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Post by Lonely on Feb 21, 2021 11:24:39 GMT
Have an elderly - PB Dot SE Netbook circa 2011/12 - with an Intel Atom @ 1.5ghz with 2Gb ram. W10 has over time, taken its toll and it now really struggles to cope.
So, rather than leave to gather dust on a shelf, I've spent some time on-and-off looking things up and the Linux OS types seem good to bring it back to life.
Having looked at the many, many various OS freebies, I've found it all a wee bit confusing? I know the 'one hat fits all' doesn't work for every-body, but if anyone has gone through the gauntlet and can pass on some tips from their experience regards systems driver issues etc., it would be appreciated.
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Post by jenesuispasbavard on Feb 21, 2021 13:50:29 GMT
I've installed Xubuntu on an ancient HP Stream 7 windows tablet alson with an Intel Atom CPU. Works well - it's a lightweight version of Ubuntu. Keep in mind that you may need a 32-bit bootloader and Xubuntu 20.10 only includes a 64-bit one. But try it anyway! I used Rufus to write the Xubuntu image to a USB drive and just booted from that to install.
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Post by Lonely on Feb 21, 2021 15:40:59 GMT
I've installed Xubuntu on an ancient HP Stream 7 windows tablet alson with an Intel Atom CPU. Works well - it's a lightweight version of Ubuntu. Keep in mind that you may need a 32-bit bootloader and Xubuntu 20.10 only includes a 64-bit one. But try it anyway! I used Rufus to write the Xubuntu image to a USB drive and just booted from that to install. Thanks for the quick reply. 👍 I'm almost sure my W10 version is 64bit... but will need to check it out. I did read up about Rufus and have spare USB / SD cards. The biggest problem(s) I can foresee might be down to a lack of system drivers? |
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Post by 888 on Feb 21, 2021 21:46:07 GMT
Here's a web page that gives a few suggestions for linux installs on Atom devices. www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-lightweight-linux-distros-ideal-intel-atom-processor-pc/I haven't really installed a small footprint Linux version on an older machine, but most of my machines run Linux Mint, and I highly recommend it. As long as you choose the MATE or Xfce versions they should be worth a try. Puppy Linux looks interesting on older machines, and might be worth trying if the lighter versions of Ubuntu or Mint wont work. Have fun experimenting  |
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Post by Lonely on Feb 22, 2021 8:47:39 GMT
Here's a web page that gives a few suggestions for linux installs on Atom devices. www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-lightweight-linux-distros-ideal-intel-atom-processor-pc/I haven't really installed a small footprint Linux version on an older machine, but most of my machines run Linux Mint, and I highly recommend it. As long as you choose the MATE or Xfce versions they should be worth a try. Puppy Linux looks interesting on older machines, and might be worth trying if the lighter versions of Ubuntu or Mint wont work. Have fun experimenting Thanks for that. Most of it is gobbledy-geek to me but with nothing else to fill the void it will either help keep me sane, or drive me insane.  One of the +'s is that I can try any selected items out beforehand on my main laptop. The only thing I'm not sure of is the issue of drivers? Reading between the lines, I'm guessing it won't be an issue? Ah well! Nothing ventured, nothing gained, once more into the breech, and all that jazz.  |
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Post by Lonely on Feb 22, 2021 12:47:58 GMT
Had a shufti through your link and eventually managed to find a source of Linux Mint with all three versions. Cinnamon, MATE and Xcfe in 32/64bit versions with options to try and/or install over W10. Decided to get both versions as not sure if the Atom processor is 32 or 64bit? Seems Intel used both at one time, then later reverted back to 32bit??? Will update when I get sorted out. Thanks to all for the help. 👍 |
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Post by 888 on Feb 22, 2021 21:02:23 GMT
I'd stay away from Cinnamon with older machines though. Its more intensive on the hardware.
If theses versions of Mint or the lighter versions of Ubuntu don't run smoothly, then Puppy seems like a good alternative.
As for drivers, I've never really found much of a problem, particularly with Mint and Ubuntu. Everything just tends to work.
You can find just about every version of Linux to download here.....
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Post by Bozo on Feb 22, 2021 23:11:48 GMT
have only messed about a couple of times with Linux but i found Mint to be the most 'windows' like and easy to find your way around. still a pain. Gave up - too much hassle. Found Ubunto to be awfull hated it , it lasted about 2 days.
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Post by Lonely on Feb 23, 2021 12:19:31 GMT
have only messed about a couple of times with Linux but i found Mint to be the most 'windows' like and easy to find your way around. still a pain. Gave up - too much hassle. Found Ubunto to be awfull hated it , it lasted about 2 days. This will be my first foray into an OS outside the Gates empire. As the PB rig has sat idle on and off for the last year or so, the idea to X-upgrade, given C19 seemed a good idea to fill in the extra wasted hours. Should have thought it out when the long night were here. Still wading through the links etc, from Jenesuispasbavard and 888 regard Linux OSs and making notes. Found out I have the Intel 64bit Atom processor but limited to 2Gb Ram because of it. Ram limited to 2GB anyway as MB has the same limitation. Another option appears to be using an Android OS? Have downloaded Rufus and an ISO image of Linux Puppy OS, so have something to trial out during rehab after my new knee op in March. |
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Post by jenesuispasbavard on Feb 23, 2021 12:47:16 GMT
While the processor is 64-bit-capable, your netbook's bootloader may be 32-bit-only, and won't boot from a modern Ubuntu-based distribution that only includes a 64-bit bootloader. My experience with this issue comes from this very useful thread: h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Windows/Linux-on-the-HP-Stream-tablet/m-p/6675613#M22871 (and especially check out the "Create a Ubuntu live USB to boot on the Stream's 32-bit UEFI firmware" section). Good luck! Running Linux instead of Windows on this ancient tablet has been game-changing for its usefulness in 2020/2021. Running Windows 8.1/10 on 1GB of RAM is not fun. |
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Post by Lonely on Feb 23, 2021 20:29:47 GMT
While the processor is 64-bit-capable, your netbook's bootloader may be 32-bit-only... Have already picked up on that issue. The Atom is 64bit, but limits PC ram to 2Gb. The the max hardware onboard ram is 2Gb which I upgraded to some time back. HD is 250Gb so no problem there. The Installed W10 OS is also 32bit which gave the hint that a 32bit OS is to be used. Have ordered a copy of 32 and 64bit as mentioned above. Am presently struggling with Rufus as the links I've found are totally different to the new Rufus 3.13 version? Finding some coherent instructions is my next mission impossible... should I decide accept it. |
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Post by Lonely on Feb 25, 2021 11:03:42 GMT
👍 Ground control to Major Tom, Linux installed and Windows gone. Have installed the Cinnamon 32bit version, basically to see how it compares with W10? In a nut-shell, it is a lot smoother in use. Started at 8am by making the USB bootable via W10, then used a different proggie - Win32diskimager - to carry out the ISO transfer. Finished around 10:30 including time out for breakfast and downloading and installing all the updates found by the new OS.
Am now finding my way about and when the lighter version arrives, I'll carry out another install to the MATE or Xcfe version.
Using it at the mo to post this. 👍
Thanks to everyone for the info and tips which really helped things move along.
Addendum: Have spent the best part of the day on-off and am impressed at how smooth it has been. No stuttering or issues with downloads etc. As for driver issues... all were apparently taken care of as no problems found or reported by the new OS. 👍 |
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