can I completely replace windows 10 with linux
 

I up graded to windows 10 from windows 8.1, I have a lot of problems, I was thinking of installing linux completely , is this a difficult procedure

It's not and since you've already upgraded you're 10 key is locked in so if you need to go back you can.

If you had window 8 and now have 10, it is probably installed using UEFI. You would need to verify that first and then read the info at the link below about dual booting Linux/windows UEFI. If you are using windows UEFI then you would need to install your Linux UEFI. It is specific to Ubuntu and derivatives but most of the info will be the same. You neglected to indicate which of the 500+ distributions you are planning to use so we can't be any more specific.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI

first of all, I noticed this is your first post, welcome to LQ

back on topic, as mentioned, windows is installed probably using UEFI, but they forgot to mention that windows 8 machines might also have secure boot enabled which will prevent any Linux distribution from booting (or versions of windows prior to 8 for that matter, but that is another matter)

fortunately this can be turned off on Intel/AMD based desktop, however you will probably have to go into the UEFI setup (done at boot by pressing a key on the keyboard to do so) and disable secure boot before installing anything other than Windows 8 and above will be possible,

unfortunately, without make or model of your computer it would be impossible to give any more specific instructions as the procedure for entering UEFI setup is different from machine to machine, as is the menu layout of the UEFI console.

however, once this is done, the UEFI boot/non UEFI boot may or may not be an issue as a lot of UEFI motherboards i have seen have also suppored non-uefi 'legacy' bootloaders, so i wouldn't wory too much about that, more about disabling secure boot.

my suggestion would be to try a live media version of your distribution, if available (ubuntu and fedora, for example have them), before installing, to make sure that you can get along with the distribution and it plays nice with your hardware.. then you can just wipe the HD and install.

Linux is not Windows replacement. It is an alternative. Whether this alternative is viable for you or not we do not know.

The question is what do you use your computer to do? While Linux has programs that do much the same as Windows, it is not Windows.

Yes, you can run SOME Windows programs with WINE; however, rest assured that the one program you want probably won't. I'm not being negative, just realistic. I use Linux 95 of the time but I still must use Windows 7 for a few tasks...

allthough technicaly correct this is off topic, the OP was asking if it was possible, not for a reason why he/she should or shouldn't

it is up to the OP to try linux and decide whether or not to stick with it, not us to provide unsolicited advice as to why or why not to install linux.

@ denduncannon

I left windows a long time ago. But it didn't happen over night. It took years. But, once I was comfortable with linux, I dropped windows like a bad habit. Your mileage with linux will vary.


Bill gate$ called me and said, "Come back if you only knew the power of the dark side!"

I told him !@*# off.

Just a little humor there...

Getting back to OP's initial question, installing Linux is not difficult. Because Linux distros know that they may be installed by persons who have never ever installed an OS before, they have gone out of their way to make the process as easy as they can.

The videos on this page about installing Mint give a pretty good general idea of how the install process goes for most distros. There are variations in the install among distros, but that page is a good introduction to the process.

Note that Slackware does not offer automatic partitioning of the target drive.

Hi.

Make sure you can reinstall windblow$ (in my case only if I resell my old computers as dual boot of course) and yes. You can always install microcoughed in a VM within Linux if need be... ;)

@ denduncannon

I forgot to mention this. If you plan to go linux all the way. Check your BIOS and disable secure boot if it is enabled. Also, for the most compatibility with any linux distro, select legacy as the boot mode.

Almost all Linux distros have a live installation medium, USB stick or DVD. In other words, you can run them (a bit slowly, if it's a DVD) without installing, to see if you like them and they like your computer. Do this first and check all the things you usually do to get an idea of what the basic software is like. Above all, make sure that your printer works. Anything HP or Samsung is fine, Brother or Epson may be OK, cheap Lexmarks are usually unsupported.

To get an idea of how much software is available, check out the alternatives to your usual Windows programs listed here:
http://linuxappfinder.com/alternatives

Unlike Windows, Linux does not have a built-in GUI: it's just software, so you get to choose whether you like plain or fancy, big or small. It's always best to use a distro with its standard interface, even if others are available, because that's what most other users are doing. I suggest you look at these two distros, both very good and suited to beginners:

Linux Mint
Traditional GUIs (Mate plain, Cinnamon fancy). New versions in alternate years with regular updates available.
http://linuxmint.com/
installation guide: http://www.linuxmint.com/documentation.php

PCLinuxOS
KDE desktop with lots of eye-candy. No versions -- just install and update regularly.
http://www.pclinuxos.com/
Installation instructions available in the live session.
And the famous magazine:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/december-20...zine-released/

Last but not least, instructions for partitioning a hard drive (don't panic -- this site tells you more than you'll need to know!)
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/gparted.html

It's not off topic. The title of the thread is "can I completely replace windows 10 with linux". This is a two part question:
1) Can he literally wipe windows and install Linux in its place.
2) Is linux a viable replacement for windows, in other words can he still do what he needs to do with the machine after he has performed #1.

Answering #1 without even mentioning the potential pitfalls with regards to #2 is being short-sighted.

Keeping in mind SOME can do anything with Linux others, like me cheat. :)
http://s15.postimg.org/9aa9acsmz/snapshot1.png

Easey
 

It's not difficult to switch in my case coming from Windows 2 months ago and installed openSUSE 13.2 Xfce. Being you coming from Windows what ever distro you pick I recommend you make sure it has the Xfce desktop option because it's the closest to Windows. Go to the distro website of your choice and it will tell you how to do it. I am using openSUSE 13.2 Xfce exclusively.