I have heard Linux Mint mentioned here and there around here but nothing really in depth.

I have 3 older PCs running Windows 10 that need to be replaced however I don’t feel like replacing them because they do what they do just fine except they can’t run Windows 11.

2 are for the boys and they simply do nothing but internet browser based work.
I watched a few videos on Mint and it seemed quite easy just to run a web browser.

I have been wanting to do a NAS to run Plex Media Server but HD prices have gone through the roof. Should have done that awhile ago but ohh well.

So Plex will just keep plugging along on this PC however thought I might switch it to Mint.

Then I watched a video on using it to run Plex Media Server and I got lost real quick when it was talking about folder permissions and the like.
I am not much of a computer guy so kind of scared off now.

How difficult is Mint to get along with for computer novices?

I'd think that normal HDDs would be good enough for a plex server? Are the prices on those up as well?

Plex and plex media server are linux based, so the movement between the two is a matter of watching vs working. I have found it to be very easy to manage and administer your own server while using either Mac or windows. I stopped using windows at win10 and now operate exclusively with Mac. I am currently using a synology ds 723+ server with approx 1200 movies, 400 music cd's and who knows how many photos. the plex server side of it is very easy to learn with a few minor you tube tutorials. managing the hardware and software is very easy and straight forward, there is no need to be afraid of it. Plex is very dependent on naming conventions and will throw you for some loops if you're sloppy. I tend to go directly to names if something isn't quite right and it is usually successful. Plex media server came with a lifetime subscription back when I picked it up but I don't know about now. if available it's well worth it. as far as using mint or any linux version, its no problem if you came up using dos in any version.

I’m liking it. After 40 years of DOS, OS/2, Windows… I’ve had it with the MS related world.

Started with 10yo laptop, 8gb ram and small spinner drive. Mint is not resource hungry and, crawling, i run a W10 virtual machine that otherwise would have been a PITA to run straight on the machine because it’s for a single audio application.

I run Plex on a dedicated NAS.

Be patient until you grasp how it works. I keep constantly updating it but it feels like watering the plants.

Would certainly recommend it. Wish i ‘d started 30 years ago.

Keep it simple until you feel comfortable with it. I keep googling questions and the answers are already set to copy/paste them at the Terminal (command line).

Current Plex lifetime pass is quite expensive IMO. If you plan to share it you might find it worth the effort. There are other alternatives for free.
Think i payed $150 for my pass and thought about it for years before taking the plunge. Now very glad i did

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I can't speak to Plex Media Server, but Linux Mint is a piece of cake.

Installation --> https://linuxmint-installation...hedocs.io/en/latest/

** Pro Tip - Definitely Turn Off 'Secure Boot' when you do the installation...You can thank me later!

Linix Mint Forums --> https://forums.linuxmint.com/index.php

A great resource...I can recommend perusing the Sub-forum for 'Installation & Boot'.

Yes, all hard drive prices have skyrocketed.

I have Plex Media Server down on the PC as I have been using it for a long time.
I do wish I would have gotten PlexPass when it was $50 lifetime.
I really don’t need PlexPass thankfully.
Video is easy to solely stream at home.
The addition of Plexamp and having my music everywhere for free is great.

I will switch to a NAS eventually. Just lookin g to convert the Windows 10 machine that currently runs Plex to Linux Mint to be done with Windows 10.

Sounds like folks like it and it is pretty easy.

Guess, I’ll wipe this laptop and start there.

I’ve been 10+ times in and out of LM. Now it’s sticking.

Do yourself a favor and add all the apps you install and keep to the original installation USB drive.

I keep forgetting what i liked and used on each LM iteration.

PS: I run Plex, PleaxAmp and Plex Dadh on my iPhone

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quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
Sounds like folks like it and it is pretty easy.

Guess, I’ll wipe this laptop and start there.

Perform a Clean Wipe, as in EVERYTHING, including the GUID Partition Table (GPT). I recommend using 'diskpart' from a C:\ Prompt, and running the 'Clean' command.

Almost all Linux distributions include a disk formatting/partitioning tool that will run before the actual install takes place. No need for a separate "disk wipe" step.

^^ Yes they do…No 'need' perhaps, but the Partition Table typically created for/by Windows is much larger than necessary (for Linux!), and IME Linux Mint does not change the size of an existing Partition Table when it either performs default or custom partitioning/formatting during a new installation.

For the record, I backed out of a custom installation for Linux Mint on a machine that is set up to dual boot w/ Windows for exactly this reason. I was installing Linux Mint on a separate physical drive, a 500GB NVMe SSD that had no data but the Partition table on it, so no existing partitions, formatted or otherwise. I was configuring it with separate partitions for \home and \swap, beyond the \ partition, and at the end of the wizard it was indicating that the size of the previously existing Partition Table would be unchanged. I decided to run diskpart to 'clean' the drive first in order to maximize/fully utilize the available space on the SSD.

Linux Mint is very easy to use. Since you have multiple machines, I would recommend making one machine a test bed. Clear all the important data off of it, and try several different versions of linux on it. Some you might hate, some you might like, etc; but there's far less stress if you know going in that you can just wipe it and start over if you don't like the outcome.

For a NAS, I set one up using "truenas" - I just followed a youtube tutorial and it worked on the first try. Every PC I have using different versions of linux and windows can see it with no fiddling.

Choose Cinnamon for the desktop environment. It should be default on Mint. It’ll be familiar enough that you won’t have to google where everything is. I run Debian but use Cinnamon.

Plex on Linux can be a little more involved because of permissions. I've had to reset the permissions a few times over the years. Interestingly, I moved to Plex on a NAS last year and I love it. The main reason I did that is for redundancy. My hard drive on the Linux box failed and I lost a ton of media content. Anyway, don't be afraid of it. It works great.

Remember you can run/try them from an USB.

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