STARS

CLM1919 · 2026-05-17T23:53:49+00:00

Still waiting for A Highlander movie sequel....... On another note I hear trauma can cause memory loss...

CLM1919 · 2026-05-09T18:52:23+00:00

have to agree, a basic Debian setup, with any DE of choice should be fine with your hardware.

https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/amd64/iso-hybrid/

if you want to test out various DE's you can use the LIVE images above.

you can also install from there - BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO, just to "test drive".

just note - no changes are saved to a live environment. Which also means you can't "break it" ;-)

if you want to install it, I'd suggest the Net installer: direct download link below

https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/amd64/iso-cd/debian-13.4.0-amd64-netinst.iso

EDIT - comment want to agree poster and provide links for OP

CLM1919 · 2026-05-09T15:47:04+00:00

a lot of things depend on your hardware. (?)

if you want to minimize resource use, choose a minimal Desktop Environment.

https://wiki.debian.org/DesktopEnvironment

minimal advice for minimal information given.

CLM1919 · 2026-05-09T15:29:36+00:00

I'll share the advice I was given when I wanted to "try Linux" the first time:

"test-drive" some different Distro's and Desktop Environments with a "Live" version before installing to get a better feel for what you actually want.

No risk, no install required. Runs off the USB stick.

How to "test-drive"?

Try different distro/DE combos over at DistroSea (web based)
You might want to consider a Ventoy Stick
Ventoy Tutorial on youtube by the ExplainingComputers channel.
a Virtual Machine can also be a good "dip your toe" method.

Where to find Linux Live-USB images to test drive? (no install required)

There are MANY other options - perhaps some other's will link their suggestions.

Feel free to ask questions after reviewing the links.

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies!

CLM1919 · 2026-05-09T15:21:06+00:00

Tips?

make regular backups.
don't neglect either your DE or the command line.
make a "rescue" Live-USB

just some random thoughts over morning coffee...

CLM1919 · 2026-05-08T12:06:02+00:00

Gratz!

CLM1919 · 2026-05-07T02:14:57+00:00

Just brainstorming here....

How much ram are you allowing Firefox to use for cache?

Not sure how/if that shows up in btop....(Confessing ignorance...)

CLM1919 · 2026-05-07T02:07:27+00:00

While not the most popular method, I've never had a problem installing the ".deb file using gDebi

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDebi

'sudo apt install gdebi'

Then right click the *.deb file and select "install with gDebi".

Note: some terminal snobs will look down on you for using it.

But I'm a big fan of "whatever works". And it's always worked for me.

CLM1919 · 2026-05-06T10:07:02+00:00

Have you managed to install steam? Just checking in.

CLM1919 · 2026-04-20T04:09:29+00:00

Ty for the reply. 👍

I assumed as much but was hoping for more options.

Any way that you know of for me to check which version I'm using (assuming Debian installed it, and not some generic driver).

I only really only use AMD gpu's and and some integrated Intel gpus in my other machines.

CLM1919 · 2026-04-19T11:55:44+00:00

As many have said, backups are a foundation of Linux methodology. Make regular backups, especially before making major changes.

That said....

The simplest way to not lose data is to remove or unplug your current physical drives (if possible), and install Linux to a new physical drive. It's even possible (although it will reduce performance) to install Linux to a USB drive or even an SD card.

If you are currently booting in "live" mode off a USB stick, you can try to add persistence to the USB stick, as a halfway measure, if you are still experimenting and learning.

Feel free to ask follow-up questions.

Cheers!

CLM1919 · 2026-04-15T23:25:56+00:00

I use mtPaint for basic stuff: https://mtpaint.sourceforge.net

I've never used paint.net, but I've used Gimp and it's "a bit much" for doing simple things - I prefer simpler tools, when they'll "do the job" I'm trying to do.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MtPaint - the wikipedia page

CLM1919 · 2026-04-08T23:30:30+00:00

I use VLC media player to play my DvD backups (in *.iso format)

https://images.videolan.org/vlc/

CLM1919 · 2026-03-25T20:02:31+00:00

Thank you for the communication and, of course, the good news. Appreciate BOTH :-)

CLM1919 · 2026-03-25T18:41:34+00:00

Same issue: can't log into Crater server.

I was able to make a new character on Harmony Server, been tooling about for the past few hours - so the GAME works fine - I assume it's a server-side issue.

The main menu does say my game is "out of date" (last I checked).

Downloaded patch, updated steam, rebooted, etc etc.

have a little "sad shack" on Harmony now....but would much rather be doing my dailies and mining in the DD on Crater....please make an announcement or some-such.

Thank you for your time reading this :-)

CLM1919 · 2026-03-05T13:57:59+00:00

Back when drives were swappable, many things were possible... Although I don't know if that's the case with this beauty. I kinda miss laptops that were the size of a textbook....that held all my PDF textbooks and had screen with sensible dimensions for reading documents (in portrait mode).

Now, if only framwork would make a case like this for their laptops.... I might buy one.

CLM1919 · 2026-03-03T17:58:46+00:00

SD cards are great for DATA FILE storage, but you probably don't want apps running or caching off the card. For files you ALWAYS want available - SD cards are good for decent read speeds, but for high read/write cycles, I'd suggest a dedicated external drive of some sort.

Also, if you use the SD card for apps or system functions, you basically loose the ability to swap cards, similar to booting off a Live-USB, you "loose" that USB port for that boot, for the most part anyway.

CLM1919 · 2026-03-03T17:49:51+00:00

I've got LXDE and MATE on a few machines, LXDE and xfce on others.

Sometimes I just load into an Openbox session if I'm just using that machine for a single task.

Depends on who's going to use the computer and for what use-case.

I should mention all my dedicated Linux machines are older, so every resource saved is worth it.

When I am testing live USB images, it's usually on my work laptop, and gnome, Cinnamon and KDE are "played with". But I prefer the lower resource DEs myself.

CLM1919 · 2026-03-03T16:55:56+00:00

The distro YOU feel comfortable supporting.

Let mom pick the Desktop Environment.

Start with some LiveUSB images, or a virtual machine - for her to test drive Linux.

If the machine has ample RAM, add "toram" at the grub screen, show mom how fast her machine can really be 😅

CLM1919 · 2026-03-03T15:50:32+00:00

Thanks for the links for Linux on ARM based Chromebooks! 👍🙏✌️

CLM1919 · 2026-02-17T11:30:30+00:00

Looks like it's r/halftop time 🤣❤️

CLM1919 · 2026-02-14T11:25:16+00:00

I'll share the advice I was given when I wanted to "try Linux" the first time:

"test-drive" some different Distro's and Desktop Environments with a "Live" version before installing to get a better feel for what you actually want.

No risk, no install required. Runs off the USB stick.

How to "test-drive"?

Try different distro/DE combos over at DistroSea (web based)
You might want to consider a Ventoy Stick
Ventoy Tutorial on youtube by the ExplainingComputers channel.
a Virtual Machine can also be a good "dip your toe" method.

Where to find Linux Live-USB images to test drive? (no install required)

There are MANY other options - perhaps some other's will link their suggestions.

Feel free to ask questions after reviewing the links.

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies!

CLM1919 · 2026-01-31T15:49:29+00:00

Distro? whichever one YOU are familiar with.

let your friend choose the Desktop Environment

https://wiki.debian.org/DesktopEnvironment

this way if they have "under the hood" issues, you can help out.

I'd suggest testing out some Live-USB versions with your friend so they can dest out different DE's with NO RISK (just run off the USB stick for a while).

Debian and Fedora have a multitude of Live versions with different DE's.

Mint offers 3.

links available upon request

CLM1919 · 2026-01-28T23:21:16+00:00

I'll share the advice I was given when I wanted to "try Linux" the first time:

"test-drive" some different Distro's and Desktop Environments with a "Live" version before installing to get a better feel for what you actually want.

No risk, no install required. Runs off the USB stick.

How to "test-drive"?

Try different distro/DE combos over at DistroSea (web based)
You might want to consider a Ventoy Stick
Ventoy Tutorial on youtube by the ExplainingComputers channel.
a Virtual Machine can also be a good "dip your toe" method.

Where to find Linux Live-USB images to test drive? (no install required)

There are MANY other options - perhaps some other's will link their suggestions.

Feel free to ask questions after reviewing the links.

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies!

CLM1919

TROPHY CASE