Linux for a 2006 Asus laptop (lemmy.zip)

submitted 2 weeks ago by kekmacska@lemmy.zip to c/linux4noobs@programming.dev

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I digged out my dad's old business laptop from 2006. This Asus rust is almost as old as me. But it booted up a horribly slow Windows 7 Home Premium that is totally unusable. Takes 30-40 minutes to open Chrome. Here are the specs: 40 gb old hard drive that is suprisingly healthy (96℅ according to HDDsentinel, more than 1000 days left) 1.73 ghz Intel Celeron M single core cpu that wasn't exactly the fastest even in 2006 1.25 gb of terribly slow RAM American Megatrends BIOS from 2006 I know Linux can't do miracles, but are there any still supported distro i could install that would actually run better than this shitty windows stuff?

I found puppy slitaz antix tahrpup ArchBang Slax Delicate Damn Small Linux Absolute FunOS LegacyOS exe gnu/linux Do you know others? Or from these which you recommend if my goal is to create a relatively useable, faster computer, preferably while it doesn't look that awful (the desktop or wm). So usability>speed>looks But all these are very important, just in this order. Also recommend a desktop enviroment or a window manager that runs well, but doesn't look that awful and can be installed on these distros

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[-] kekmacska@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago

i want to have an usable computer, not something that freezes in every minute and fries itself. Because of this, windows 7, Debian, openSUSE is not taken into consideration. Just like Arch and Artix, since it is a 32bit computer, artix, arch doesn't have 32bit builds. Void can work, though

[-] DeltaWingDragon@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Another recommendation: Peppermint Linux, a lightweight Debian-based distro with XFCE as the desktop. Designed for older computers, and has a 32-bit version. Not to be confused with Linux Mint.

Safety info: Do not use Damn Small Linux, it is unmaintained and will not receive any security fixes.

About Debian, OpenSUSE not taken into consideration: Linux under-the-hood (not the desktop components) are fast even on old hardware. If you use a light DE/WM like XFCE or IceWM it will run quite smoothly. I have installed Debian on an old computer (2GB RAM, single core Celeron CPU, spinning HDD) and I have not noticed any significant slowdowns.

About Windows 7: I know it's absolutely unusable, I just don't want to see it destroyed. Like a rusted-out undriveable classic car that I don't want to see in a junkyard. Maybe copy the HDD image or something?

[-] kekmacska@lemmy.zip 0 points 1 week ago

I installed antix meanwhile, now can't connect to wifi

[-] DeltaWingDragon@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 hour ago

Do you have NetworkManager installed?
Do you have the right network driver?
Does this machine even have a wifi card?

this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2024

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