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1. Embed this notice
   kaia (kaia@brotka.st)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:12:57 JST kaia
   hey fedi, I have this 85 year old neighbor who fell for one of these tech support scams and got his PC encrypted. to prevent this going forward, is there a Linux that looks like Windows? something like Windows XP might be best.
   
   the gentleman needs some Windows things, like his (Windows/Mac) tax software, still running on Linux.
   • Embed this notice
     Kiran 🏳️‍⚧️ (gopiandcode@fosstodon.org)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:18:14 JST Kiran 🏳️‍⚧️

     in reply to

     @kaia I tried this a long long time ago, and haven't really kept up w. the meta on this, but maybe zorin os? I remember installing this as the first linux os on my first desktop bcs it looked like windows (although tbh a little closer to win 10 rather than xp).

     kaia likes this.
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     rocc@misskey.bubbletea.dev's status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:18:59 JST Rocc

     in reply to

     @kaia@brotka.st this thread probably gonna get messy quick.
     
     But you'd probably be better off using a sensible backup solution and an ad blocker than teaching a user a new OS.

     kaia likes this.
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     SuperDicq (superdicq@minidisc.tokyo)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:20:44 JST SuperDicq

     in reply to

     @kaia@brotka.st Personally I wouldn't use an interface that tries hard to look like Windows for someone who is used to Windows.
     
     Getting someone to get used to something that has a bunch of small differences is from my experience harder than getting someone to just use something new. Because with something new there's no expectations and preconceived notions.
     
     Personally I would recommend a distro with mainstream support that does not require updating very often like Debian with a user friendly desktop environment like KDE.

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     parallel unstable lean :OwOid: (getimiskon@fedi.getimiskon.xyz)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:21:48 JST parallel unstable lean :OwOid:

     in reply to
     @kaia Linux Mint is not exactly looking like Windows, but the transition won't be difficult for someone who's been familiar with Windows. At least from my experience.
     
     As for the tax software, I don't know if that could work through Wine. Otherwise it's better to keep a Windows partition just for that kind of stuff.
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     casey is remote (realcaseyrollins@noauthority.social)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:21:53 JST casey is remote

     in reply to

     @kaia #ZorinOS feels like a cross between #Windows10 and #Windows11, but I don't know of a #Linux distro that looks like #WindowsXP specifically. I think #WINE should be able to run #Office365 tax software, but if not, most #Microsoft apps should be able to run in the cloud if that's what he's using.

     Alternatively, running #WindowsXP alongside #Malwarebytes might not be a terrible option.

     kaia likes this.
   • Embed this notice
     Eric Zhang 2: Episode 1 (eric@pl.starnix.network)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:22:13 JST Eric Zhang 2: Episode 1

     in reply to
     @kaia IMO it's best to just educate this old neighbor about scams. I don't think it's right to just replace someone's operating system and tell them it would function just like the old one, especially considering the fact that he needs Windows applications.
     
     If you want to continue going that route you can just install a Windows XP theme on Linux Mint Xfce I guess
     kaia likes this.
   • Embed this notice
     kaia (kaia@brotka.st)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:22:44 JST kaia

     in reply to

     • Rocc
     @Rocc there's other reasons too. his Windows 10 is unusably slow and today it said he will not be able to update to Windows 11 due to system requirements. so in late 2025 he would need a new PC.
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     翠星石 (suiseiseki@freesoftwareextremist.com)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:23:59 JST 翠星石

     in reply to
     @kaia >is there a Linux that looks like Windows?
     No, kernels have no visual interface.
     
     There are a bunch of DE's available for systemd/Linux that can be tweaked to look like windows or already do.
     
     I suggest KDE, or Mate, or xfce4 and just call it "windows" and put the windows backgrounds on and he won't notice a difference.
     
     He's better off not surrendering his freedom to such proprietary tax software, but WINE will probably run it and supports .desktop files, so you can put the same logo on the desktop and in the launch menu and have it run at a click.
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   • Embed this notice
     Anton (antondollmaier@mastodon.social)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:34:56 JST Anton

     in reply to

     @kaia there's ZorinOS, which is based on U Ubuntu:
     https://zorin.com/os/
     Disclaimer: not used myself.

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   • Embed this notice
     aZa (aza1905@mastodon.social)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:35:36 JST aZa

     in reply to

     @kaia linux mint?

     Its goal is pretty much to be usable by windows-users.

     Looks pretty similar too and afaik you could install Windows themes.

     For the tax Software, you unfortunately would have to fiddle around with wine.

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     rocc@misskey.bubbletea.dev's status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:46:26 JST Rocc

     in reply to

     @kaia@brotka.st I'm not at all surprised to hear a computer from before ~2017 is slow.
     
     They're disposable now, unfortunate but true.

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     childrapist1488 (catholic theologian) (childrapist1488@eientei.org)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 22:46:45 JST childrapist1488 (catholic theologian)

     in reply to
     @kaia
     Linux Mint = Sovlful, it should have everything he needs built right in
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   • Embed this notice
     Pleroma-tan (kirby@lab.nyanide.com)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 23:44:10 JST Pleroma-tan

     in reply to
     @kaia best guess is that syskey was involved
     
     educate him about scams, reinstall windows, and ERASE SYSKEY OFF THE INSTALL
     
     thank god for people like kitboga
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     iced depresso (icedquinn@blob.cat)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 23:45:27 JST iced depresso

     in reply to

     • Pleroma-tan
     @kirby @kaia kitboga is goated
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     Pleroma-tan (kirby@lab.nyanide.com)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 23:47:20 JST Pleroma-tan

     in reply to

     • Pleroma-tan
     @kaia where did the audio on this video go
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     Pleroma-tan (kirby@lab.nyanide.com)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 23:49:47 JST Pleroma-tan

     in reply to

     • Pleroma-tan
     @kaia nvm my tab was muted lmao
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     Pleroma-tan (kirby@lab.nyanide.com)'s status on Thursday, 30-May-2024 23:49:53 JST Pleroma-tan

     in reply to

     • iced depresso
     @icedquinn @kaia real i love seeing him make scammers really mad its super funny lmao
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     Thomas (tfb@functional.cafe)'s status on Friday, 31-May-2024 04:52:53 JST Thomas

     in reply to

     @kaia Cinnamon is very friendly for former Windows users (my wife's positive review is: like Windows before it got weird). Alternatively, you could configure KDE into a Windows-like theme

     CentOS + EPEL would require minimal updates and be supported into 2027, and the graphical process for doing updates is good on either desktop.

     kaia likes this.