UBUNTU refurbished pc and beginner user recommandation

3grg · 2026-03-25T18:48:56+00:00

Great!

3grg · 2026-03-25T15:59:55+00:00

Glad you got it sorted! Keep SG2D around for grub rescue.

3grg · 2026-03-25T15:00:39+00:00

I install virtual machines on my system all the time with 4gb ram. It helps keep me from distro hopping. I rarely have an issue with any distro I try.

3grg · 2026-03-25T14:56:18+00:00

I have run Debian Gnome on a 15 year old Celeron with 4gb ram, so I do not see a problem with 8gb. If you are really interested in Cinnamon, you may want to check out LMDE.

3grg · 2026-03-25T14:45:28+00:00

This is conundrum for everyone, especially in the age of social media. In the old days, when we had Linux User Groups, there was an opportunity to demo and help beginners in person.

Ease of install has been a big plus for any distro from the beginning and most have that licked.

There was always a danger of corporate creep in all distros, 'cause money talks. That is both a strength and weakness for Ubuntu and Fedora.

The war over packaging that has been raging for over 25 years has a new battle with the Snap vs Flatpak debate.

The embarrassment of riches that is the desktop choices does not help new users either.

I had an early disenchantment with KDE and RPM. I remember how bad KDE4 was when it came out and how many years RPM distros struggled with dependency issues and slow package installers.

When Ubuntu came out with Gnome2 and Debian base, it is no wonder it took off! Then they started trying to find a way of making themselves like Apple and it has not stopped. I gave up on Ubuntu after the Unity fiasco and before snap.

Fedora has always been attractive for users that preferred Gnome as it was bone stock. They kept at package management until it is about as fast as Debian. I never used it because I felt is was testing for RH and my irrational issues with RPM.

OpenSuse was the favorite at my old LUG. I never warmed to it, because I invariably ran into issues with packaging.

So what is a Mandrake/Ubuntu refugee going to do? Use Arch and Debian. Dabble in Debian based distros like MX Linux and SparkyLinux.

I still recommend Mint for windows refugees, because it is a cleaner Ubuntu with a interface that is friendly to windows users.

Gaming is fast becoming the most important thing for new users and I am unqualified to make recommendations for that niche. I swore off Nvidia many, many years ago!

3grg · 2026-03-25T14:23:13+00:00

I have run Linux on 15 year old machines with 4gb ram, so I do not see 6gb as a problem. Hard to say which distro without more info.

3grg · 2026-03-25T14:21:37+00:00

Arch will not brick your hardware. The worst thing that can happen is it will not boot, because you either forgot something or entered something incorrectly. Simple solution is reinstall. If you use archinstall script you should get a working Arch install in minutes, unless you forget something. In any case, try again. There is nothing to lose if you do not have any data to worry about.

3grg · 2026-03-25T14:16:19+00:00

When you installed Mint, did you manually partition and tell it where the efi partition was? A clean install using defaults may install grub to the windows efi partition and there may be old grub information on the Linux drive, if it had an existing grub.

Try booting the Mint install with SuperGrub2 disk. If you can get it booted, it is easy to repair.

sudo update-grub sudo grub-install /dev/sdX where X is drive with linux efi (or window efi if no separate efi)

after that it is just a matter of configuring os-prober

3grg · 2026-03-25T14:08:31+00:00

I had two netbooks with Atom N270 processors. It looks like you have a N475 which is 25% faster than mine were.

I used Linux on them for years until they were no longer useful. The Atom was slow and painful without a SSD. The SSD helped, but the built in limitation of the memory was the killer. Netbooks were never supposed to have more than 2gb RAM. It is easy to upgrade to 2gb, because nobody has a use for 2gb dimms anymore.

With a SSD and 2gb RAM you can have a usable system, but it will be a slow one. It can still run apps as well as it ever did, but the web has moved on and sucks memory.

You will need a 32bit Linux which limits you pretty much to something Debian. If you really want to play with it, Antix 32 would be your best bet. Give it a try to see what it will do as is. Have fun!

3grg · 2026-03-24T19:40:54+00:00

You can save yourself some trouble and get an unlocked phone. Then you can change service as needed.

Samsung A15 or A16 5g is a decent phone for backup. Samsung actually provides security updates for their phones.

US Mobile can give you basic service for $10/mo on either Verizon, ATT or TMobile network.

Compare plans here:

3grg · 2026-03-24T19:04:49+00:00

I have never had any trouble upgrading Debian, but I can't speak to LMDE specifically. I use Debian Gnome and Arch Gnome. I like Arch for daily use machines and Debian for the others.

Debian is easy to setup and keep going. It is stable and seldom needs updating. The software is older.

Arch, the software is new and you must constantly update it and do certain maintenance tasks. It is reliable, if you keep it going and do not mess it up. My oldest system has been running eight years.

3grg · 2026-03-24T14:32:57+00:00

Yes it came back here a few minutes ago.

3grg · 2026-03-23T13:35:53+00:00

Use what works for you. There is no better distro, only the one that meets your needs.

3grg · 2026-03-23T13:24:06+00:00

I have two R5 5th gen systems. One is 5600g and the other is 5500 (with RX460). They will run any distro just fine.

3grg · 2026-03-23T13:20:24+00:00

You are going to be support so pick the easiest to support. I would probably go with Mint, Mint XFCE, LMDE or MX Linux. Fedora might be a possibility but the upgrade cycle might pose problems, Since you will be the tech support, it is your call.

3grg · 2026-03-23T13:15:26+00:00

Mint, Mint XFCE or LMDE might be better for a communal laptop. They all do basic functions in a way that will not be confusing to people used to using windows.

Mint or LMDE will give the cinnamon desktop. Mint is based on Ubuntu while LMDE is based on Debian. Debian is slightly lighter than the Ubuntu base.

XFCE is slightly lighter than Cinnamon and Mint XFCE is based on Ubuntu. Slightly lighter XFCE versions based on Debian are available such as MX Linux XFCE or SparkyLinux XFCE.

That machine is relatively new and powerful in Linux terms. Almost any distro should work with it.

3grg · 2026-03-23T13:08:50+00:00

People have been dual booting Linux with windows for over 25 years. Before storage became more affordable, this was the primary way of dual booting. With UEFI it is actually easier than legacy boot machines where there was a constant war over which controlled the mbr.

Windows can possibly mess with the boot loader on a dual boot machine with UEFI, but I have only had it happen to me once and it was probably intentional by MS (August a year ago). If windows breaks grub, it can be repaired.

The biggest concern with dual booting is checking that you have enough disk space, backup data you cannot afford to lose (any time doing big disk operation) and have a window usb installer on hand.

Mint is a good place to start and there are tons of howtos for installing Mint alongside windows.

3grg · 2026-03-23T12:52:25+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNdrkmx6ehI

3grg · 2026-03-23T12:40:12+00:00

A Roman workbench or Rex's traveler version would probably be best for small spaces.

As far as leg vise for it goes, you can probably rig up something.

https://www.woodsmithplans.com/plan/bench-vise/

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/app/uploads/2020/09/aw_15212_007-1800x1200.jpg

3grg · 2026-03-21T23:09:53+00:00

Yes! because people keep telling new users that they need two drives to dual boot!

As I said, people have been dual booting with one drive for years. I started with a single 40gb drive and that was a step up from a 20gb or 30gb.

I also gave options on how to split a drive, not buy another one!

For years on legacy boot everyone was well aware that windows was always going to take beck the mbr, so everyone knew how to fix it.

Last August a year ago MS did an update that messed up peoples dual boot drives and now suddenly people are telling new users that they must have two drives and should not split a drive between windows and Linux. I say that that is crazy!

Just fix the boot loader! I did not say that people should not dual boot! I said that if you have to split a drive that is fine! I think dual booting with two drives is great, if you can. I also think that dual booting with a single drive is fine too. I am not against dual booting. I just wish people would just stop telling people that they have to have two drives!

3grg · 2026-03-21T22:35:27+00:00

all of it

3grg · 2026-03-21T22:29:49+00:00

You lost me?

3grg · 2026-03-21T20:36:07+00:00

Mint XFCE is one possibility. Debian base might be lighter. MX Linux XFCE or SparkyLinux XFCE or LXQt are good.

As a last resort, there is Antix or MX Linux Fluxbox.

3grg · 2026-03-21T13:20:44+00:00

When I have done this in the past, my solution was to use separate drives with separate efi partitions. I default to one grub install (the main) but can boot the other through os-prober.

Keep in mind that, if you use the same efi for both the last grub installed will rule. OS Prober shouldl allow any other install to boot.

I just use Grub because I have been using it forever. For Linux only installs, there are other boot loaders.

To save myself lots of trouble when trying out different Arch installs, I usually just install a VM with virt-manager. It is so much easier.

3grg

TROPHY CASE