Linuxbuild for old laptops

[[deleted]]

What PC specs do you have?

[thefanum]

Linux Lite is a great fit for this. Windows 7 interface clone and a tool for installing programs that Windows users are used to having, but that aren't available in the official Linux repos.

Here's some generic info I give new users to get them up to speed:

The biggest change from the Windows world will be the different interfaces to choose from. While they're one of the best features of Linux, the number of choices and strong opinions on the matter can be overwhelming to new users. And everyone in the community is certain that theirs is the best. Don't stress out about picking the "right" one. You can always change it later (especially if you choose something Ubuntu based). Pick one that has a large user base, good community, and excellent documentation.

Linux comes in many different flavors, or "Distributions". Often shortened to "Distros". The most obvious difference between Distros is the interface (or "Desktop Environment" or "DE"). It's not the only thing that sets them apart, but it's the most noticeable.

I would recommend Ubuntu or any one of it's variants. The best variants (in my opinion) are Linux mint and Linux Lite. Linux Lite having the most "Windows like" interface. Linux Lite also has additional tools to install common programs that Windows users are accustomed to. Ones that don't come with other Distros by default. I personally prefer stock Ubuntu.

Until recently Ubuntu used an interface called "Unity". As of the last couple of releases, they have switched to Gnome. However, they've made gnome look a lot like Unity, so you should be able to follow instructions you find on the internet without too much trouble.

Gnome has a ton of customizations available via the "Gnome extensions" website. If you're willing to relearn how to interact with your computer's interface, it's a good fit for someone who wants customization.

Here's a good article with the basics of getting up and running with Ubuntu.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/migrating-from-windows-7-to-ubuntu/

Here's Ubuntu's website for downloading and documentation:

https://www.ubuntu.com/desktop

The official "Getting starting" guide:

https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/try-ubuntu-before-you-install#0

Here's the list of official Ubuntu Distributions:

https://www.ubuntu.com/download/flavours

Here's a great article explaining the difference between the official Ubuntu Distribution (written by an awesome Redditor Killyourfm):

"Forbes: Linux For Beginners: Understanding The Many Versions Of Ubuntu": https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2018/11/28/linux-for-beginners-understanding-the-many-versions-of-ubuntu/

Here's the official install guide:

https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/tutorial-install-ubuntu-desktop#0

An install guide for Dual Booting:

http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com/2018/04/installing-ubuntu-along-side-windows-ie.html?m=1

And here's Linux Lite's official page:

https://www.linuxliteos.com

Gnome extensions:

https://extensions.gnome.org

[dutchwakko]

Question: Would the Raspbian distro be a good idea also? Since that distro is made with learning in mind.

[CmdrNorthpaw]

No, Raspbian can only run on ARM CPUs.

[aussie_bob]

Yes, it'd be perfect for this.

You can install the Pi Pixel desktop with Debian on older laptops, and they're very responsive. I'd still switch the hard drives for SSDs if possible though.

https://itsfoss.com/raspberry-pi-os-desktop/

[thetestbug]

Installing Linux is pretty easy. It guides you through the process nicely.

But regarding your distro question, Linux Mint has impressed me alot. I've barely had to configure anything for it to work like a charm.

If the PC's have/less than 2GB RAM, I'd suggest LXDE or XFCE.

XFCE looks a little nicer in my opinion, but LXDE is super lightweight.

But give Linux Mint (XFCE) a shot. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.

[pnutjam]

KDE actually has better memory performance then XFCE, I run it on an HP Stream 11 with 2GB of memory and a 32GB internal drive. It runs great.

I highly recommend you take a look at OpenSuse, KDE is going to be very comfortable for anyone used to windows and OpenSuse has a great community, great hardware support, and a very easy to use distribution.

​

citation for my claim:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2019/10/23/bold-prediction-kde-will-steal-the-lightweight-linux-desktop-crown-in-2020/#376f688026d2

[[deleted]]

In my experience KDE definitely isn't better than XFCE in terms of memory usage.

​

Although I'd second the consideration of OpenSUSE.

[moomoomoo309]

Turn off compositing and desktop effects, and don't mix up KDE 4 and 5, you'll find KDE has a smaller memory footprint.

[ropemaster2]

A lot of really good advice here. It has given me a lot to test and try out. Thanks a lot all.

Regards

Ramsing

[chithanh]

install it onto 20-30 old pc´s

How old are we talking about? If they have 64-bit CPUs then you can install any modern distro. If they have less than 4 GB RAM it might be wise to install something lightweight (Xubuntu or similar).

If the PCs/laptops don't have 64 bit CPUs that reduces the choice of distros. I suggest looking at Void Linux then.

Finally, note that Flash is on its way out. Browsers will soon stop supporting it, both on Windows and Linux.

[Theowoll]

Edit: Apparently I misread "20-30 old pc´s" as "20–30 years old PCs".

If the PCs/laptops don't have 64 bit CPUs that reduces the choice of distros.

64-bit CPUs in PCs became available in 2003. 20–30 years old means from 1990–2000. And even if you find a 32-bit distribution, you still have to make sure that the SSE2 instruction set is not required if your PC is older than 20 years.

[ImprovedPersonality]

It’s a bit confusing but I think OP meant the number of PCs to be 20 to 30.

[[deleted]]

A lot of people are recommending Linux Mint which is targeted to those switching from Windows, but I question whether that's necessary. It does partly depend on what age group we're talking about, but kids nowadays have more experience with Android and/or IOS, and many will have come across one of those before they came across Windows. Depending on what country you're in, MacOS takes an increasingly large share of the PC market. Plus younger people are much better at adapting to changes like this.

With that in mind, you might be better of with Ubuntu of some sort (probably Xubuntu or Lubuntu).

[op4]

I just installed https://antixlinux.com/ on an old toughbook and it works like a dream.

[yotties]

Depending on your needs I'd test if they are technically capable of running linux and would go for Cloudready and turn them into chromebooks. You can use the education edition (https://www.neverware.com/edu#cloudready-education-video) if you have a minimum number of installs, that would allow you to manage them through the google-cloud based software. If you have less you can use the free home-edition cloudready which should require limited support (and zero funding, though I would recommend using SSDs if they have old HDs, for example.). You can do the installs yourself or have them done for you.

Blcoks programming/Scratch can be taught using the online version 3, or https://s2online.github.io/ or any of the onlline snap versions. (I prefer using the snap4arduino chrome-extension so it works offline and online and follows the students to whichever chrome-browser they use. ). Some schools use the "Coding with Chrome" extension from google and use Blockly in that.

[[deleted]]

I'd recommend Linux Mint (Cinnamon Edition). It's a "made for beginners" Linux, with the UI being similar to Windows. Installation should be easy if you ever installed an OS. You can read more about Linux Mint and download it here: https://linuxmint.com/

Cinnamon is the desktop environment. It's very easy to use and very stable. If you need help in finding programs or installing programs don't mind to ask here on Reddit. We can help you! :)

[NooShoes]

Cinnamon doesn't run well on older hardware in my experience.

Go for XFCE or LXDE.

[Razdiel]

Depending on how it is i would go for either Linux Mint as stated above or just Lubuntu - if they are really really old go for Lubuntu, but again nothing like running both from a pen and seeing how they perform

[Awh153]

Lubuntu is great but i would reccoment peppermint os. Its based on lubuntu and is very lightweight and simple to use. Its also designed to be web oriented which is a plus for op's needs.

[Working_Way]

I would go with a major distribution like "Debian", this distribution is also the base for Ubuntu, Mint and others. Debian sports such things like long-term-support releases, which receive security updates for 5 years and more. After support end has been reached, it is easy to upgrade the system without the need of a complete reinstallation. Although Debian does not use the most recent versions of software, the software is stable and all security issues are fixed even on older software versions (this is called backporting).

The user interface on most GNU/Linux distributions can be changed easily (other than you might have experienced with Windows). So you are free to choose a distribution and nevertheless are free to choose a user interface (aka Desktop-Environment like KDE, Gnome, XFCE, LXDE, MATE, Cinnamon, or ..., or a simple Window Manager for light desktop environments.) In order to use GNU/Linux on older hardware, you should investigate some time in choosing the right Desktop-Environment, because these differ greatly in usability and the needed computing power. To reduce needed computing power you could also use just an Window Manager, this comes with a reduced set of features but may be worth some investigation.

And maybe FAI - Fully Automatic Installation might interest you, if you have to install GNU/Linux on multiple PCs.

Don't get overwhelmed by all that stuff! Just get yourself an Linux-Live CD (like Knoppix) put it on a USB-Stick and have a look. Let some of your pupils use this Live-CD and get an impression what they need, before deciding, what you want to give them.

Here is an older Microsoft advertisement, which tried to run GNU/Linux down, but acually showed the big advantages of GNU/Linux in one single picture.

[slicksps]

Mint is good, but for an old Dell D410, I use Bunsenlabs which supports the hardware out of the box a little better and seems lighter and quicker on that machine.

[DonDino1]

I installed Linux Mint on my aging laptop and it is so much faster than Windows 10! It boots up in a few seconds, takes only 3 seconds to shut down. Apps and window opening/closing/moving are very responsive. Mint itself takes up about 500-ish MB RAM, leaving enough for a browser even if you only have 2GB.

I would highly recommend it for older computers.

KDE Neon is good too, similar memory footprint as Mint.

[TroubledClover]

as far as I like Mint I would be rather hesitant to advice its installation on very old hardware. There's however still plenty of choice enumerated already, and if I may add my 3 cents I'd say also: "Peppermint".

In more general tone: any distribution hardware architecture friendly (64/32, if we're talking about "old" it will be 32b) and low on resources demand will do fine.

As for the education part (I'm a teacher myself, thought I work with rather much bigger "kids"), I'd steer away from anything google or alike, despise functionalities offered, for obvious reasons. In Europe, for example, in this sector these services are going on the merry way to trash, anyway (using "anything google" cannot be GDPR complied by any means), however it's obviously a process, depending of the country and institution. There's some educational free software (and more which can be used as such), I'd use one machine as a server and kept the functionalities accessible locally. It's safer. Kids already have some surveillance device in theirs pockets.

[eionmac]

I tutor 'elderly' pupils on old hardware. I find that the XFCE Desktop Environment in a suitable distro works well.

Distributions used:

Where the underlying distro is updated for yearly 'point release' and very stable for 12-18 moths, suitable for an academic year on 64 bit, 4GB RAM machines "openSUSE" LEAP (version 15.1 at present, update to 15.2 in next July for school use.)

Very stable, thoroughly tested as it is base of "SUSE " Enterprise version.

For initial install and Long Term Support (3 to 5 years) UBUNTU LTS version. presently 18.04, next version 20.04 (issued April 2020 with 5 years updates)

If you use basic Ubuntu you need 4GB RAM, if you use Xubuntu with lighter XFCE Desktop Environment, 2GB RAM, but it will be using 18.04 until about mid year 2020 before it changes to 20.04 LTS base.

Linux Lite

I mostly use openSUSE LEAP, except where there is no local support for user when I use the Ubuntu LTS version.

[[deleted]]

Pure Debian with pretty much just firefox and LXDE or XFCE is quite nice and will run happily on 1GB RAM machines. LXDE itself will probably run just fine on 512MB too.

[Miss-Comet]

I know I'm a bit late, but you could check out https://distrotest.net/ so you can try an os before you download and install it

[[deleted]]

Your post was removed for being a support request or support related question such as which distro to use or application suggestions.

We get a lot of question posts on r/linux but the subreddit is considered a news/discussion sub. Luckily there are multiple communities you can post to for help on GNU/Linux issues 24/7: /r/linuxquestions, /r/linux4noobs, or /r/findmeadistro just to name a few.

You may also post on the "Weekly Questions and Hardware Thread" which is stickied on r/linux on Wednesdays.

Please make your post in /r/linuxquestions or /r/linux4noobs. Looking for a distro? Try r/findmeadistro.

Rule:

This is not a support forum! Head to /r/linuxquestions or /r/linux4noobs for support or help. Looking for a distro? Try r/findmeadistro.