this post was submitted on 28 May 2024
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From another comment I made

A linux installer for windows that works just like a normal installer on windows. You download the .exe, double click it, it opens a wizard you can walk though, and by the end of the process, after it reboots, you're in a linux distro.

How could something like this be implemented?

My idea:

Best case scenario where multiple data partitions exist and can accommodate the user data stored on C:/ + there's a swap partition -->

  • download a linux iso
  • deactivate swap
  • replace swap partition with ISO contents
  • modify contents to auto install linux with settings from wizard
  • add boot entry to boot from old swap / modified ISO
  • reboot
  • install linux with a nice progress animation
    • move user data from C:/ to other partition
    • replace C:/ with linux
    • install alternatives to programs found on windows (firefox for edge, gimp for paint, inkscape for ..., libreoffice for MS office, etc.)
    • move user data to /home/$username
    • configure DE with theme (gnome for macos look, kde with theme for windows look)
    • other customisations
  • reboot into linux

Dunno if this is feasible in the best case scenario.

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[–] fourwd@programming.dev 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It would be better for your nerves to just do a normal GNU/Linux installation. There are too many ways the installation can go wrong:

replace swap partition with ISO contents

For example, Ubuntu ISO has a size of 5.7G. But my swap, which you previously deactivated, was 4G. Either 2G, or it didn't exist at all.

move user data from C:/ to other partition

The other partition may not exist or may have capacity smaller than C:/.

replace C:/ with linux

The installed Linux must also be stored somewhere. And there is also a copy partition for C. The same problem of lack of space.

move user data to /home/$username

From %APPDATA%? You would have to be a know-it-all to resolve the location paths and configuration names of literally every existing program.

reboot into linux

~~And it is at this moment that Windows will completely randomly decide to update and rewrite the bootloader :)~~