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.

[Khloros]

Well im getting a new computer tomorrow anyway so, might as well spin up yee old VM just to run this game...

[Soul]

Originally posted by Kobold:

Originally posted by Soul:

Ugh can't they just remove this rootkit instead

Even if they remove it, there are other games with rootkits too.

idgaf about other games,I'm talking about THIS game with THIS rootkit,but thx I guess for nothing

[Kobold]

Originally posted by Khloros:

Well im getting a new computer tomorrow anyway so, might as well spin up yee old VM just to run this game...

VM is one option or a secondary SSD is a probably a even better option... because VM's won't run smooth as a native OS Boot.

[Soul]

Seeing how the AC in undecember would boot you if you were in a VM,I wouldn't hold my breath hoping it work
if it does,good tho

[AstroNaught]

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.

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

Originally posted by D. Flame:

Originally posted by Kobold:

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

Thanks to you both again! As long as I get to keep this intrusive anticheat away, I'm fine with either Mint or Manjaro, whatever I can get dual booted relatively painlessly. Hope you folks don't mind if I reach out with additional questions, I can be a klutz at times :)

[Shibe]

Fair warning to anyone with a modern system and/or running windows 11 with secure boot on, it's easier to go with something like Ubuntu that has signed binaries (kernel and e.g. nvidia drivers) unless you forgo that entirely.

Also don't forget you need a Playstation account as well, there is risk if you play via Proton and GG/Helldivers2 flags you for anything you could get your PSN account in trouble.

So far nobody has gotten banned, until they (arrowhead) actually come out and say Proton/steam deck is supported it's a grey area still.

[Ninja]

Originally posted by Shibe:

So far nobody has gotten banned, until they (arrowhead) actually come out and say Proton/steam deck is supported it's a grey area still.

The store page has the Steam Deck compatibility listed as "playable" instead of "unsupported"

[Kobold]

Originally posted by Shibe:

Fair warning to anyone with a modern system and/or running windows 11 with secure boot on, it's easier to go with something like Ubuntu that has signed binaries (kernel and e.g. nvidia drivers) unless you forgo that entirely.

Or disable Secure Boot... and use Manjaro or Mint. Fastboot should disable aswell.

[Kobold]

Originally posted by AstroNaught:

Thanks to you both again! As long as I get to keep this intrusive anticheat away, I'm fine with either Mint or Manjaro, whatever I can get dual booted relatively painlessly. Hope you folks don't mind if I reach out with additional questions, I can be a klutz at times :)

Yeah for sure

[OfficerTerror]

Originally posted by Kobold:

I think i found a solution, get rid of the cancer/spy OS Win10/11 and install Manjaro/KDE (its on of the best Linux Distro's out there and also recommend by Valve).

Buy Helldivers2 in Steam and just install it through Steam/Proton and nProtect GameGuard won't get Kernel Access, easy as that.

With Microsoft new service agreement (since October 2023) to scan all your private files, its a middle finger to the Private Users anyways, 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 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! Im mainly use Linux since almost 4 years now, as gamer! I have Win10 installed and used it only for VR Gaming today.

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

Steams DRM has the same kernal access lol

[AstroNaught]

Reporting back - it worked! After half a day of effort, managed to get Linux Mint dual booted and the game working on it. Took a little troubleshooting but nothing too bad.

+Rep to this thread!

[D. Flame]

Originally posted by AstroNaught:

Reporting back - it worked! After half a day of effort, managed to get Linux Mint dual booted and the game working on it. Took a little troubleshooting but nothing too bad.

+Rep to this thread!

Congrats

[AstroNaught]

Originally posted by D. Flame:

Originally posted by AstroNaught:

Reporting back - it worked! After half a day of effort, managed to get Linux Mint dual booted and the game working on it. Took a little troubleshooting but nothing too bad.

+Rep to this thread!

Congrats

Couldn't have done it without your pointers, so thank you good sir/madam! The info you shared would make a good steam guide, if you are ever so inclined

[Shibe]

Originally posted by Ninja:

Originally posted by Shibe:

So far nobody has gotten banned, until they (arrowhead) actually come out and say Proton/steam deck is supported it's a grey area still.

The store page has the Steam Deck compatibility listed as "playable" instead of "unsupported"

Deck compatibility on the store page is verified by Valve, not the developers. As with any anti-cheat it's risky unless the devs publicly state deck/proton is okay.

[Kobold]

Originally posted by AstroNaught:

Reporting back - it worked! After half a day of effort, managed to get Linux Mint dual booted and the game working on it. Took a little troubleshooting but nothing too bad.

+Rep to this thread!

Yeah nice, im glad it worked out for you... Welcome to Linux.

Watch out, when the time comes, when you not even care to boot into Windows anymore,
and you found out to replace your Applications.

I see you playing Helldivers 2 already :)