After 4 years of using Fedora KDE as my main OS with 0 issues or drawbacks, my workplace is now requiring all computers to be on Windows 11. Any suggestions to make the transition back more bearable?
My dissapointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined :(
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Ask your IT to install Virtualbox (or vmware if that’s what you have) and go on using Linux inside a VM.
That’s what I did. I don’t do absolutely everything on Linux because, for example, using MS Office directly on the PC instead of the web version in the VM is much more practical, but I do most things.
Edit: to add: work PC is provided by the company, not my own.
If they’re a Microsoft shop you’d have better luck asking for hyperv
You can use many KDE apps (konsole, dolphin, kate), and may be able to enable WSL. Look at powershell 7 and windows terminal, winget for a package manager.
Uh. My condolences. Do they also force you to use the software installed on Windows? Otherwise you could just image Fedora and run it in a virtual machine inside of Windows 11. Technically, I guess that’d fulfill the requirement with Windows 11 on the computer… Just that you don’t use it for more than log in, start the Linux VM and expand it full-screen.
Don’t run an unsanctioned VM on your work PC. Good way to get fired.
What if you do the reverse?
Good luck getting an admin to register your Windows VM with Active Directory.
Yes, that will be an issue. I guess not a technical one, Linux is perfectly able to fetch a token and connect to network shares etc. Not sure how that works with Email and the modern cloud office stuff. But likely, the IT department will have to enforce that policy as well. That’s why I asked if OP has to use software on Windows (11)… Otherwise, if it worked 4 years without issues… maybe there is no issue with Active Directory…
Thanks for the info guys, good stuff!
Those of you who are telling me to look for a new workplace over an OS change are a bit crazy though lol. It’s not quite that bad.
Clearly I was not the first with that call to action.
But seriously, Windows is awful. I’ve had to use it lately, and it’s comically bad. Like the OS shows me ads! Wtf!? In Fahrenheit 451, it describes the billboards as longer so you can read them while driving fast on the highway, and I feel like the ads Windows shows are basically a similar type of dystopian. And like, now you can disable more with menus, but then the disable option is like buried somewhere hard to find.
Switch workplace.
There are countless ways to bypass that (e.g. https://docs.linuxserver.io/images/docker-webtop/ running on a server) but honestly if a workplace does not value your expertise to hone your own tools, they don’t really value you as an employee.
@ISolox Don’t let them take your freedom to use linux at your home. Use for them, and send the thek to hell after the work.
Oh I’m using Fedora KDE on my home system already. Issue is I’m unable to sign into email or basically anything that uses my work’s SSO due to it requiring the device to be entra enrolled :(
WSL?
Leave it at the office.
Just use the shovel your boss gives you. Back to your own preferences once you clock out.
Use VMs. Depending on their setup/requirements depends on which OS can be in the VM.
Sorry for your loss :( Same thing happened to me about a year ago.
I was the sole IT admin for a small company. Used Debian with KDE on a snappy little Thinkpad. No issues managing all the infra with it, even though most of it was MS trash. I used Reminnia for RDP into the Windows servers, and the Browser for all O365/Entra administration. A Windows 11 VM for the rare times I needed to test Windows-only apps or configs.
Worked like a dream, but then we got bought out by a huge competitor. Their IT team took everything over. I had to decommission my on-prem Linux servers, Ansible automations, Open Project tracking and FOSS ticketing system. Finally, I had to give up my Sweet little Linux Thinkpad and use their standard-issue HP Windows 11 garbage laptop. They were slow, clunky, buggy, and ugly, it was awful.
I quit a few months later after securing the job I have now. It pays about 35% more, has twice as much PTO, and about 50% of my workload is Linux stuff. It’s so much better.
My advice, if it’s truly non negotiable, install WSL first thing. It’s not nearly as good as having actual Linux, because it’s running inside of Microslop’s horrid OS, but it’s better than nothing. Try to be an advocate for FOSS at the company, see if you can convince leadership to let you implement Linux-based solutions wherever they might fit, make yourself the de facto expert on them so you at least get to work on Linux and FOSS infra.
Aside from that, start job hunting. Try to find a job that will let you be more Linuxy.
the last time i used wsl on a work windows laptop, windows fucked up the virtual disk drive and everything in it was gone.
this was about 5 years ago, so hopefully it’s gotten better.
If possible, maybe get a separate machine to throw Windows on and then keep your personal rig on Linux?
Big oof, time to start applying else where imo.
Definitely not worth it over and OS change. It does suck though
You may run Fedora in WSL2. This is what I do. My work is largely command line based. Use Wezterm. If you must, launch GUI apps from there. I’m running graphical Emacs daily just fine this way. My coworkers don’t have half the gas for our kubernetes pods that I do and that’s by in large the fact that I refuse to lose my Linux chops
If they want you to use something specific on your own device then you should be able to request a new device from them
It was on a work issued device already, so I can’t complain too much. Still sucks though after using it for so long.
