issues with emulators - which could be a couple of years based on some posts I quickly scanned.

Alternatively, as you have already mentioned, simply stay with Windows.

On 1/7/2026 at 7:45 AM, wil iam not said:

Well that's what I am starting to think after four days trying, with Gemini helping with all the sudo apt commands. But it was Microsoft's outage of their server for a week which made me try.

Some things like finding and installing apps seems so easy on Linux, but other things are impossible for me to understand, simply a load of unintelligible cutting and pasting.

I only use stand alone applications on my Win 7 and Win 10 laptops. IMO that is the best way to use windows - no reliance on their servers. I use all emails and apps from an Office 2016 application. Yes I back up manually every week - does not take long at all - and I have the backups myself - no relying 100% on MSoft.

I have seen a lot of people trying Linux and struggling. It is not something for a newbie and requires constant ongoing tweaking as things stop working now and then - especially other apps which get updated and then no longer work properly on a Linux machine. Linux seems great for a gaming machine, or for a machine only being used for specific applications - video stuff maybe - but not for MSoft stuff and Google based things etc etc.

18 minutes ago, XRules said:

Linux seems great for a gaming machine,

This is the opposite of what many gamers suggest as some older games do not run on native Linux........

20 minutes ago, XRules said:

It is not something for a newbie and requires constant ongoing tweaking as things stop working now and then

Obviously people's experiences will vary depending on use case and the distribution they choose.

Personally however having had Linux Mint XFCE on a dual boot low specced machine for over 6 years it is not something I have had a problem with. However it does only get used for simple tasks.

On 1/7/2026 at 7:45 AM, wil iam not said:

Well that's what I am starting to think after four days trying

Heavenly computing with Linux, perhaps, might not be for...EVERYBODY....

If your attention-span is limited to 4-Days....

Then, why bother with just about....ANYTHING....?

Maybe, you are really just NOT .....UP-TO-IT...?

But, if I were you....

Then...

I would not CROW about it....

You think?

On 1/7/2026 at 8:41 AM, wil iam not said:

I have tried several times to get Mint 22 and/or Zorin to work on my PCs in order to eliminate Windows/Microsoft., but with not much luck. The basics eg emails, sheets, word all taken over by Libre Office, however data links do not work here. I run Bluestacks in order to run my IPTV app, but Waydroid does not want to work. And how can I use an equivalent to One Drive to save and share my data. Any help greatly appreciated, thanks.

Why are you using an android IPTV app on windoze or linux? An android tv box is cheap and does it better.

On 1/12/2026 at 7:38 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

Heavenly computing with Linux, perhaps, might not be for...EVERYBODY....

If your attention-span is limited to 4-Days....

Then, why bother with just about....ANYTHING....?

Maybe, you are really just NOT .....UP-TO-IT...?

But, if I were you....

Then...

I would not CROW about it....

You think?

Not up to what? After over 30 years on Windows, and a career in music production and hotel management, I think my computing capabilities are adequate.

My attention span is far more than the 4 days I trieid to get the basic Zorin to work as I want it. I have better things to do.

59 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Not up to what? After over 30 years on Windows, and a career in music production and hotel management, I think my computing capabilities are adequate.

My attention span is far more than the 4 days I trieid to get the basic Zorin to work as I want it. I have better things to do.

You are entirely correct.

Life is just a matter of setting priorities for one's limited time, based on interests and needs.

It would certainly seem unwise to spend much time learning something of lesser importance, when Windows is a perfectly adequate and respectable ecosystem with tons of developers around the world.

So, as I say, for this very logical reason: Probably Linux OS, or Nix, is not cost-effective for Everybody.

Windows works quite well.

I am not really sure what is happening to Windows Eleven, since I have never booted it...

Still, even though I have never booted Windows Eleven, I have nevertheless decided to give Windows the boot....

For good.

Neither one is better than the other, for all needs.

My naive solution: get hold of, and install, Warp-Terminal. I no longer use Linux forums for my little problems. It may tell you that your laptop is incompatible with what you want to do, or take you through a few steps tp get there. Free version you get to use it 75 times a month, otherwise you pay.

Just now, GammaGlobulin said:

You are entirely correct.

Life is just a matter of setting priorities for one's limited time, based on interests and needs.

It would certainly seem unwise to spend much time learning something of lesser importance, when Windows is a perfectly adequate and respectable ecosystem with tons of developers around the world.

So, as I say, for this very logical reason: Probably Linux OS, or Nix, is not cost-effective for Everybody.

Windows works quite well.

I am not really sure what is happening to Windows Eleven, since I have never booted it...

Still, even though I have never booted Windows Eleven, I have nevertheless decided to give Windows the boot....

For good.

Neither one is better than the other, for all needs.

Linux Distros , Mint & Zorin, are free, as are most others, and so are most apps. I have been on W11 Pro since it came out, and yes, it works OK, but at a cost, like $99 for 365 aka Office.

What are you going onto when you do give Windows the boot.

2 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Linux Distros , Mint & Zorin, are free, as are most others, and so are most apps. I have been on W11 Pro since it came out, and yes, it works OK, but at a cost, like $99 for 365 aka Office.

What are you going onto when you do give Windows the boot.

Well, in fact, I gave Windows the boot, way back in the year 2000, using SUSE, when SUSE Linux, like all distros, were much more difficult to manage and install than they are now.

And, by the way, while I am at it:

I should apologize to you for my original comment, the one several days ago.

My comment, at that time, was intended only to be slightly humorous....but, instead...

My comment turned out to be: Flippant, Condescending, and plain Stupid.

My comment was not becoming of a Gentleman and a Scholar.

So, ....I will say sorry for that comment, as I knew it was problematic soon after I hit the SEND button.

On 1/12/2026 at 8:02 AM, gargamon said:

Why are you using an android IPTV app on windoze or linux? An android tv box is cheap and does it better.

I run it on my Firestick, and on my PC in the office. Works well on Bluestacks, but not on Waydroid...YET!

On 1/7/2026 at 7:41 AM, wil iam not said:

I have tried several times to get Mint 22 and/or Zorin to work on my PCs in order to eliminate Windows/Microsoft., but with not much luck. The basics eg emails, sheets, word all taken over by Libre Office, however data links do not work here. I run Bluestacks in order to run my IPTV app, but Waydroid does not want to work. And how can I use an equivalent to One Drive to save and share my data. Any help greatly appreciated, thanks.

I have switched from the Microsoft Office suite to Google equivalents (Docs, Sheets, Drive, etc.). These run equally well in browser windows in Chrome on either Windows or Ubuntu, and the data is always saved and always current on either platform regardless of which one I used last.

Switching off my Windows PC one day will then be seamless and I'll continue on whatever flavour of Linux is best at that time.

I readily accept that a lifetime's accumulation of Windows knowledge and experience will be lost but I enjoy the challenge of getting things to work in Linux (very easy with Gemini's help) and the reduction in bloatware compared with Windows is very welcome.

On 1/7/2026 at 7:45 AM, wil iam not said:

Well that's what I am starting to think after four days trying, with Gemini helping with all the sudo apt commands. But it was Microsoft's outage of their server for a week which made me try.

Some things like finding and installing apps seems so easy on Linux, but other things are impossible for me to understand, simply a load of unintelligible cutting and pasting.

Installing Mint is incredibly easy. I've been using it for over 10 years on everything from a very powerful video editing rig, mini PCs and even have it running on my Macbook Pro (removed the crappy MacOs as soon as I could). I use the Cinnamon edition.

What issues where you having with the install?

Everything seemed to click yesterday, and now Zorin is up and running perfectly. Must now change from OneDrive to GoogleDrive or Maga.

On 1/7/2026 at 1:43 AM, JBChiangRai said:

why bother?

Maybe because (a lot of people) want toget away from Trump's ass kissers ?

7 hours ago, Harry Vibhavadi said:

Maybe because (a lot of people) want toget away from Trump's ass kissers ?

Why not just pirate their software? it's like giving them the finger without cutting your nose off to spite your face

1 hour ago, JBChiangRai said:

Why not just pirate their software? it's like giving them the finger without cutting your nose off to spite your face

Because they (Microsoft) will probably ban anyone without a M'soft account, to use it.

After several tries at Zorin/Mint, it finally all clicked into place and I am up and running as if M'soft did not exist. Will try to eliminate Google next.

It's true that Microsoft Office can do things LibreOffice can't. Office uses Windows patented technology that was considered dangerous when it was introduced forty years ago. Windows still suffers from virus attacks, which Linux doesn't. I don't trust OneDrive, and have uninstalled it from my Windows 10. If you are dependent on it I don't know of any Linux equivalent, so Linux is not for you. Most people are not dependent on either of those. If you play games probably Linux is not for you, although they claim to be getting better. That's why I have Windows 10 sharing a hard drive with Ubuntu (Linux). I think, since you depend on things controlled by the Microsoft monopoly, you need to continue with Windows 11, no matter how exasperating it is.

6 minutes ago, Acharn said:

Windows still suffers from virus attacks, which Linux doesn't.

Rubbish!

Of course it can be infected!