Run Linux on (formerly) Windows PC, THEN run Windows Emulator?

[Big Chudungus]

I've got some "must have" programs like Solidworks that are "built on Windows" with no Linux or Apple versions, but I can't seem to clean OneDrive virus off files, even after copy files to folder outside OneDrive, no OD showing, copy to thumbdrive, no OD showing, copy to new PC that has had OneDrive removed and all OneDrive files deleted.....program says "cannot locate file" and then shows file with OneDrive in the path, but after a clock ticks down it does open the file and seems to work. Save file with other name, no OneDrive showing. Close. Re-open and OneDrive is in file and "can't find" but then does.

Doesn't balk with files created fresh, but any file that was every "OneDrive" in its path seems forever infected, no matter if you make copies, rename, etc with no OneDrive showing.

I also hear that there is now no blocking MS "updates", only stalling, so I'm expecting OneDrive virus to reinstall on its own at some point.

IIRC De Anza College ran Solidworks and other Windows programs on donated Apple "machines", but they had dedicated IT guy(s), and lots of money, and some pull and clout.

[hermosabeach]

yup

My updates are off and they are still being forced onto my machine

[Big Chudungus]

yup

My updates are off and they are still being forced onto my machine

if you Air Gap a Win10/11 PC off the WWW, will it brick after a few weeks for not being able to "update"? PS-I hear "update" is 99.9999% (literally) Bill Gates stealing your data UP loading, and only .0001% downloading new code....which itself is probably 99/100 not to keep your stuff running smooth, but to make sure they can steal your data.

Why would "online surveys" be banned?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OneDrive#cite_note-85

"automated PhotoDNA scanning tool, are utilized to ensure users abide with the Code of Conduct and that their account does not contain files in contravention thereof, such as partial human nudity (including art or drawings), or any online surveys.^[84][85]"

"partial human nudity (including art or drawings)"........"There have also been concerns about people who have been automatically flagged losing all their Microsoft account data even after being cleared by local law enforcement."

Better hope your parents don't email you any pictures from their European museum tour if you have some important customer's spreadsheets on a Windows PC. LOL.

[ibanezfoo]

As I understand it they want all that data in the cloud to train their AI....

You can block it to an extent with your domain and GPOs and all that. I don't use it at home or work, although my work makes everyone else use it. Uninstall it and kill the services.

[arrix]

I've got some "must have" programs like Solidworks that are "built on Windows" with no Linux or Apple versions, but I can't seem to clean OneDrive virus off files, even after copy files to folder outside OneDrive, no OD showing, copy to thumbdrive, no OD showing, copy to new PC that has had OneDrive removed and all OneDrive files deleted.....program says "cannot locate file" and then shows file with OneDrive in the path, but after a clock ticks down it does open the file and seems to work. Save file with other name, no OneDrive showing. Close. Re-open and OneDrive is in file and "can't find" but then does.

Doesn't balk with files created fresh, but any file that was every "OneDrive" in its path seems forever infected, no matter if you make copies, rename, etc with no OneDrive showing.

I also hear that there is now no blocking MS "updates", only stalling, so I'm expecting OneDrive virus to reinstall on its own at some point.

IIRC De Anza College ran Solidworks and other Windows programs on donated Apple "machines", but they had dedicated IT guy(s), and lots of money, and some pull and clout.

OneDrive deletes local copies of your files unless you specifically configure it to keep local copies. You're probably just copying around OneDrive links instead of your actual files.

[Cowboy T]

And this kind of thing is why I have been "Microsoft Free Since 2003" at home.

[yellowsulphur]

And this kind of thing is why I have been "Microsoft Free Since 2003" at home.

What's your opinion on the direction Wayland is headed and how the developer of the X11 fork, X11Libre, is being treated for trying to root out the woke nonsense?

[arrix]

What's your opinion on the direction Wayland is headed and how the developer of the X11 fork, X11Libre, is being treated for trying to root out the woke nonsense?

The more choices the better IMO. X11 works great. There never was a need for Wayland other than IBM/Redhat wanted to control it. I looked at the github repo and it looks like they pulled out all the XWayland compatibility layer out of XLibre. LMAO

[yellowsulphur]

The more choices the better IMO. X11 works great. There never was a need for Wayland other than IBM/Redhat wanted to control it. I looked at the github repo and it looks like they pulled out all the XWayland compatibility layer out of XLibre. LMAO

More options I agree with but Wayland has issues. Kicad and freeCAD have compatibility issues, refresh rate runs at half system refresh rate, gaming with Proton has latency.

https://www.kicad.org/blog/2025/06/KiCad-and-Wayland-Support/

After reading Kicad support, protocols used in Wayland are not interpreted the same throughout the different desktops/compositors. That's not good for opensource with limited development. I switched from Gnome to XFCE.

[SactoDoug]

I have a few windows programs that there is no equivalent in Linux. For example I have proprietary software to configure my keyboard that is Windows only.

For those Windows only programs I use a Windows virtual machine. My VM software is Qemu/KVM. It has worked well for me. Other people use Virtual Box. Both are good VM software.

Before going the VM route, you can try to run the software using WINE. The easiest way to do that is to use Bottles. Install Bottles, set up your bottle, then install the software. It does work for many Windows programs but does not work for all of them.