The easiest way is Docker Desktop, though I myself installed only the docker engine itself, which still was pretty easy to do. I did that because I had a dedicated server with no GUI. It does require to add the reposity though, but the documentation is pretty straightforward to follow.

Did you sync your library? It was confusing for the first time for me as well, but Jellyfin requires you to synchronise your library if you add or remove files.

Docker is basically similar to a flatpak: you download a package via Docker and it will practically do everything for you, so you only have to take care of the config file, if even needed.

I’m sceptical with Windows, considering that most programs are installed via EXE files, so the outcry will be huge. But I’m not saying it can’t be a possibility.

With Ubuntu there would only be a chance of it happening if they also make their distro immutable. That way the user could not as easily install packages the traditional way. But even then there might be ways to disable this immutable mode for troubleshooting. However, this, in my opinion, would cause a mass exodus as Canonical does not have the same advantage as Microsoft or Google have: Windows and android are, to an extent, closed off ecosystems. Thus switching to another system is very hard, as not every software is available on every other system, so potentially subpar alternatives and comparability layers, whose functionality mostly depends on whether the company behind the original system is actively fighting against these tools or not. Ubuntu on the other hand, is a Linux distro, so you cab make it like Theseus and recreate this distro more or less with the sum of its parts, if need be.

It’s kind of unclear what they use as sources nowadays. What is clear however is that they use their own search engine, Teclis, so it doesn’t just act as a proxy for other search engines but searches will only remain in their own engine.

I mean, the Terminal is basically just a mixture of the classic Command Prompt and the new Power shell, just packaged as a Microsoft Store app. So you can just use Powershell instead for most cases.

Still, screw the Microsoft Store App environment. It makes updating programs just that much more difficult than it needs to be.

Do you really need the entire installation? Would only the user folder(s) (C:\Users) suffice?

Alternatively, you could install Linux mint on a large enough USB stick and run it off there, if you don’t mind the longer read/write times. You’d also need to change the boot order for it too.

@Godort@lemmy.ca mentioned it in another reply in this post. It’s a Destroying Angel Mushroom. you usually avoid mushrooms like that by only foraging those who have no simulacrae and buying the other mushrooms in the store, or by intensely studying the differences and hoping you are lucky this time.