Alex Ruben
How To Discover the Best Windows 10 Alternative: Testing AnduinOS
Are folks ever surprised by how almost familiar Linux can feel, especially with an option like AnduinOS that tries to look and feel like Windows 11? Switching is not always super straightforward, but with a bit of patience, it can be done without pulling out all your hair. Here’s what’s worked on multiple setups—not perfect but feels solid enough to recommend.
Prerequisites for Installation
Before starting, double-check you’ve got these:
- A compatible PC—you know, not ancient, with decent specs, at least 4GB RAM, 20GB free disk space.
- A USB drive (at least 4GB) to create the live install media.
- Some internet connection, especially for updates or driver fixes afterward.
Step 1: Downloading AnduinOS
First things first, grab the ISO from the official site: Download AnduinOS. Not sure why, but sometimes the direct download links are flaky or slow. On one setup, the download had to be restarted twice because of flaky server responses—of course, because Windows has to make things harder than necessary. Anyway, once you get the ISO, keep it handy.
Step 2: Making a Bootable USB
After grabbing the ISO, create a USB stick that can boot into AnduinOS. I usually swear by Rufus, but you can also try Etcher. Here’s the usual process:
- Insert the USB drive (make sure there’s nothing important on it, because it’s gonna get wiped).
- Open Rufus (download here).
- Pick your USB under Device.
- Select the ISO file you downloaded.
- Click Start, and wait… sometimes it fails the first time if the ISO is quirky. Just re-select and retry.
Step 3: Booting from USB
This part is always exciting and a little nerve-wracking. To get your PC to boot from USB:
- Reboot and enter BIOS/UEFI settings—usually press F2, F12, or Delete right after power on. On some laptops it’s trickier, but that’s the usual move.
- Find the Boot menu—sometimes under Boot order.
- Set the USB as the first boot device. Sometimes, you’ll see a separate menu called Boot override where you can select the USB directly.
- Save and exit; your PC should restart into the live environment. If it doesn’t, double-check your BIOS boot order.
Step 4: Installing AnduinOS
Once you’re in the boot menu, you’ll see a fancy screen with options—mostly pick “Install AnduinOS”. Here’s the lowdown:
- Choose your language and click Continue.
- Follow all the prompts: keyboard layout, time zone, partition style (manual vs. automatic). I usually go with automatic unless I’ve got a custom SSD setup.
- When it asks about disk partitioning, if you want to wipe Windows completely, choose the erase option. If dual-booting, make sure to resize partitions carefully, because sometimes Linux doesn’t resize Windows partitions well on the first try.
- Hit Install Now—and hope the installer works. Sometimes it crashes if your USB isn’t perfect, so maybe run a check or re-burn if you hit problems.
Step 5: Initial Setup & Fixes
After install finishes, reboot. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get it to boot properly, especially if BIOS boot modes aren’t set to UEFI or Secure Boot is enabled (disable it sometimes helps). The first boot might block you or get stuck, so be patient.
On the first run, you get a setup wizard for user details and Wi-Fi. Make sure to connect Wi-Fi—to pull in updates and necessary drivers. On some setups, Wi-Fi isn’t picked up right away, so look into installing firmware manually if needed (via sudo apt update && sudo apt install firmware-iwlwifi or similar).
Step 6: Navigating the UI
This is where it’s kinda weird but in a good way. The interface is designed to mimic Windows 11—centered taskbar, start menu with live tiles, and rounded corners. It’s not perfect but familiar enough to comfort the transition. Expect to tweak some settings though:
- Adjust the Appearance in Settings to match your vibe—like icon sizes or themes.
- Install the necessary drivers if some hardware acts funny (like graphics or Wi-Fi). You can check community forums for tips.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Here’s the real scoop—stuff that’s come up more than once:
- Software Compatibility: A bunch of Windows apps don’t run natively. Use Wine or virtual machines (VirtualBox) if needed. That’s slightly fiddly, but doable.
- Package management: Need software? Use the terminal with
aptcommands or the Software Center. FlatHub support is decent, but sometimes flatpak apps need extra setup. - Boot issues: If the system won’t boot after install, check Fast Boot and Secure Boot. Disabling Secure Boot is often the quick fix, though some machines stubbornly ignore that.
Summary
- Download ISO from official site
- Create bootable USB with Rufus or Etcher
- Set PC to boot from USB in BIOS/UEFI
- Install AnduinOS along with your preferred options
- Set up Wi-Fi and updates in first boot
- Adjust UI and fix drivers if necessary
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Or at least saves the frustration of wandering around in BIOS for an hour.