Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is the easiest way to run Linux on a Windows computers. Compared to a traditional virtual machine installation of Linux, WSL starts faster, and interacts with Windows files and folders without any extra setup.

Step 1: Install Windows Terminal

Install the Windows Terminal through the Microsoft Store.

This will give you a nice modern command-line for using WSL.

Step 2: Installing WSL

Follow the instructions here: Installing WSL on Windows 10/11.

Use Windows 11 if you can, since that lets you run graphical Linux programs. WSL on Windows 10 does not support graphical Linux apps, just command-line programs.

Step 3: Using WSL

On Windows, the name of the main disk drive is usually "C:", and in WSL the C: drive is in the folder /mnt/c. Your desktop folder should be in /mnt/c/Users/<loginname>.

For example, if your Windows login name is bgates, then the terminal command cd /mnt/c/Users/bgates should take you to your desktop folder.

Any other disks you have can be accessed similarly, e.g. if you have a D: drive it's at /mnt/d.