Rule

This is corporate propaganda. /s
In all seriousness though it'd be really nice if people stopped sharing memes making Linux look hard. Its literally the only readily available easy to use option that doesn't spy on you, the people need to not be scared of it.
- This is very true. There are even options where you don’t have to touch the command line, and just work no problem.
  That said, I love tinkering on my Linux machine. It elevates it from a tool to a hobby for me, which I love. It adds a spark to my life! But hey, not everyone is like me, and that’s just fine (may be for the best!).
- It's accessible for new users, easy for old users, but ironically the hardest if you know only just enough to be dangerous.
  Sincerely, Someone who broke their desktop gui by tinkering, twice.
  
  100% true there.
  As a 20 year user I can't imagine using something else as easily. My partner, who's been using it for less than a month, also has a great time with it.
  Back when I was still learning though I broke it quite a few times mucking about where I didn't belong and copy-pasting commands I didn't understand into the terminal.
  Remember kids, if you don't understand what you're reading, you can break things by following instructions.
- Agreed so much. It isn't accurate and it isn't funny either.
  Maybe I just can't take a joke though...
- If that's any consolation, if it tried to spy it would probably fail.
  Not sarcasm
  Using Linux since 1999, and add my primary personal and work computer for 6 years non stop. Maybe things are awesome but we know new stuff will take half a decade to get it right lol
  2025 year of the ~~desktop~~ game console /s

The actual box for Linux should be:
dmesg -l err
sudo journalctl
Then google search the errors with your distribution

The instructions for Windows work just as well on Linux, to be fair.
- Preposterous, my lucky socks never failed me.
  
  When I was a kid, my dad gave me a pair of socks that repel lions. I've never seen a lion while wearing those socks, so I know they work.

The real "scorched earth" strategy:
Format system drive
Reinstall Arch
Keep all your files on the data drive
Run your personal setup script to put everything back how you like it
(Optional) Be happy
Edit: forgor 6. Tell everyone you use Arch
- Install Debian
  Experience stability.
  No, really. It's very stable.
  Spend years growing old with the same packages.
  Accept your fate.
  
  Use flatpak for anything newer. Most things are already available as flatpak, only things I haven't seen available are terminal based applications as Flatpak.
  Though maybe in a future version we might get that capability. I've always been told you can't install terminal based applications like neofetch or bpyTOP as flatpak. Which is kind of a bummer but not that big of a deal.
- If you're at the level of having a personal setup script, you should be able to solve just about any problem on Arch without reinstalling.
  Source: Been doing it for 10 years now, not a single reinstall.
- that just sounds like nixos impermanence with extra steps
- repeatedly, and put it in your bio "I use Arch, btw!"

I decided to break out of this cursed circle. I installed TempleOS

Reboot, click the previous generation on the grub screen.
Babey I couldnt get enough of nixos if I lived a million years
- This works with immutable distros as well! Still, kudos to the Nix users
- or just load the previous root filesystem snapshot. Btrfs works fine.

Can confirm. This is exactly how it works. I use Mint, BTW.
- Me too! *Extends hand for high five

Keep your files in "My Documents" (and any other default media folders like movies and pictures; or on a separate drive) and you won't lose shit other than installed programs when you re-install Windows.
- Same goes for linux if you have /home on a separate partition/disk. That saved my ass more times than i am willing to admit...
  
  Keeping home on a separate disk is the best way to go. A different partition is okay, but a different drive is even better.

I've learned through years it's best to just wipe entire OS partition (it's smart to have a dedicated one with user files on separate one, you can even quickly relocate Documents folders) and just reinstall clean. It's usually faster and more reliable than troubleshooting for hours with no guaranteed fix.

Jokes on you! My servers are passively cooled!