Can I Let Windows 10 Go?

[CatKiller]

I haven't used Windows in fifteen years.

If one is 100% Linux and buys say, a year old bit of hardware that has firmware update(s), is there not a big danger that said hardware could not be updated?

Linux has the Linux Vendor Firmware Service. Don't buy from companies that don't use LVFS.

[hk42]

Having ,at least,2 OS on a device is a very simple and efficient way
to diagnose between software and hardware problems.
I once disabled BIOS USB support on a a PC with only USB ports.
So I couldn't enter BIOS any more.
1 year later I found a BIOS update that worked from Windows.
Before deleting an OS make sure you can restore it from a backup.
After all you paid for it.

[MartyBuntu]

I haven't used Windows in fifteen years.

Exactly the same here. My last Windows computer was XP SP2. I didn't hate Windows...I just fell in love with Ubuntu (but to be fair, I originally switched to PCLinuxOS, then Kubuntu 7.04 when I discovered it).

[C.S.Cameron]

I used Rufus to put Windows-To-Go on a 15GB USB stick.
A 64GB or 128GB stick would be better.
The make of flash drive makes a big difference in performance.

Oops, I now see the title of this thread is Can I Let Windows 10 Go? not Can I get Windows 10 to Go?

Well maybe keeping it on a flash drive is good enough.

[Quarkrad]

Thought from the bath: updating the motherboard and cpu is a very infrequent activity so why not put win10 on an old hd and when an upgrade needs to be done unplug existing storage and plug in the win10 hd. Upgrade and then put everything back - not going to take long.

[mikewhatever]

I haven't used Windows in fifteen years.



Linux has the Linux Vendor Firmware Service. Don't buy from companies that don't use LVFS.

Hah, easier said then done. Most companies don't for obvious reasons. It's like saying "Don't buy cars with wheels", good luck with that.

[oldfred]

@mikewhatever
Did you look at list?
Most new Dell for several years have been on list. Lenovo started a few months ago adding systems. HP looks like they just started.
Many other smaller vendors and systems.

Direct link to info, vendors & devices.
https://github.com/rhboot/fwupdate/b...ster/README.md
https://fwupd.org/vendorlist &
https://fwupd.org/lvfs/devicelist


https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pa...-Support-Start
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pa...romebook-Fwupd

[mastablasta]

Most new Dell for several years have been on list. Lenovo started a few months ago adding systems. HP looks like they just started.

many devices are still off that list. it is good to see HP, Dell and Lenovo there. but the branded PC for example are quite expensive here.

anyway i still think that to do an update a windows 10 boot environment is all that is needed and that can be on DVD or flash drive. so you don't actually need windows installed. if more joined this initiative, then windows 10 would not be needed even for firmware update.

i am surprised Gigabyte is not there, but i guess it is the chip designer that should be (AMD/Intel).

notably missing are various peripheral devices. i.e. Garmin devices, maybe some drones, cameras etc.

[CelticWarrior]

My philosophy is that any firmware update should be OS agnostic. UEFI standards allow and recommend it.

[mikewhatever]

@mikewhatever
Did you look at list?
Most new Dell for several years have been on list. Lenovo started a few months ago adding systems. HP looks like they just started.
Many other smaller vendors and systems.

Direct link to info, vendors & devices.
https://github.com/rhboot/fwupdate/b...ster/README.md
https://fwupd.org/vendorlist &
https://fwupd.org/lvfs/devicelist


https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pa...-Support-Start
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pa...romebook-Fwupd

Well, those are some impressive lists. Unfortunately, none of the devices I've ever owned or used are there. Given the market share and popularity of "Desktop Linux", I hardly expect things to change in the next decade.

Also, your fist link about fwupdate leads to "This project is no longer supported."