Okay so from another thread it looks like it's easier to communicate with the printer via serial port from linux.

And cura slicer both come in linux flavours.

So I'm thinking that maybe cura will talk to my printer from ubuntu, where it won't talk via windows.

Downloading the latest ubuntu desktop as I type.
I know it happily dual boots with with windows - but I've also got a spare 32gb memory stick that be an alternative option. I've only got a 64gb ssd on the 3d printer's box.

Does anyone have any linux-flashforge experience ?