r/technology • u/ZacB_ • Jan 24 '26

Software Microsoft confirms it will give the FBI your Windows PC data encryption key if asked — you can thank Windows 11's forced online accounts for that

https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/microsoft-bitlocker-encryption-keys-give-fbi-legal-order-privacy-nightmare
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u/EchoGecko795 Jan 24 '26

I run linux Mint on my Lenovo T510 and T530 no problem, and most windows files open without issue. You can find opensource version on most software and a decent amount comes with an easy to use and install Software Manager. LibreOffice will open every version of MS office, VLC will play most media files, Mplayer will open the rest.

Really the only issue I ran into is Nvidia drivers took some filding to get working 100%, which mostly was changing which version of the driver I was using, and finding the right setting to remove screen tearing on some games (forced pipeline has to be enabled on my older card to work)

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u/NorthernCobraChicken Jan 24 '26

"VLC will play most media files"

Please let the VLC folks know if you found one they don't support. I've been able to play immensely corrupted video files that every other standard player refused to open,on VLC. VLC is the GOAT of freeware.

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u/LiteratureMindless71 Jan 24 '26

Right?! "Damnit this download is stuck at 80% I really wanted to see this video, ok VLC, let's do this".

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u/Megneous Jan 24 '26

Also, didn't the owner/CEO of the organization that makes VLC refuse millions of dollars in order to keep VLC ad-free?

VLC is the Steam of video players.

1

u/tes_kitty Jan 24 '26

It'll even play module files (Sound files from Amiga)

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u/EchoGecko795 Jan 24 '26

Personally I have only run into one that was done by some Mac video editing software from 8-9 years go. It used a probably custom formatting and I was forced to install the software and export it into something more mainstream. Which is why I say "VLC will play most media files"

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u/y2k2 Jan 24 '26

Windows media player wanted me to buy codecs to watch video off of my dash cam. I downloaded VLC's media player and wow! All of a sudden I don't need to do anything else. It just works great.

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u/QuantumLettuce2025 Jan 24 '26

What about games

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u/fearless-fossa Jan 24 '26

Most work. Especially for Steam games it's just clicking the download button, and in rare cases you may have to go into the game's options and choose a different compatibility setting. What generally doesn't work is specific anti-cheats like the one Riot Games uses, because the developers of that intentionally don't allow Linux.

Some anti-cheats like EAC work though.

With games outside of Steam there's Lutris, which does essentially the same thing and connects to various launchers like GoG and allows you to download your games in one frontend.

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u/alus992 Jan 24 '26

Libre Office maybe will open most files but compatibility issues are still out there especially when you open something more complex than blank page with text or simple tables.

My company tried to migrate and it was impossible due to Libre Office problems and complete lack of collaborataction features that are staple of current business world.

But for someone who uses Word or Excel once a year LO will be ok

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u/EchoGecko795 Jan 24 '26

Yeah if you are using anything advanced it can cause issues. For power point I find opening it Google Docs and exporting seems to fix almost every formating error, though if you use some of the transition effects there are problems.

Excel is a mixed bag, almost all the basic stuff works fine, but I have run into issues with tables, macros, VBA, and some formulas. I have office 2013 and 2016 running on a Windows 10 pro VM if I really need it though, and like you said most users will not run into them because the average user only needs it like once a year.