Linux for old laptop?

SpliceGold

SpliceGold

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Hi Everyone,

I have a really old Acer laptop. Can't even remember exactly what it is. Will post update when I get home of its exact make.

Its around 10 yrs old (I think). My sister put windows 10 on it and it came with windows 7 Home basic. Since she did it, it ran ok for a good few months but now its so painfully slow I cannot use it. I am not sure if the slowness has to do with windows 10 being installed on it or if it just needs to be dumped in the bin.

I was thinking about putting Linux on it but haven't used Linux for years. Do you think its even worth a try to put it on or should I just download Windows 7 Home Basic again and try install back on? I know I will have to get a new one one day as support for Windows 7 wont be around for much longer.

I have just kinda got over using a laptop as my S9 Note does everything a laptop can do.
 
Spontaneous spinach said:
You can afford a S9, buy a new laptop.
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I actually got it from my husband. It was his company's phone. He just got his upgrade and they let him keep his old phone so he gave it to me cause I needed another phone. If I was flashed with cash I would have just gone and bought another laptop.
 
LCBXX said:
Careful, it's a rabbit hole with these Android x86 O/S's. Have fun!
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Thanks appreciate it. I can't wait to try it out when I get home. From what I read about it now Im really impressed with what it does!
 
SpliceGold said:
Thanks, I think its worth a try. Just havent used Linux for years. I used Ubuntu for some time but then for no real reason went back to Windows
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Just check what cpu you have but being from ~2009 it should be 64-bit so go with that version.
 
I bet that any old Laptop can really work with some Linux distro if it really neede for such, I simpyl do not get why you are not doing so anyway. Could you please let me know why Windows 7 didn't worked out ? If laptop is old then it should be fine.
 
Gardagar said:
I bet that any old Laptop can really work with some Linux distro if it really neede for such, I simpyl do not get why you are not doing so anyway. Could you please let me know why Windows 7 didn't worked out ? If laptop is old then it should be fine.
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Windows 7 was fine actually. It was when my sister upgraded it to 10 the problems slowly started. I haven't even bothered with using it anymore when it got so slow. It's just been sitting around collecting dust.

It's a Acer Aspire 5336 series T352G32.
 
SpliceGold said:
Windows 7 was fine actually. It was when my sister upgraded it to 10 the problems slowly started. I haven't even bothered with using it anymore when it got so slow. It's just been sitting around collecting dust.

It's a Acer Aspire 5336 series T352G32.
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If its just slow then I suggest a RAM and SSD upgrade, I see it can take a max of 4GB DDR3 which you can find second hand very cheaply and a small SSD would make it fast even if its a celeron/C2D


Windows 10 on such an old laptop is not recommended, I recommend either going back to W7 or Lubuntu.
 
Rickster said:
If its just slow then I suggest a RAM and SSD upgrade, I see it can take a max of 4GB DDR3 which you can find second hand very cheaply and a small SSD would make it fast even if its a celeron/C2D


Windows 10 on such an old laptop is not recommended, I recommend either going back to W7 or Lubuntu.
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Cool thanks. I didnt know I could upgrade it! Ya windows 10 was a big mistake. The windows key is also so damaged at the back I can't read the CD key so I kinda just didnt bother anymore with it. It came pre loaded with Home basic.

Is there any specific RAM and SSD I must get or will anything do? Also I'm not clued up on laptops would i be able to buy the parts and fit them myself without destroying the laptop?
 
System requirements:
  • 1GB RAM (2GB recommended for a comfortable usage).
  • 15GB of disk space (20GB recommended).
  • 1024×768 resolution (on lower resolutions, press ALT to drag windows with the mouse if they don’t fit in the screen).
https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3597
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Download here for Cinnamon: https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=254 , scroll right to the bottom for the South Africa links.
Looks, Cinnamon:
1563309924756.png
And Mate:
1563309962607.png
With the download link being here: https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=256

All theme-able, A nice list can be found here: https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/themes

But I am currently using Arc Theme on my one PC:
1563310134829.png
(stole this from here: https://linuxhint.com/11_best_linux_mint_themes/ )
 
Johnatan56 said:
Download here for Cinnamon: https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=254 , scroll right to the bottom for the South Africa links.
Looks, Cinnamon:
View attachment 684679
And Mate:
View attachment 684681
With the download link being here: https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=256

All theme-able, A nice list can be found here: https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/themes

But I am currently using Arc Theme on my one PC:
View attachment 684683
(stole this from here: https://linuxhint.com/11_best_linux_mint_themes/ )
Click to expand...

With this. I run the "Mate" edition on a 10 year old core2duo machine with 2GB RAM and it flies
 
SpliceGold said:
Its around 10 yrs old (I think). My sister put windows 10 on it and it came with windows 7 Home basic. Since she did it, it ran ok for a good few months but now its so painfully slow I cannot use it. I am not sure if the slowness has to do with windows 10 being installed on it or if it just needs to be dumped in the bin.
Click to expand...
Get a second hand SSD from carbonite or classifieds here. I have a HP laptop I bought in 2006 and it runs win 10 pro and I kid you not - this laptop is faster to bootup than my colleague's brand new laptop that has no SSD. SSD makes all the difference based on my limited experience.
 
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