Start menu and taskbar.
Launching programs, pinned apps, desktop icons and the Windows key behave the way you expect.
Why
WinDoesNot?
A desktop you know from Windows. Underneath, CachyOS: a fast, up-to-date Linux based on Arch Linux. WinDoesNot takes care of the setup so you can simply get started.
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Your Start button.
Your desktop.
Keep the familiar Orb or choose the WinDoesNot dot. Under Settings → Appearance, you can switch between these two Start-button styles or use your own image.
Light or dark, tiled or floating windows: the same settings let you shape the desktop to suit you.
Familiar to use.
Modern underneath.
You do not have to relearn how a computer works. The usual paths stay, and the system underneath is current.
Settings in one place.
Appearance, displays, input, updates and backups live in one settings app, in plain language. Kernel and maintenance have their own sections there too.
Help that explains.
Clear guides and every keyboard shortcut, searchable and readable without expert knowledge.
Fast
from the first start.
WinDoesNot takes CachyOS' performance tuning and sets it up to match your computer.
Optimized for your processor.
The installer detects what your processor supports and enables the matching optimized packages: x86-64-v3, v4 or AMD Zen 4 and 5.
A kernel tuned for responsiveness.
The CachyOS kernel is tuned for quick response. A long-term kernel waits in the boot menu as a fallback.
Light on memory.
Compressed Btrfs, compressed swap in RAM with zram and automatic process prioritization keep the system snappy.
Set up
without searching.
No hunting for drivers or picking package servers. The installer shows you what it detected along the way.
Graphics drivers, automatically.
NVIDIA, AMD, Intel and virtual machines are detected and set up, even offline, including the 32-bit drivers games need.
The fastest servers.
Downloads come from nearby, fast servers, chosen during installation or on the first internet connection.
Offline or online.
Install entirely from the medium or with internet, and choose the bootloader and your programs during installation.
Updates and programs
that make sense.
An up-to-date system should not mean memorizing commands.
Updates in clear words.
The updates page shows what WinDoesNot brings, which programs change and whether a restart is needed. Important Arch Linux notices appear first.
Restore points.
On Btrfs, WinDoesNot saves the system state daily and at the push of a button. Settings explain what a point contains and what it does not.
The WinDoesNot Store.
Programs from the repositories, from Flathub and, if you like, from the AUR. You see where a program comes from and can review AUR packages before building.
Built on CachyOS.
With its own desktop.
WinDoesNot is an independent project. It uses CachyOS and Arch Linux as its foundation and adds its own interface, tools and installer.
Kernel, system tuning, optimized packagesfrom CachyOS
Hardware detection and mirror selectionfrom CachyOS, visible in the installer
Desktop, settings, helpWinDoesNot
Store, updates page, restore pointsWinDoesNot
Licensefree software (GPL)
See the technical design
Reach the essentials quickly.
The new apps follow the desktop language, light or dark theme and accent colour.
Graphics readings in one click.
The graphics icon shows temperature, load, fan, power and memory. Double-click to open the Graphics app.
Sound for every app.
The audio mixer offers volume and mute per application. Network, Bluetooth and Audio share one look.
Apps of your choice.
Choose extra apps and web apps in the installer. Apps that need the internet download after setup when you are online.
Ready when you are.
WinDoesNot 0.1.0-27 is available and in active development. The live ISO and installer were checked in UEFI VMs. WinDoesNot is not affiliated with Microsoft.
Go to the download page