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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(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.

[⭐Kuro⭐]

Първоначално публикувано от Kobold:

If this is the case, then 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), for first steps in Linux there is also recommendation to use Linux Mint.

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

I apprechiate that you try to tell people about linux, but please don`t act like it is the holy grail of OS. Because it isn`t. The time where linux was safe and noone had to worried about anything is long gone. These days even linux has his "holes" and "risks". There was the EvilGnome for example:

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-evilgnome-backdoor-spies-on-linux-users-steals-their-files/

Then there is Trula: Turla’s been infecting Linux systems for years

Security researchers have known about a piece of malware called “Turla,” “Snake,” or “Ouroboros” for years. Turla is an extremely sophisticated piece of government-sponsored malware—one that appears Russian in origin. As usual, it was Windows malware.

But, this week, Kaspersky unveiled it had found a Linux version of Turla. This Trojan has been silently infecting Linux systems for years. It’s based on an open-source backdoor program called cd00r. Turla listens to network traffic and allows an attacker to run commands on the infected Linux system. Crucially, the Trojan doesn’t require root access—it just runs as your standard user account, so all the sudo and privilege restrictions used on the Linux desktop won’t hinder it. While it’s a network service, it’s clever enough to hide itself from the netstat tool so you won’t see it listening if you start looking at your network connections. Read Kaspersky’s blog post for the gory details.

So yeah these are just two examples and beleave me i would wish that linux would still be the holy grail and all. But no. Everything is tainted. There is no more "privacy in the net". Sad actualy but it is as it is.

[sudo rm -rf]

Yeah i have tried out arch linux before and i can confirm that steam is available to download on there. Im not sure but you might need to use the yay package manager in order to install steam from the AUR repository. Or you could just type in 'sudo pacman -S steam'. Proton should be built into steam's system since steam has used proton to emulate games via steam deck (which its os runs on linux). If there are any issues with the kernel anti-cheat kicking you from the game, you can always run a windows vm and play the game on there if you at least got a mid-range pc (like a pc with a 3060 and an 11th gen intel processor). Hope this helps mate, im probably starting to think as well to switch to linux on my gaming computer lol thanks to this topic

[Kobold]

Първоначално публикувано от ⭐Kuro⭐:

I apprechiate that you try to tell people about linux, but please don`t act like it is the holy grail of OS. Because it isn`t. The time where linux was safe and noone had to worried about anything is long gone. These days even linux has his "holes" and "risks". There was the EvilGnome for example:

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-evilgnome-backdoor-spies-on-linux-users-steals-their-files/

Then there is Trula: Turla’s been infecting Linux systems for years

Security researchers have known about a piece of malware called “Turla,” “Snake,” or “Ouroboros” for years.

First thanks for this information, but i never said that linux is the holy grail.

There is malware for linux and linux can be affected from it, while the chances are much less to infect your PC with a virus in Linux... the problem is the unexperienced user in front of the PC, who downloads everything without using his brain.

Първоначално публикувано от ⭐Kuro⭐:

So yeah these are just two examples and beleave me i would wish that linux would still be the holy grail and all. But no. Everything is tainted. There is no more "privacy in the net". Sad actualy but it is as it is.

You did make 1 BIG MISTAKE, by interchanging Spying from malware and put it on the same level which does Microsoft on a fresh & clean installation, the Spying doesnt happend on Manjaro or Mint and many other Linux Distro's, this is a VERY BIG DIFFERENCE!

So you have privacy in Linux, but you can destroy it when you install the wrong applications or infected program's.

[Kobold]

Първоначално публикувано от Mark Abrams:

So i got off my lazy ass and did it .... though using fedora looks like i can finally join my friends. thanks for making this post.

Allright, i'm glad you decided to switch to Linux.

I hope you can enjoy Helldivers 2 in Linux, don't forget to activate Experimental Proton in Steam for better performance.

[★ ace ★]

Първоначално публикувано от Kobold:

Първоначално публикувано от ★ ace ★:

I provided you with a possible solution and you shot it down. if you make another partition or disk hidden to the other OS how is the kernel-level anti-cheat gonna see it? As long as the OS honors that hidden attribute it doesn't exist.

Sry, but i don't see a solution with a hidden partition... the AC will still gain ring 0 hardware access and full control above your PC and the security hole is still there under Windows... hidden partition probably also only helps to protect your files from AC scanning.

Just a quick example: You run Windows with a extra disk and deactivate all other SATA drives per Bios, you will boot into the external HDD with Windows/Helldivers2/Anti Cheat installed.

The AC opens a security hole and you get a virus and infected your EFI Room from your Motherboard... and thats it... Game Over. When you next time booting from your default drive your files are cursed.

And im not speaking about the possible Hardware Malfunctions that this AC probably could do.... thats another story.

oh nice that's sweet, don't forget to check out that Windows environment, it'll be waiting for you to check it out again in the future. Take care.

[Kobold]

Първоначално публикувано от ★ ace ★:

oh nice that's sweet, don't forget to check out that Windows environment, it'll be waiting for you to check it out again in the future. Take care. :cupup:

Strange that your forum bann is gone. Anyways, bye bye and don't forget to close the door behind you.

[Soul]

Първоначално публикувано от Kobold:

Първоначално публикувано от ★ ace ★:

oh nice that's sweet, don't forget to check out that Windows environment, it'll be waiting for you to check it out again in the future. Take care. :cupup:

Strange that your forum bann is gone. Anyways, bye bye and don't forget to close the door behind you.

it last only a day,at least on first offense,idk if it increase per ban on the same forum

[Squiggly John]

Using pop os for this, worked like a charm. I'm surprised, most anti-cheats won't allow this unless linux is specifically whitelisted, which only happens after they confirm it will still function as intended.

[KenHasegawa]

So does it work?
Install a new partition and Linux Mint, install and run Helldivers 2 with the latest Proton version and the anti-cheat software has no access at all?

I'm open to Linux anyway. I'm leaning between this process and continuing to block until this AC software is no longer used. I'm not deeply involved in the discussions. How is the situation? Does it look like Arrowhead redirecting or don't give a damn anyway?

[Knossus]

So how does this work for Steam Deck that uses Linux?

Does that mean that all of these nProtect GameGuard problems can be avoided by installing and playing the game on Steam Deck without any additional modifications?

[Saint Marold YT]

Първоначално публикувано от Knossus:

So how does this work for Steam Deck that uses Linux?

Does that mean that all of these nProtect GameGuard problems can be avoided by installing and playing the game on Steam Deck without any additional modifications?

Helldivers 2 works fine on Linux (for me)

[Squiggly John]

Първоначално публикувано от KenHasegawa:

So does it work?
Install a new partition and Linux Mint, install and run Helldivers 2 with the latest Proton version and the anti-cheat software has no access at all?

I'm open to Linux anyway. I'm leaning between this process and continuing to block until this AC software is no longer used. I'm not deeply involved in the discussions. How is the situation? Does it look like Arrowhead redirecting or don't give a damn anyway?

Yeah, since proton runs the game in a sandbox, the anticheat can't access the bare metal.

[Cosmic]

i run the game on archlinux and i get over 115fps on high settings 1440p

[LongTimeAgo]

Tried to get Manjaro on my laptop, wont work due to Secure Boot and too new hardware. Dual boot is still a necessity.
Will try Ubuntu since that supports secure boot out of the box.

And yes, there are manual instructions on how to get manjaro to work under secure boot. But it involves a few risks and my knowledge/experience on Linux is bare minimum.

[Kobold]

Първоначално публикувано от LongTimeAgo:

Tried to get Manjaro on my laptop, wont work due to Secure Boot and too new hardware. Dual boot is still a necessity.

Why not just disable secure boot?

Secure Boot don't give security anyways... but if you have installed Win11 (which forced the users to use their Secure Boot function) is maybe understandable.

Still Secure Boot/TPM is in control of Microsoft... its a verification option and has its own security risks... but its everyone's own decision to use it or not.

Anyways, there is a reason why most linux distro's won't support it official... but Ubuntu does.

Ubuntu is the last recommend Linux Distro today... the whole distro forced people to use "snaps" which are the most hated option to install program's.