Getting rid of Windows (going to Linux really)

[Luc]

I have this old computer (maybe 10 years old) collecting dust in the corner of the room. I'm not 100% sure of what's inside but it was all right for what I was doing until the Windows updates stopped and it became way too slow.

Back when I was in school (that's a long time ago) I had some classes on Linux/Unix and the os worked all right.

I tried a partition on a USB stick of Ubuntu years ago (I misplaced the stick now) and it worked well. Slow (because it lived on the USB) but I liked it. The interface was better than what I had at school(no interface).

Anyways, what do I do with this? I go on the web using a web browser. I use the odd application like KeePass but I see that it should be fairly easy to install on any Linux based system. If not, there are virtual machines that I could run to emulate Windows but I rather not do that.

I was leaning toward Ubuntu again but saw that Mint is recommended quite a bit. I would place my knowledge between zero and 1 for Linux. I know a few commands but I mainly want to use a web browser. So it needs to be straightforward.

Any recommendations for Linux?

 

[mikhou]

I ran a Linux box for years and would still do so if I weren't primarily using my employer's laptop. So if it were me, I'd opt for either Linux Mint Debian Edition (click here LMDE) or Crunchbang++ (click here Crunchbang++). LMDE will be more user friendly, but Crunchbang++ is still easy to use and will be leaner and faster. But Linux distros are like razors, blades, and soaps...YMMV.

 

[silverlifter]

Mint is a great intro to Linux. Keepass is in the repos so you can install it an import your data easily. Everything else just works.

I set it up for my mother in law years ago and it ended my tech support calls...

 

[Quaznoid]

I have this old computer (maybe 10 years old) collecting dust in the corner of the room. I'm not 100% sure of what's inside but it was all right for what I was doing until the Windows updates stopped and it became way too slow.

Back when I was in school (that's a long time ago) I had some classes on Linux/Unix and the os worked all right.

I tried a partition on a USB stick of Ubuntu years ago (I misplaced the stick now) and it worked well. Slow (because it lived on the USB) but I liked it. The interface was better than what I had at school(no interface).

Anyways, what do I do with this? I go on the web using a web browser. I use the odd application like KeePass but I see that it should be fairly easy to install on any Linux based system. If not, there are virtual machines that I could run to emulate Windows but I rather not do that.

I was leaning toward Ubuntu again but saw that Mint is recommended quite a bit. I would place my knowledge between zero and 1 for Linux. I know a few commands but I mainly want to use a web browser. So it needs to be straightforward.

Any recommendations for Linux?

I have no idea what you’re talking about

 

[Eben Stone]

Can't go wrong with either Ubuntu or Mint.

Unless you're experimenting with some fringe distro, the choice of distro isn't all that important unless you connect a printer and expect it to work.

 

[noodles hovar]

I've been running Linux Mint on a sub $200 HP laptop I picked up for that purpose for about 3 years now.
Bulletproof, does everything I need, especially living in Google Docs Land.

Some websites sell distros right on a USB thumb drive. I found a boot/install utility (Rufus) and it handled all the steps nicely. The trick is telling your computer's boot settings what you're trying to do.

I found a user site or maybe a YouTube for my distro/laptop and after a few stabs I was in.

Keep us posted with what you wind up with!!

 

[noodles hovar]

Can't go wrong with either Ubuntu or Mint.

Unless you're experimenting with some fringe distro, the choice of distro isn't all that important unless you connect a printer and expect it to work.

I must be a lucky duck. My Mint distro instantly found my Brother wireless printer/scanner and just started working,

Not like the old days with CUPS and crazy tweaking!

 

[Kix]

I've been using Mint for a couple of years and love it. No forced updates, no weird new thingie Microsoft wants to put on the task bar without asking.
Mint found my network and wifi printer, no problem. It's been very stable and easy to use.

When support ends for Windows 10, my other two computers will be switched over to Mint.

YMMV

 

[DesertIguana]

I ran an E-mac almost 20 YEARS, replaced it. Put the E-mac on E-bay, for local sale, and it sold to Competer Technology student, who flipped out when I deliver it to him, with printer, back up discs, he was so happy.

 

[c__port]

Do not be afraid to make mistakes - try a few different flavors, and learn from mistakes as you test them out.

Mint is a great choice for midgrade or better hardware, and makes a transition from Windows as painless as possible. It may be somewhat clunky on older hardware unless you pick the XFCE distro. I would not recommend KDE or gnome for older hardware. The good news is that you can try a distro and if you don't like it, wipe and start over.

Don't buy a stick with a preinstall image - use Rufus as suggested earlier. It goes against the grain of participation in learn-as-you-go linux adoption, imo.

 

[Lightcs1776]

I moved from Window to Linux a couple of decades ago. I now have a Mac. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

 

[mikhou]

Do not be afraid to make mistakes - try a few different flavors, and learn from mistakes as you test them out.

Mint is a great choice for midgrade or better hardware, and makes a transition from Windows as painless as possible. It may be somewhat clunky on older hardware unless you pick the XFCE distro. I would not recommend KDE or gnome for older hardware.

That's why I suggested LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition). It's leaner and faster than the vanilla Linux Mint. That's also why I suggested Crunchbang++. It's based on vanilla Debian but has an Openbox desktop which is super fast.

And @Luc , you said that your knowledge is 0 to 1, but don't worry if you don't know these terms, the vast majority of Linux distros that are recommended will be plug and play. And if something doesn't work, Google is your friend!

 

[Luc]

One last specification that I forgot. I use a switch box between my work computer and personal computer. Work supplied me with 2 screens so I use them on my personal computer when I'm not working with the switch box. It happens that I switch from one to another when both computers are on (switch the screens/mouse/keyboard). Of course, the mouse and keyboard are usb.

I hope that Linux has some plug and pray type of thing that re-discover "new" hardware while running. Anyways...

The graphic version (I believe refered to as gnome) should work. Since I ran on that same computer a usb/bootable version of ubuntu with the graphic interface, I don't see why it wouldn't work.

I might need to get a 3 way switch box at that rate...

I pulled the dust off the old computer. The sticker says (I never upgraded anything so it should be it). Acer Aspire Ax3990-ES10P. It ran with Windows 7 64-bit, Intel i3 processor 2120. Intel HD graphics. 6gb ddr3 memory, 1.5tb hd (not ssd)

So far, I'm leaning more toward Linux Mint Cinnamon since it's the most popular and the desktop looks a lot like Windows so I won't be too lost.

As for knowledge of Linux, I saw that I can access a lot of websites with tutorials on how to install a particular software or how to operate the OS. As I said, I probably won't be doing anything too complicated. It's mainly to browse the web (95% of what I do). I will likely install Chrome and that's it.

Thank you all, so far, very helpful.

 

[emwolf]

I have no idea what you’re talking about

it's like they're talking in code!

 

[Omega48]

I used UBUNTO for years on a couple computers, before moving to Apple (for all devices). I would not hesitate to use it again if I had a Windows based PC.

 

[cranewarrior]

One last specification that I forgot. I use a switch box between my work computer and personal computer. Work supplied me with 2 screens so I use them on my personal computer when I'm not working with the switch box. It happens that I switch from one to another when both computers are on (switch the screens/mouse/keyboard). Of course, the mouse and keyboard are usb.

I hope that Linux has some plug and pray type of thing that re-discover "new" hardware while running. Anyways...

The graphic version (I believe refered to as gnome) should work. Since I ran on that same computer a usb/bootable version of ubuntu with the graphic interface, I don't see why it wouldn't work.

I might need to get a 3 way switch box at that rate...

I pulled the dust off the old computer. The sticker says (I never upgraded anything so it should be it). Acer Aspire Ax3990-ES10P. It ran with Windows 7 64-bit, Intel i3 processor 2120. Intel HD graphics. 6gb ddr3 memory, 1.5tb hd (not ssd)

So far, I'm leaning more toward Linux Mint Cinnamon since it's the most popular and the desktop looks a lot like Windows so I won't be too lost.

As for knowledge of Linux, I saw that I can access a lot of websites with tutorials on how to install a particular software or how to operate the OS. As I said, I probably won't be doing anything too complicated. It's mainly to browse the web (95% of what I do). I will likely install Chrome and that's it.

Thank you all, so far, very helpful.

With that little ram of 6GB, I think you would have a better experience running an XFCE desktop environment. Cinnamon is heavier, and remember a modern web browser is the main hog that sucks up system resources, so it is best to conserve ram as much as possible with your system processes so you can still browse websites in Chrome/Firefox/whatever. You also want to make sure to install a browser extension like AdBlock which will save you a lot of resources by preventing those pesky ads from being loaded.

You will want to stay away from distros that push you to use Snap or Flatpak as a way of acquiring software instead of just installing to disk normally through the built-in package manager. Snap and Flatpak really run the programs through a sandbox and start-up times and performance generally are slower.

Maybe look at Linux Mint XFCE or PeppermintOS? Both are Windows-refugee friendly and do not push Snap. Both are XFCE based (I think PeppermintOS also has Openbox elements which is lightweight too - been a while since I used it, but it was awesome for me on old hardware).

 

[c__port]

So far, I'm leaning more toward Linux Mint Cinnamon since it's the most popular and the desktop looks a lot like Windows so I won't be too lost.

Cinnamon is KDE, which is the closest to Windows in many ways, including bloat and resource requirements. IF it doesn't go as expected, try the XFCE build.

 

[cranewarrior]

Cinnamon is KDE, which is the closest to Windows in many ways, including bloat and resource requirements. IF it doesn't go as expected, try the XFCE build.

It started out as a fork of GNOME years ago because Clement L wanted to be able to maintain the interface the same way GNOME 2 allowed, but GNOME3 at the time was incapable of. GNOME is currently the heaviest desktop environment, and I believe Clement's team has improved Cinnamon to where it is more performant than straight GNOME.

With that said, KDE has also streamlined considerably. It used to be the Linux hog on ram and CPU cycles and now is very efficient. If you want to try a KDE distro, I like EndeavourOS a lot, but arguably more care/maintenance/Linux knowledge is required to run a rolling release distro than a point release one like Linux Mint or PeppermintOS.

 

[House Boy]

it's like they're talking in code!

Isn't there a rule that the forums here have to make sense to everyone?

 

[Luc]

Isn't there a rule that the forums here have to make sense to everyone?

I like tacos!