In short, today, it is equally easy to use both Linux and Windows. In reality, it’s just a matter of taste and habits to feel more comfortable with one operating system than the other. However, there are still some things that make more sense in GNU/Linux. GNU/Linux can be used in numerous (and creative) ways. That’s why we wanted to compile a list of things GNU/Linux does. These things don’t necessarily make it much better than Microsoft with Windows 11. However, it does do it differently. As already mentioned, it all depends on preferences.

Things you can currently only do on Linux, and it’s not Windows 11

A truly free operating system.

As you probably already know, GNU/Linux is open source, and you can install it for free. Unlike Windows, which is sometimes quite expensive. The creator of GNU/Linux developed this operating system because he wanted it to be truly free to use. Therefore, you can select any version of Linux and install it without worrying about spending a dollar. There are certainly some paid versions. However, they are the exception to the rule. Besides, they are optional, and you will always have the opportunity to install a free version.

In addition, most of the applications that come with Linux, such as LibreOffice, Firefox, GIMP and many more, are also free. Here is a big difference from the expensive Microsoft Office subscriptions, which has really generated a great success.

Forget about having to reboot to upgrade.

Rebooting after every system update or uninstalling software is quite annoying on Windows. This is usually not the case with Linux. Indeed, installations do not require the system to reboot at every step. It is true that there is an exception and Linux needs to reboot sometimes. However, this is only after updates to the Linux kernel. With this and in general, the experience is quite smooth. Therefore, it does not require long hours of waiting for a system to reboot and configure after an update.

GNU/Linux can run on almost any hardware

This is one of the great comparative points with respect to Windows 11. Let’s remember that this system usually generates installation problems. More than everything to its almost ridiculous requirements of installation. For example, it doesn’t matter if you have a 7-year-old PC, Linux will bring it back to life, and you will be able to use it.

GNU/Linux allows a high degree of customization

As this system is open source, it means that anyone can use, modify and test its code. As a result, we will be able to add custom features and enhancements to your system. Suppose you are not a developer or simply don’t want to mess with the source code. Don’t worry, Linux allows you to customize almost every aspect from the configuration. This step is considered quite innovative and is one of the reasons behind its popularity.

Clearly, you can’t do such things on Windows because of the unavailability of source code. Microsoft prefers to keep Windows closed source.

Using antivirus is not necessary

Another advantage of using Linux is that Linux-based systems do not need antivirus software. This is because most viruses and malware target Windows PCs. On the other hand, the GNU/Linux system has a protective layer over the core files of the operating system. This does not allow anyone except the users to access the files. That is why virus attacks on Linux are rare. Therefore, you don’t need to buy or download free versions of antivirus software for your system, as you do with Windows.

You will also be able to run Windows software.

Indeed, if you want to run Windows software on Linux, there is a way, and it’s called Wine. First developed in 1993, it is a software program that allows users to run many Windows applications on Linux. Unlike running a virtual machine or an emulator, Wine focuses on Windows Application Protocol Interface (API) calls. It then translates them into portable operating system interface (POSIX) calls.

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Hiren’s BootCD PE

The original Hiren’s BootCD was an emergency boot disk based on Linux, DOS, and Windows XP. In addition, it was offered as a first aid kit for your computer. It was certainly a popular choice for many users. However, the program has not been updated since 2012. Consequently, its fan community organized and developed its successor: Hiren’s BootCD PE. Basically, both share the same structure. But there are 3 substantial differences between the two:

• The latter is based on Windows 10 PE (Preinstallation environment). In fact, this is a stripped-down version of Microsoft’s OS used as a base for rescue disks.
• It has a smaller tool catalog than its predecessor. However, they are first class programs. Moreover, they are free or open-source software.
• Supports UEFI boot.

This tool has applications aimed at repairing the system MBR. It also allows the recovery of previously deleted files. In addition, it supports hard disk partitioning, formatting and diagnostics. It also has disk explorers compatible with various file systems and diagnostic and remote access tools. As well as serial and password recovery. Finally, it has basic file management applications (compression, text editors, PDF viewing, etc.) On the other hand, its great advantage is that it facilitates the task of recovering a damaged Windows system. Therefore, it saves the task of having to reinstall it.

Rescatux

We are talking about a classic of the GNU/Linux ecosystem. In fact, Rescatux has been with us for more than 10 years. This is a live distribution based on Debian GNU/Linux. It also offers tools to repair installations of both Linux and Windows systems. Therefore, it offers options to modify and repair the boot of the incumbent operating system. It does not matter whether it is UEFI or GRUB. It also allows you to fix access problems. For example, changing passwords, giving specific permissions to certain users, etc. Finally, it includes advanced tools such as Gpart, Gparted, Testdisk or Photorec.

Its main asset is an assistant called Rescapp. Indeed, this tool will facilitate access to all the restoration options. It even provides step-by-step guidance throughout the process, if you are not an advanced user. On the other hand, since a few years, Rescapp is an independent app. So, it is available in Debian repositories and compatible distributions.

As you can see, it is a very fascinating app. It certainly works as a launcher for third-party tools. But it also allows access from the app itself to the official chat channel and forum to ask for help from other users. It even makes it easy to share information about the configuration of our computer. We can also share the log of system actions.

On the other hand, there are a couple of aspects that may hinder its performance. First, a minimum of 1 GB of RAM is required to function optimally. Of course, this would not be a major problem. The vast majority of computers meet this requirement. Additionally, this tool can run on any architecture in BIOS mode. However, its developers only guarantee its operation on x64 systems in UEFI mode.

Clonezilla

Clonezilla is another Debian-based distribution. Unlike the previous ones, it has a very specific mission. Indeed, it is focused on fast cloning of disks or partitions. Theoretically, it was born as a free alternative to the famous Norton Ghost. However, its development has grown to become a name of its own in the industry. It even has a mass cloning system through a network. In this way, we can clone the same disk in numerous computers simultaneously. This distribution is compatible with numerous file systems:

• LVM2
• FS
• ext2
• ext3
• ext4
• reiserfs
• xfs
• jfs
• FAT
• NTFS
• HFS+
• UFS
• minix
• VMFS.

As a negative point, we can point out that its interface is mainly text-based. In addition, the menus are also menu-based. Therefore, it can be frightening for some users. Mainly for those accustomed to the usual graphical windowed environments.

Kaspersky Rescue Disk

Kaspersky is a well-known company. Not for nothing are the creators of the famous antivirus suite of the same name. Well, they also offer to download and create a rescue disk called Kaspersky Rescue Disk. We can use this tool in both text and graphic mode as well. As you can guess, its function is to scan our system for malware and try to remove it. The scanning system is quite complete. It allows delimiting the specific sites where to look for possible infections or not. Moreover, it is not limited exclusively to antivirus functions. In fact, it allows you to scan the hard disk to copy or delete files. It even includes the Firefox browser to search for technical information. Definitely a practical option to disinfect the system, even if we can’t boot regularly.

Ultimately, we have seen the best rescue disks for your operating system. It is always convenient to have these tools that can get us out of trouble more than once. A common element of these tools is their ease of use. Certainly, some are more complicated than others. However, at the end of the day, they are easy to use for most users. They are also free, so we can solve this problem in our system, without having to pay.

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