How many times have you broken your system while experimenting? ![]()
Completely to the point that I had to re-install from scratch... well, quite a few actually. I'm going to say at least 50 times or so
but that's including virtual machines where I'm more careless.
However I've also re-installed from scratch many times where I just couldn't be bothered troubleshooting something. Maybe because I created a bug without realizing the day before, or something like that. Re-installing has become second nature to me at this point.
I was notorious for this for at least seven or eight months after switching from WIndows OS to Zorin OS.
At first, I was dismayed at having to reinstall.
But also determined.
Now, breaking things to that point is exceptionally rare despite being far more experimental. Learning is Rewarding.
so many times but thank's to Timeshift ![]()
When I try something outside the lines I make a full backup ![]()
I honestly can't recall how many times... Enough times that staying up until 3-4 am some nights was a common thing every day for literal years fiddling with things.
It's just too fun when you're breaking things.
The more I learn, the more spectacularly I break things ![]()
I don't keep count but the worst time was wheb starting out. The 6th former on placement introduced me to GNU/Linux passed me a CD with an early version of Knoppix and suggested I try Mandrake Linux. The only downside is that it needed a fast internet connection for updates. As I only had a 56k Diamond Supra Express dial-up modem I thought I would download updates from work's computer in my lunch break, taking CDs in to burn the updates on. Needless to say I broke the install.
LOL ..... I had to ask for help and reinstall Zorin when I first switched from Win to Zorin so many times I thought I was gong to be band from the forum I'm sure those on here from 4 or so years will remember vividly all the silly self inflicted things I did .....
But thanks to the members here and Rescuezilla I managed to survive .....
Lots of times, ever since i was a kid, i was trying to squeeze as much as i could out if my system.

In my attempt to do so, i fried the info chip on my RAM sticks. They were still there, but i cooked the info out of them. Scotty says she cant take it, ya cant change the laws of physics.
What i really needed was a new computer. Took me 5 yeara before i could build a new one. I tell you what, i dont fry RAM anymore.
Those people with 5090's however, those cards are pulling like 1100 watts, their melting plugs and wires. Those folks are really screwed, 3000 dollars, on fire.
Ive also caused a system to not boot anymore, i deleted too much trying to consolidate fitting everything on an 80GB drive.
Ive learned what not to do, the hard way. I don't mess around no more. If i have an outdated system, and it no longer works for me, i buy a new machine to get higher performance.
If im running out of space, i buy a larger drive. I also dont compress fioes no more. Back in the Win98 to WinXP days, i compressed files, to make everything fit in a 120MB to 512MB drive.
Youll learn what file degredation is, and how Windows wouodnt launch some apps in a compressed state. Then there were the tines when i got nailed by viruses, malware, even a nasty boot sector virus!
You burn to learn, so that you dont make the same mistakes. By far, ever since i switched to Linux, my computer has lasted the kingeat ever, without getting hozed.
I once opened a laptop to clean its insides. It was old, and had too much dust, dirt and even a bit of rust in some places. When I reassembled it it wouldn't turn on anymore... you know that feeling when your heart skips a beat? ![]()
Turns out, I accidentally broke one of the latches that holds the ends of connectors in place (I'm not sure what they're called). Lucky for me it was "only" the circuit from the top of the laptop case, that sends the power on signal to the motherboard.
I can still turn in on, but I have to remove the top of the case and give it a jump start by holding the connectors together while I press the button. I can probably replace it but it makes me feel like a true tinkerer ![]()
i upgraded my vid card from a 1650 to a 3050 and it works fine i dont really see a need for the latest greatest vid cards if what i have is working just fine. not really been a frames per sec chaser.....lol
@StarTreker Maybe you should take macro protographs of your RAM chips to have a record of what they are. Guilty of memory erasure for sure
Zab
Countless Times. And I think that it isn't unnormal when You use a new System. You try Stuff and experimenting with. And then it can happen that something will not work like You want and then ... Install again.
I broke the system three times, until I understood that you should never run "sudo apt install fuse"; it completely breaks the system.
Twice
First had the Kisak Mesa Stable PPA and got an unstable crashy MESA delivered. Was a longer task to fiddle this out and got hand on the ErnstP PPA for be really stable.
Second was the idea to switch 17.3 Pro to X11, it's since then no more possible to get Wayland back. Not even with complete new user accounts. The wayland session collapse to login, always with no exception.
Generally, probably hundreds of times by now. I used to be the kind of a dumb person who just had to try anything that looked interesting or cool. Most of the time, that ended up breaking something. And even after fixing what I broke, Iβd still have that uneasy feeling that something might still be messed up β soβ¦ reinstall! These days I try to keep the system as close to stock as possible, so if I have to reinstall again, itβs not a huge rebuild. A few days ago, I found Zorin OS, hopped to it from Debian (which I had reinstalled three times in around two months), and this is already my second run with Zorin. Now Iβm trying to hold my horses and stop poking at every shiny thing.
I used to be just like you, reinstalling the system almost every day. Luckily, I don't break it anymore!
I can't count the number I've had to reinstall due to stupidity on my end. ![]()
So, with switching 100% from WinBlows to Linux I am taking a second PC with two ssd's. One is a 2tb and 4tb well because of MS LOL. I will completely dump it and install Zorin OS using the 4tb for VM's to install Linux systems to play around with leaving my MAIN PC with Zorin OS 2drive system ALONE.
I just haven't decided on between QEMU and Docker. Maybe someone here has a suggestion?
Cheers
