Install Linux if you want to play HD2 but you don't want a AC Tool with low level Kernel rights?

[Kobold]

If this is the case, then i found a solution, get rid (after time) of the Spy OS Win10/11 and install for example Manjaro/KDE (recommend by Valve) or other Distro's. For the first steps in Linux there is also recommendation to use Mint/Cinnamon.

Buy Helldivers2 in Steam and just install it through Steam/Proton and nProtect GameGuard won't get Kernel Access, because it doesn't has native Linux support.

Most FAQ's around Linux, Install & Gaming included in this Guide. AMD and Nvidia GPU's working today under Linux (AMD GPU's even better than my nvidia 2080Ti).

With Microsoft NEW Service Agreement to scan & use all (AI/Hatespeech/Advertising) your locale stored files, its a middle finger to the normal user. Set a clear sign to Microsoft to ♥♥♥♥ off and install Linux. Get your Privacy and control back!

Microsoft and this Rootkits (designed for Microsoft Products) own's your PC right now.
Show them you are not a sheep.

https://forum.manjaro.org/t/are-kernel-level-anti-cheat-like-in-helldivers2-for-example-a-security-issue-for-linux/156620

Linux is gaming ready today, we no longer need Microsoft! I'm mainly use Linux since almost 4 years now, as gamer! I have Win10 installed and used it only for VR Gaming today.

You don't have to decide between Linux or Windows, you can also use both and find the middle way between both worlds, you can do a slow progression, no one is forcing you!

Helldivers2 Steam Linux User Info's:
https://www.protondb.com/app/553850

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Information/Overview if you interested to try out Linux:

I just can recommend to everyone who is deciding to get his feet wet, instead jumping straight into Linux water, to buy another external/internal SSD (250-500GB should be enough). So you can easy decide which OS you want to boot when you start your PC and with a hotkey (for my Bios its F12) to choose which HDD/SSD you wanted to boot from, without messing around with dual boot function between Windows and Linux.
"You always need a additional USB Boot-Stick to install, same as installing Windows"

I bought 4 years ago a Samsung Portable SSD T5 (500GB) which performs really good and i can't even see the difference between my Linux Laptop which has a M.2 SSD.

"For (little) testing you can even install Linux on a USB stick, if you don't have the money for a second internal/external SSD, i think the bare minimum should be a 30-50GB USB Stick. Some people maybe try Virtual Machine, but a VM never gives Linux the performance as a native installation, at least not without advanced VM Settings!"

In the early phase i switched regularly between Win7 and Linux which gave me a good feeling for a better transition, to find program's for Linux that replaced my program's under Windows.

Distro (Fundament 40%) & Desktop Environment (Surface 60%):

Some Distributions allows to choose several different Desktop Environments. Depends on the liking and the eye candy or the age on your Hardware. I was in shock after i realised how much stuff rely on the DE and not the Distro.

So choosing a Desktop Environment (DE) is also a big decision, there are really beautiful DE's out there and you can (you don't have too) adjust them "MODDING" them, specially KDE has really good functions with Transparency Taskbar with Blur effects or to archive your old/retro Win2k or Win7 looks.

Youtube could probably give you a quick peek, KDE easy GUI Modification (no terminal needed) and I never was running into a single bug on my Rolling Release from this Layouts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJzfaqRLfpY

Budgie and Cinnamon DE's has probably also good layouts.
XFCE, LXQt and Mate DE's are for older hardware or just less RAM hungry.

Debian(noob)/Red Hat(Soldier)/Arch(Veteran) and their Distro's:

To choose a Distro is another Story, it depends on the Hardware (age) and Packages (age) that are available. A Rolling Release gets always the newest Kernel Updates (Device Drivers) for better performance/newer Hardware but that's require little bit more time for maintaining the OS. The support for Official Repositories, Flatpaks, AUR, AppImages and Snap's shows the amount of Package's/Program's for your Distro.

The Package Manager (GUI) like Pamac for example take care of that Packages. You just search your Progam's name> select it>click on apply to let it install, after that it shows up in your Taskbar. You can activate additional support for Flat/Snap/AUR under properties, that's not activated as default.

Some Distro's just give more freedom then others, while Mint is good for unexperienced users and mainly for people who just want to quick running their games, browse, print and don't care about adjustments... it also has its limitations.

So when you choose a Distro, get aware how old the package are... specially for gaming performance the Arch Tree and the Distro's that are based on Arch is the Ultimate gaming goal but probably at least Manjaro is only recommend for beginner who is willing to learn more. Red Hat Distro's like Nobara are in the middle. Debian Distro's are older but more stable.

I think its fair to say that some Distro's from Debian/Red Hat/Arch doesn't always follow the Big Tree Agenda and wants to make something special. Its your choice to chose, same as buying a car.

Arch Vanilla is the hardest Distro in Linux, while Manjaro (Arch) protect the user's and delay (per default branch) for 1-3 Weeks the packages when there are still bugs around that can't be fixed at the moment, downside in this situation's. People who using "heavily" AUR Packages (AUR not activated per default) are running into problem's, because AUR Updates won't get delayed.

Youtube Streamer's don't like that idea about package delay and downvoted Manjaro while at the other hand, they are unaware (incompetent) that you can switch Manjaro Branches between Stable (default), testing & unstable. The last branch are recommend for heavily AUR usage. https://wiki.manjaro.org/index.php/Switching_Branches

Terminal:

Yes, a Terminal Window is sometimes needed for Linux and is a mighty tool, but you can reduce it to a bare minimum and a lot functions are there as a simple Graphics User Interface (GUI), the most Youtube beginner video's still fool people with information that they need to install/adjust all possible settings inside a Terminal, but in most situations its a lie. With a few mouse clicks the Package-Manager will install/remove or update "almost" everything at just one place.
KDE Partition Manager (or GParted) are visually more userfriendly as the integrated Windows11 Tools today!

Disable Bios Features:

Its recommend that you disable "Fast Boot" when using Linux, you probably run into issues sooner or later because of this feature.

Also Keep in mind, that the whole Arch Tree don't give official support for "Secure Boot". Deactivate "Secure Boot".

Win11 user's are forced to activate TPM/Secure Boot in Bios, while Win10 User's are free to chose, Microsoft wants to control the PC Boot and steal your local passwords with TPM Cloud storage. This has nothing to do with security its only advertising from Microsoft, its a hardware dongle from Microsoft and it gives Microsoft (not you) the security, so its a verification process and is designed against free and open source.

Pre-Install Tip, if you don't want to use Dual Boot on a Single Drive:

Disable your Windows Drive while installing Linux, you can do that in Bios and disable the SATA Ports or unplug the power connector from your drive's. This gives you 2 advantages, first you can't do a mistake with your partitions/files while you installing.

Second there is no connection between Linux/Windows. Keep in mind to do the same (vise versa) when you re-install Windows in future. Of course you can activate your Windows Drive after you done with the install.

Install with USB-Bootstick:

You can Download the Image (ISO) File from your chosen Distro, create a Bootstick with Ventoy,Rufus or Etcher (But Etcher has shady telemetry). What can be confusion, that you may see 2 times the same Linux Boot option shown in your Bios from your fresh created Bootstick.

One entry is for "Legacy BIOS also called CSM" Boot and the other is for "UEFI BIOS also called EFI" Boot. If you selected the wrong you will later see while installing on the drive a error, no big deal no dmg will happen... just try the other Boot-entry then and it should work.

Nvidia user's should use Nvidia Proprietary Driver:

The most Distro's has used per default the Free (reversed engineered) Nvidia driver called "Nouveau" while the driver is good for older GPU's like nvidia 1060-1080Ti (Pascal) and will doing a goodjob for normal Browsing/Media. https://nouveau.freedesktop.org/FeatureMatrix.html

It's not the first choice for gaming!!! Most Distro's has a simple UI to switch between this driver's. For Manjaro it is in Taskbar>Settings>Manjaro Settings Manager>Hardware Configuration.

Setup Linux Steam/Proton:

1.Steam should be Pre-installed in most distro's but it can easily added with your Visually Package Manager from your Distro. Search it/Select it and click apply, that's it. Steam looks 97% identical to the Windows Version.

2.Activate Proton in Steam: Open Top left Steam>Settings>Compatibility and choose Proton Experimental. Also activate the 2 Steam Play Switches! You only need a EXT4 Partition (instead NTFS) for maximum user experience and just install your games in your Steam Folder (default location is your Home Partition) or create a second library (same as in Windows to install on a second drive/another partition) more user friendliness isn't possible... In Steam its 1:1 the same feeling as under Windows. Around 80% of Steam Games works Plug & Play, the other's needs "maybe" a Steam launch command>Properties from your Steamgame and copy+paste it from ProtonDB Webpage, less then 3% of Steam Games will not run!

Wayland (NEW) vs X11 (old but still strong):

There is at the moment a big development change around the "Linux Display Server" inside the most DE's. Wayland will probably replace X11 over time and it will improve rendering performance.
AMD actually support Wayland better than Nvidia. While the most Program's still just working better under X11 right now, but this will change in future.

Its possible that you run into a Blackscreen with only a mouse cursor at the moment, when you using Nvidia. In KDE you can switch between X11 and Wayland at the bottom left of the Login Screen (SDDM).
From my viewpoint you may want to use Wayland for AMD GPU's and X11 for Nvidia, but it should be your choice. There is no right or wrong at this moment.

A little NTFS Warning just in case:

NTFS is a MS-Windows (emulated) Filesystem in Linux and could lead to data corruption, but "reading" files should be no problem. Better to mount it as Read-Only just in case. When you want to transfer data between MS-Windows and Linux use a (recommended) exFat Partition or Fat32.
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(Optional) Holding Hand's Install Linux Video Guide (Mint+Gaming):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyT4wfz5ZMg
(but with 4x critics from my side:)
1. Not telling about disabling Fast Boot
2. Using Balena "Etcher" has inbuilt Telemetrie, better is Ventoy.
3. Later he recommend to install Proton low level Kernel Anti Cheat Software
EAC or Battle-eye. This is against his own agenda to be against Kernel AC.
4. He failed with the explanation about the nvidia freedriver.

Win10 support end's at the end of 2025:

Older Hardware like (AMD) Zen1 or (Intel) Skylake don't have TPM and the newest Win11 Update 24H2 reject this system and bypassing is no longer allowed.

FPS Performance comparison Arch vs Win11:

https://www.computerbase.de/2023-12/welche-linux-distribution-zum-spielen/2/
(no need to watch part1 /its outdated):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5r1KSmOVss

Personal Manjaro Experience:

I had my first time with Linux (Red Hat "Caldera") as i was 14 years old, i uninstalled it pretty quick because nothing was running and it was very complicated this was 1997 (around Diablo1 times) and i saw nothing what Linux would give me at this time.
Windows wasn't all this years no data harvester but this changed finally with Win10.

Linux has developed greatly in the past 23 years. (But the outdated Rumor's from Windows user's, that Linux sucks are still there.)

So i started my real journey with Linux around 2020 collecting information about the big 3 Linux Tree's (Debian, Arch and Redhat) and it was a close decision between Mint and Manjaro the big difference im a Tech Nerd (not a coder) and i don't mind to learn and maintain my system. You get stable release (Kernel) updates every 2-3 Weeks pretty easy to install in the Package Manager UI and sometimes there are .pacnew files (config files, in general only 5 per year) or little bugs to fix and its required to look in https://forum.manjaro.org/c/announcements/stable-updates/12 the Forum to fix them, won't take long and they are rare but even as bloody noob i could pretty quick handle it. It was like destroying the final boss in Doom and i was total happy to archive the first experience and fight the little bug for Super Earth and Democracy, and that i don't need a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ MS Developer to get the job done xD

When i use my PC/Laptop around 12hours per day, i only spend maybe 1-2min with the Terminal per week average, no big deal for a average use case. Linux in general has really awesome driver support, you would be surprised even to boot into a Linux live environment how instant your PC is running without doing anything at all.. my yaw dropped to the bottom as the first time i booted from my Manjaro KDE (Full ISO)USB Stick and opened the filebrowser (called dolphin) to watch 30sec later Star Trek Voyager per drag+drop from NTFS drive in VLC Player, in a Linux OS without even installing it WTF.

My printer was instant running also, the sames goes with many other devices, "almost" everything just works. My Creative Soundcard X-fi was running instant, but my new Creative Soundblaster AE-5 is another story and required Alsamixer but still it was working with Forum help and this super Linux Brains which reversed Engineered the creative driver for my AE-5 Soundcard holy crap... take this Duke Nukem 3D Boss yaaay :D

It took me 6month to learn the most advanced stuff around Linux (like FSTAB, GRUB, Alsamixer, Timeshift, Pacman and most used Terminal Commands), when i remember how many years i need to learn the most stuff from MS-DOS, Win3.11, Win95... to Windows10 the road had stones too.

Im 40years old now and i could do it to learn Linux, you can do it too.

DONATION:

Don't forget to Donate Money to the smaller Open Source Projects and don't play the greedy card, this social coders need to eat too and they have a Soul... not like this closed source Demons :D I donated the last 3 years around 400€ and split the money to around 12 Open Source Projects.

[H208OM8]

I’m a little confused. Is it that using Linux prevents the installation of NPGG? Or just prevents it from running?Is it stopped from running at all or just at kernel level? The first would be much more preferable, having it run but not at all is ok I guess and the final might be tolerable, as long as I can prevent it from actually trying to mess with my system, whether or not it will work with all permissions revoked is unlikely tho.

[D. Flame]

Originally posted by Kobold:

Originally posted by D. Flame:

They only recommended it to developers wanting to test their games out before the Deck released. And they only recommended it because the Steam Deck's OS and it are both Arch based and both run the Plasma DE.

That isn't even close to what was implied, which is why citation is important.

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/steamdeck/testing

That link is also for developers looking to test their games on the deck.

Literally the title of that page:

"Developing for Steam Deck without a Dev-Kit"

[Kobold]

Originally posted by H208OM8:

I’m a little confused.

Since i don't bought it yet, i can't tell your the first hand experience.... but since people reported in ProtonDB that its working, we can expect that the Anti Cheat tool is doing his minimum job and can only be executed though Steam Proton, that's means to have Steam open and only running in this userspace... There is no way for Kernel rights.

[H208OM8]

only running in this userspace...

Well if that doesn't scream easy circumnavigation, especially if one uses a second user space that itself has reduced privileges, with oh I Don't know, say other programs running in a concurrent higher elevated user or kernal space
At first I was excited for the prospect of keeping this malware from messing with system, but if its that easy to just, get around NPGG, I almost don't want to play

[Kobold]

Originally posted by DaddyEcho69:

How well does it run? I see mixed experiences on proton.db. Do you need a beefy PC?
Also any idea if it runs on Arch? I have it installed on another drive but didn't use it much, so I'm not very experienced.

You probably shouldn't used Arch then.

[Koopa]

manjaro's garbo but I agree with the general sentiment I suppose

[AstroNaught]

I'm seriously considering doing this. Complete linux noob though - anyone have any idea how hard it is to install/dual boot manjaro to play this game?

[D. Flame]

Originally posted by AstroNaught:

I'm seriously considering doing this. Complete linux noob though - anyone have any idea how hard it is to install/dual boot manjaro to play this game?

You can pay a computer repair shop to do it for you.

You could also just install Linux Mint instead which is super easy and user friendly.

[Kobold]

Originally posted by AstroNaught:

I'm seriously considering doing this. Complete linux noob though - anyone have any idea on how hard it would be to install/dual boot manjaro to play this game?

Switching to Linux is not easy as eating a cake, i thought first its a lot harder to learn Linux. But actually its not as hard as i was expecting it.

I bought a External Samsung SSD (a second internal SSD or HDD should work too btw), because i dont wanted to use the Dual Bootmanager... its easier to switch between OS with 2 seperated drives atleast when you use MBR, im not so experienced with UEFI yet.

When your PC is booting you probably can choose with f12 key the Bootdrive and i choosed the right drive from this menue.

As D.Flame said, Linux Mint should be more userfriendly... i probably agree with him, but im not so sure about it, when your goal is gaming.... anyways, Manjaro is rollingrelease and it needs probably a little more mantaining experience.

Im active in the Manjaro Forum, if you decided to choose using Manjaro i could help you there... Every Linux Distro has it own Con's and Pro's and it depends on the user and his goal.

[Athruz]

"Because the GameGuard can be used for any other games with GameGuard in the PC,
registered GameGuard service and driver can remain after uninstalling the game client. However, the file does not work, there is no part that affects the system.
To remove GameGuard completely including those contents, download following GameGuard uninstaller."

Direct from the trash nprotect website. This garbage "anti cheat" is not ever removed and runs whether the game is running or not. Hell Divers can eat a giant hot dog and I will not support this game due to this one singular thing they refuse to fix. They only care about protecting the micro transactions nothing else.

[Kobold]

@Athruz you probably missed the right Topic... because the Linux solution already fixed your comment that related *only* to Windows Users.

[AstroNaught]

Originally posted by D. Flame:

Originally posted by AstroNaught:

I'm seriously considering doing this. Complete linux noob though - anyone have any idea how hard it is to install/dual boot manjaro to play this game?

You can pay a computer repair shop to do it for you.

You could also just install Linux Mint instead which is super easy and user friendly.

Originally posted by Kobold:

Originally posted by AstroNaught:

I'm seriously considering doing this. Complete linux noob though - anyone have any idea on how hard it would be to install/dual boot manjaro to play this game?

Im 40 years old and i switched to Manjaro/KDE 4 years ago... im only used Windows since i was 12 years old.

Switching to Linux is not easy as a cake but i though its a daemon to destroy to learn Linux.
But actually its not as hard as i was expecting it.

I bought a External Samsung SSD (a second internal SSD or HDD should work too btw), because i dont wanted to use the Dual Bootmanager... its easier to switch between OS with 2 seperated drives atleast when you use MBR, im not so experienced with UEFI yet.

When your PC is booting you probably can choose with f12 key the Bootdrive and i choosed the right drive from this menue.

As D.Flame said, Linux Mint should be more userfriendly... i probably agree with him, but im not so sure about it, when your goal is gaming.... anyways, Manjaro is rollingrelease and it needs probably a little more mantaining experience.

Wow, thank you both @D.Flame and @Kobold! Gives me good info to get started - think I'll try my luck with dual booting Linux Mint. So assuming I manage to get it installed and running correctly on my system, I would then just need to install steam on Linux Mint, buy the game there and install n play? Or is it a little more involved than that?

[D. Flame]

Originally posted by AstroNaught:

So assuming I manage to get it installed and running correctly on my system, I would then just need to install steam on Linux Mint, buy the game there and install n play? Or is it a little more involved than that?

Personally, I would install the flatpak version of Steam first. This is super simple, since Linux Mint has a software "store" on it like you would find on a Smart Phone. And from there you can choose the system version of the Flatpak version.

Then when you buy a game, you have to do like 4 extra clicks or so. Basically, there is a compatibility tab in the game's page, and you just have to tell it to "use proton". After that, you just install the game like normal.

Here is the process:
https://i.imgur.com/374iaJW.png

And if you want to check how well a game runs with proton before buying the game, you can look it up in this data base:
https://www.protondb.com/

For example, here is the HellDivers 2 page:
https://www.protondb.com/app/553850

[Kobold]

Originally posted by AstroNaught:

Gives me good info to get started - think I'll try my luck with dual booting Linux Mint. So assuming I manage to get it installed and running correctly on my system, I would then just need to install steam on Linux Mint, buy the game there and install n play? Or is it a little more involved than that?

I don't have detailed informations about Mint, but in Manjaro/KDE its the Full ISO, where Steam is already pre-installed... im clueless about Linux Mint sry.

Anyways, its recommend to activate Proton Experimental in Steam Settings Menue.

[D. Flame]

Originally posted by Kobold:

Originally posted by AstroNaught:

Gives me good info to get started - think I'll try my luck with dual booting Linux Mint. So assuming I manage to get it installed and running correctly on my system, I would then just need to install steam on Linux Mint, buy the game there and install n play? Or is it a little more involved than that?

Im active in the Manjaro Forum, if you decided to choose using Manjaro i could help you there... Every Linux Distro has it own Con's and Pro's and it depends on the user and his goal.

I don't have detailed informations about Mint, but in Manjaro/KDE standard iso, the Steam is already pre-installed... im clueless about Linux Mint sry.

https://forums.linuxmint.com/

Here are their forums. They are the friendliest and most helpful Linux community that I have ever seen.

Here is a good review/overview of Mint as well:
https://youtu.be/dtkIVtZfjgg?si=xj8124CpnEuVcHUU