linux pleb

Why do you want to install a distro when you know literally nothing about it? Just stick to windows if you can't even be bothered doing some basic research, you'll just end up re-installing anyway.

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obligatory

>>59224514
>Wants something that runs similarly to windows
Why do you want linux? Seriously

>>59224514
>This is my first time doing this.
Then you wanna go with something based off Ubuntu, since everything works out of the box, it's easier to find packages for proprietary software and there's tons of support on the internet.

There are tons of distros based on Ubuntu, the biggest difference between those is the desktop environment they have (the OS's UI).

Pick:
- Ubuntu GNOME, if you liked Metro in Windows 8
- Kubuntu, if you didn't
- elementaryOS, if you like Macs
- Xubuntu, if your computer is a pile of shit
- Ubuntu, if you ever feel like hurting yourself.

>I'm also concerned what is going to happen to all my installed programs and all my files that I have on this machine, I will back them up, but will I be able to open them on linux?
You'll be able to open most files (documents, music, pictures, videos...), apart from the ones with really obscure proprietary formats. With programs it's a bit trickier. You can use WINE to execute Windows programs on Linux, but generally for reasons of stability, performance and simplicity, it's recommended to either use the Linux version of the program or to find a replacement for it (e.g. Photoshop -> GIMP or Krita)

>>59224568
because i want to be able to do full system encryption with veracrypt and that is not supported on UEFI windows 8.1pro 64bit

>>59224793
thank you, I will use Ubuntu GNOME.
Will this allow me to do full disk encryption, because on my machine now, it has UEFI, windows 8.1pro 64 bit and it can't

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>>59224514
I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.

Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project.

There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.

>>59224814
then install uefi win 7 64 bit

Zorin OS

>>59224514
The one thing you need to grasp, coming from Windows or Mac, in Linux you have on the one hand "distros" and on the other "window-manager/desktop-environment" combos.

Most common distros have multiple editions for most common WM/DE combos.

So for "user-friendly" for newcomers, anything with Gnome/KDE/XFCE/Cinnamon is equally *just-fine*. Whether the underlying distro is Ubuntu (Debian-based) or Manjaro (Arch-based) or Korora (Fedora-based). You go on their downloads pages, check out the various "editions" such as "KDE", or "Gnome", or "XFCE", pick based on which screenshot you like best, and off you go. You can "easily" switch the WM/DE to use later on anyway.

>>59225921
>59225921
thanks