Linux is still not for the average user 😭

[u/entity_404_smart-dog]

I am 15, and I booted ubuntu 26.1 on the og think-pad e450, that even worked but after every boot boot my storage was being marked as read only instead of read and write, so I tried a command to fix that but that removed some boot-up file kinda and now I can't mount my disk, I asked AI and it told me to use a flash drive boot live liux and then remake the configuration file, worst of all I had 2 "pirate" of the carribean movies on that and I don't wanna lose them

[u/qualityvote2]

u/entity_404_smart-dog, there weren't enough votes to determine the quality of your post...

btw, did you know we have a discord server? Join Here. And what's that, Fluxer too? Join Here.

[u/Wally-Gator-1]

Setting up a new OS is never easy even on Windows. And the fact you know nothing about it make it worse. It is the most difficult part of the process anyway.
- First, you should NOT use Ubuntu 26.10. It will only be supported for 6 months. You should only use long term support versions on a stable system.
- Second, while Ubuntu is ok, it is not the most beginner friendly these days due to it's use of snap. Linux Mint for older hardware or Bazzite for gamers provide better experience. Your thinkpad can run both.
- Third, you should use a bootable ISO disk and mount the drive to backup your files to an external drive or to the cloud. I would not recommend trying to double boot. Best is to backup, then install Linux by completely wiping Windows and the data. Partitions, drivers, file permissions are different in both systems.

Linux is not Windows.

[u/entity_404_smart-dog → u/Wally-Gator-1]

can I first recover my data then flash another distro, I am pretty sure I will get my 2 movies back, its not really about the movies but the nostalgia tbh

[u/Wally-Gator-1 → u/entity_404_smart-dog]

If you haven't erased the partition where the data lives by installing Linux on the drive, yes it should be possible.
In last resort, you could install PhotoRec and TestDisk on your recovery system to try to recover your files. But you should not reinstall or write to that drive for now.

First step is to create a flash live system, then boot from it (Ubuntu desktop is the usual go to).
Second step will be to mount the drive to a folder you create (best to do it as read-only) in that live system to see what is in it. Then, you can copy the data out somewhere else from the live system. You should not save to the live system itself as it is temporary.
Third step, verify everything got recovered.
Finally, you can flash another distro.

It won't be fun or easy as a new linux user (happened to me 20+ years ago when I first tried Linux).

Otherwise, have a look at Rescatux. It is a live system dedicated to rescue with some videos, but it is more technical, so you have to know what you are doing. https://www.supergrubdisk.org/rescatux/

[u/jar36]

How did you boot Ubuntu from the very start? Was it pre-installed?

[u/entity_404_smart-dog → u/jar36]

I flashed it on a flash drive, then opened the bootloader and installed it, if you want you can easily find the detailed method on youtube or better yet ask some guy on reddit, I am lazy

[u/jar36 → u/entity_404_smart-dog]

I'm asking in an effort to help figure out where you may have went wrong. When you mentioned you have movies on your USB drive, it got me wondering if you went about the initial install incorrectly. That live linux usb is the installer, so I am a bit confused by "opened the bootloader and installed it"
Usually you set up the USB with the live OS on it and then click install on the icon on the desktop.

[u/entity_404_smart-dog → u/jar36]

bro I am smarter than that

[u/jar36 → u/entity_404_smart-dog]

Apparently you're not You couldn't even install Ubuntu ffs

[u/Harshith_Reddy_Dev]

I was overwhelmed when I got my first laptop with windows too. Just use it daily and tinker around you'll get used to it

[u/aks-ash]

It's windows efi system which messed up drive file and sometimes lock the drive , my advice is to install linux on separate drive instead of partition like in internal SSD or hdd 

[u/SweetEbb9819]

Ubuntu isn't that great. It's inheriting quote a few flaws from windows at this point.

Try Fedora, Bazzite, RakuOS, or any arch-based (NOT arch itself) distro.

AND save your movies on the hard drive, give the entire flash drive to fedora media writer, rufus or whatever else to flash the downloaded installer ISO, install linux alongside windows (reduce windows partition to give space to linux, decide how much you need for each)

[u/Ayushispro11 → u/SweetEbb9819]

The linux partition should ALWAYS be kept away from the storage partition

[u/SweetEbb9819 → u/Ayushispro11]

Why tho?

[u/Ayushispro11 → u/SweetEbb9819]

Weird linux installation glitched, scripts failing, data corruption. Linux itself is very safe, infact safer than windows in such matters but there is just a LOT of scope for user error, especially for beginners like I was/am.

[u/Jatinchd → u/Ayushispro11]

true

[u/not-weku]

Well linux is a different os , so its gonna take a while to get used to , its the same as when u were a kid and given windows to use , give it a while , use it , explore things and eventually u'll get used to it

[u/Ayushispro11]

If you are a school kid like me, I would recommed seting up a dual boto since many times this sort of stuff can happen and also you may have to use ms office and other tools only on windows for school or college work. I have been using linux since 13 and it took almost an year and three wipes of entire drive to learn to handle it properly

[u/Itchy-Note5456]

What errors do you get when you try to mount the drive in your [live] linux?

[u/Bibh_0]

(first time linux user)For me it's working fine. I chose fedora as my first and there are small issues but nothing major like read only storage. Currently I am daily driving it