Getting rid of Windows (going to Linux really)

[Luc]

Victory is mine! After a lot of playing around with Wine/PlayonLinux and so on, I was able to make my stuff work. It works well but I never heard the fan running so high in that computer. The CPUs went up to 75C (84C are high and 112C are critical.

So, I will use it in small increments. The rest works well but it wasn't easy.

I guess my next step is to backup my main computer (with a SSD drive) and flash it!

Thanks all for the help.

 

[noodles hovar]

Victory is mine! After a lot of playing around with Wine/PlayonLinux and so on, I was able to make my stuff work. It works well but I never heard the fan running so high in that computer. The CPUs went up to 75C (84C are high and 112C are critical.

So, I will use it in small increments. The rest works well but it wasn't easy.

I guess my next step is to backup my main computer (with a SSD drive) and flash it!

Thanks all for the help.

Getting something to work on Windows just doesn't provide the same rush as getting Linux lined up.

 

[ivan_101]

Here is some advice from someone who has been using Linux for 21 years. I run a desktop PC with many HDDs and use Windows + a few Linux distros in a multiple boot. Linux Mint, Kubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Debian and openSUSE.

The Linux Mint Cinnamon you chose is a good thing. With time they made the Cinnamon better and better. But even though you only intend to use the Linux for browsing, be ready to face situations when you wouldn't be able to do something. Even if you read for an hour about possible solutions on internet.

I see you already have some good results, so keep it going.

 

[noodles hovar]

Victory is mine! After a lot of playing around with Wine/PlayonLinux and so on, I was able to make my stuff work. It works well but I never heard the fan running so high in that computer. The CPUs went up to 75C (84C are high and 112C are critical.

So, I will use it in small increments. The rest works well but it wasn't easy.

I guess my next step is to backup my main computer (with a SSD drive) and flash it!

Thanks all for the help.

Re: hot CPU maybe this article could help. It mentions identifying processes incurring a high CPU load and then a command line solution to limit the offending process.

https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-limit-cpu-usage-of-a-process-in-linux-with-cpulimit/

 

[Luc]

I used the command: sensors

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Package id 0: +51.0°C (high = +82.0°C, crit = +102.0°C)
Core 0: +51.0°C (high = +82.0°C, crit = +102.0°C)
Core 1: +51.0°C (high = +82.0°C, crit = +102.0°C)

That's at the moment, I only have YouTube music running (and B&B, both in Chromium). I thought I saw 112C yesterday for critical. I was probably mistaken and this is the right value (copy-paste doesn't lie normally).

I read the article regarding the CPUs overheating and limiting their access. I think that I will backup my newer computer. I will then kill Windows on it (the updates will stop somewhere in 2025 since the machine is not strong enough). That newer one has an SSD disk so it should be faster (more memory, stronger CPU, etc.).

I installed a few tweaks and it's running well so far. I did the command line update. It seems to be faster than using the GUI.

Small tweaks like having num-lock on when booting (there's a package for that). Everything seems customizable. I will wait a bit before I kill Windows but I won't see why I should stay on Windows.

 

[mikhou]

Sounds like you're enjoying tinkering and are learning a lot. Stick with it, and you'll end up with an OS that you really enjoy. I'm on a Mac now and so I don't tinker like I used to, but this thread has definitely gotten me to thinking about installing a linux distro on an old laptop to play around with. As I said earlier, I ran only a Linux OS for years and really enjoyed it.

 

[Doc Dan]

Once you go Mac you'll never go back.



(sorry. I couldn't resist )

 

[mikhou]

Once you go Mac you'll never go back.



(sorry. I couldn't resist )

I'd never had one until my employer gave me one. I know that you were joking, but I'll say that it works and works well. The things that I like about it are 1) battery life, 2) cohesion of the system across devices, and 3) it doesn't seem to bog down like my Windows machine did. But I also liked #1 and #2 about my Linux systems back in the day. While I don't dislike Windows, it just becomes more and more resource heavy over time. Somehow Mac and Linux have streamlined that quite a bit. But, as always, YMMV and that's JMHO.

 

[Luc]

I tried on the USB stick Zorin 17.1 r2. I like that one too. Maybe because it sounds like a supervillain... The look is a lot like Windows (like Linux Mint). There were a few apps that were pre-loaded in Mint that were not in Zorin and vice-versa.

Zorin seems heavier with all the modifications that were done to the graphic interface but that might be me. I will read on that one a lot more.

 

[Doc Dan]

I'd never had one until my employer gave me one. I know that you were joking, but I'll say that it works and works well. The things that I like about it are 1) battery life, 2) cohesion of the system across devices, and 3) it doesn't seem to bog down like my Windows machine did. But I also liked #1 and #2 about my Linux systems back in the day. While I don't dislike Windows, it just becomes more and more resource heavy over time. Somehow Mac and Linux have streamlined that quite a bit. But, as always, YMMV and that's JMHO.

Windows and PC's, two things that remind me of rutabagas and caster oil. My wife and I got so sick of both that we went Mac and never looked back. No regrets at all. I've still got a twelve year old MacBook Pro that still works flawlessly. I keep it because of the CD player, though I have a new machine.

 

[Luc]

Quick update, I've installed multiple distros in the last few days and I keep going back to Linux Mint Cinnamon edition. I now have some kind of a script written to update/upgrade the packages, turn on the firewall, download a few apps that I use and notes on fixing a few things that I don't like on the desktop (and so on). In the end, when I reinstall the whole thing, it's always the same things that I set or reinstall. So, since everything is a sequence, I found the commands and run them via the terminal (most of it).

That option of running stuff via the terminal is so much faster compared to the GUI. Don't get me wrong, that are things that I do via the GUI because it's easier or I couldn't be bothered to find the command somewhere on google.

I think that Mint is the one that I will use long term. There was a few things that I couldn't figure out with Mint XFCE. There's probably a way to make it work (it's all Linux after all) but it was easier with Cinnamon so I will stick to that one.

The try before you buy option (with a USB stick) is really nice. I love that thing.

In order to help my CPU from overheating I removed the lid. It may or may not help. There's a lot of dust in there. I probably need to use the vacuum cleaner in there (gently) to get most of the dust out. My 2 cats don't help for sure.

Next step is finish all my backups from the most recent computer that I have and I will then move towards Linux.

 

[silverlifter]

I probably need to use the vacuum cleaner in there (gently) to get most of the dust out.

Compressed air can is a lot safer, and more effective. Vacuum's can create static, and that can wreak havoc.

 

[Luc]

Compressed air can is a lot safer, and more effective. Vacuum's can create static, and that can wreak havoc.

Normally I would use a can of compressed air but don't have any at home. The next best thing is probably the air compressor in the garage.

 

[c__port]

Normally I would use a can of compressed air but don't have any at home. The next best thing is probably the air compressor in the garage.

Compressor is far better. Canned air has freon as a propellant, and can lower the temp of chips fast enough to cause fissures in silica.

 

[noodles hovar]

Quick update, I've installed multiple distros in the last few days and I keep going back to Linux Mint Cinnamon edition. I now have some kind of a script written to update/upgrade the packages, turn on the firewall, download a few apps that I use and notes on fixing a few things that I don't like on the desktop (and so on). In the end, when I reinstall the whole thing, it's always the same things that I set or reinstall. So, since everything is a sequence, I found the commands and run them via the terminal (most of it).

That option of running stuff via the terminal is so much faster compared to the GUI. Don't get me wrong, that are things that I do via the GUI because it's easier or I couldn't be bothered to find the command somewhere on google.

I think that Mint is the one that I will use long term. There was a few things that I couldn't figure out with Mint XFCE. There's probably a way to make it work (it's all Linux after all) but it was easier with Cinnamon so I will stick to that one.

The try before you buy option (with a USB stick) is really nice. I love that thing.

In order to help my CPU from overheating I removed the lid. It may or may not help. There's a lot of dust in there. I probably need to use the vacuum cleaner in there (gently) to get most of the dust out. My 2 cats don't help for sure.

Next step is finish all my backups from the most recent computer that I have and I will then move towards Linux.

....I removed the lid. It may or may not help. There's a lot of dust in there. I probably need to use the vacuum cleaner in there (gently) to get most of the dust out. My 2 cats don't help for sure.

Can't they at least hold the lid while you vac?

 

[GoodShave]

Just a quick post for the people reading this thread later who have never used Linux.

Some of the installation details in this thread are specialty installations for advanced users.

For people who just want to browse the Internet, listen to music, create office-style documents, etc. Linux Mint will do all of that out of the box and you will never have to use the command line for anything. Just like people can use Windows and never have to use the command prompt or regedit.

If you have ever tried to install Windows from scratch (including tracking down all the drivers for your specific hardware), you will appreciate the speed and ease of installing Linux Mint. Keep in mind some hardware vendors make hardware that expect you to be running Windows and rely on Windows for some of their functionality. That hardware will not work under Linux.

Also, some vendors don't supply Linux drivers to use their hardware (like some printer manufacturers). Some kind people have created drivers support printers that have no Linux drivers, but it is good to run a Linux disto in live mode (from a USB drive or DVD drive) before installing to see if all of your hardware is supported.

There are Linux distros that are tailored to very specific functions like video/audio production or creating a hardware firewalls as two examples. Linux Mint is a general purpose distro and a good place to start.

One of my favorite distros was Slackware as I could install as little or as much software as I wanted for the base installation. It definitely is not a distro for beginners and I learned quite a lot by using it. As life became busy, I found I just didn't have time to maintain my Slackware installations so I switched to Linux Mint for everyday use.

There are other good distros out there as a first distro to try. Don't let anyone dissuade from trying out Linux on an extra machine you have lying around. The new installers for many of these distros have made installations easy.

When you are told that your hardware is too old to run the next version of Windows (or your current version of Windows is no longer supported), give Linux a try.

 

[c__port]

Very good info, GoodShave! Thanks for simplifying the discussion a bit.

One of my favorite distros was Slackware as I could install as little or as much software as I wanted for the base installation. It definitely is not a distro for beginners and I learned quite a lot by using it.

I remember in the early 90s, Redhat at work, Slackware at home on dialup. I remember those days, but would recommend neither of those options currently!

Compiling hardware support into a kernel was trial-and-error. Compiling a Slackware kernel on a 386SX-33 took all night. I am super grateful for modular support (and faster hardware).

 

[Luc]

I first used a computer when I was 8 or 9 years old. I did pretty much everything from building a machine to install Windows (when it was on floppy disks).

I graduated in computer science and work with them everyday. I don’t play with the hardware as much as I used to but I’m not nervous on removing the panel and go in.

I haven’t used Linux since I went to school (before the year 2000). That’s why I’m not too confident on it.

There so much information online to get you going if you get stuck.

Out of all the installations that I ever did, Linux is one of the easiest and smoothest. If you have a usb stick, you can install the iso file on that stick and just try it.

Linux mint is very similar to windows (how it works and the looks). I am using the command line sometimes because it’s faster. I copy and paste the command, that simple.

The graphic interface works really well too.

When the setup is complete, that’s it. I can reinstall everything with the usb stick in 90 minutes (including my additional softwares and configurations).

I did not encounter any issues with my hardware yet.

Linux mint has a lot of stuff pre-installed like the libre office suite, something to listen to music, watch videos, Firefox, thunderbird, etc.

I can probably extend the life of my old computers for many more years.

 

[Star_Wahl_Clipper_Treker]

Lovely conversation here. The last Windows OS I used, was Windows 7, because that was literally the last good Windows OS, that Microsoft made. Everything went to garbage, when they came out with Windows 8, then 10, and now 11. Thats when their business model became to use you for their gains.

While in Windows 10, they had the feature to let you turn off all the privacy snooping, if you knew where to go to do that, in Windows 11, they had a recent update, that prevents you from doing that now. So if you use a system modern enough to use Windows 11, Microsoft are stealing you souls.

I've used several Linux distro's, Mandrake, Suse, Feren OS, Makulu Lindoz, Mint, POP OS, Zorin OS. Out of all of them, the ones that I liked most, were Zorin OS, and POP OS. I did a lot of distro hopping, to figure out what I like most, and what I wanted to stick with.

Mandrake and Suse just didn't work out for me years ago, perhaps not flushed out enough. Mint is great for a business office machine, but I did not like it for gaming and production workloads. Both Feren OS, and and Makulu Lindoz, I had issues with memory leaks, but overall the OS's looked decent.

I was on POP OS for at least a year, but their continuous kernel updates broke my installation, and now they are running a lesser then stellar version of Ubuntu, that IMO, violates open source and user choice, that is commonly a thing expected of Linux.

I first got into Zorin OS, back in the Zorin OS 9 days, I loved it, minus it filling up a buffer cash, that would brick the OS, until you cleared it. I then used Zorin OS 12, loved it even more, because they fixed the buffer cash getting filled up and not cleaned out. And now I am on Zorin OS 16, which is really awesome folks, love it.

They have Zorin OS 17 right now, but I wasn't interested in upgrading, while OS 16 still received security updates, and everything is working how I like it. I'm basically waiting for OS 18 to come out, then I will upgrade to that.

Zorin OS is my favorite, because its designed to do just about everything. It handles my general computer usage, as well as gaming, and production workloads, just fine. I have 0-interest in overly complicated Linux OS's, that require more of a programmers knowledge to operate them, like Arch for example.

 

[silverlifter]

I have 0-interest in overly complicated Linux OS's, that require more of a programmers knowledge to operate them, like Arch for example.

After using Arch since around 2010, I can say that it is not complicated; quite the opposite. It is one of the most simple distros. What is does not do is obfuscate the internals from the user. You are expected to be able to manage the system entirely as you see fit. If you do want to forego that control, you can just install GNOME or KDE and be done with it. But that is your choice.

My first Arch install was on a laptop that has since died. I replaced it with this one:

┌─[Comet ~]
└─╼ head -n1 /var/log/pacman.log
[2012-02-19 16:03] Running 'pacman -r /mnt -Sy --cachedir=/mnt/var/cache/pacman/pkg --noconfirm base base-devel'