Solved Install Linux on old laptop

[Sven1458]

Hi all
I got my hands on an old Dell Vostro 1000.
It has XP on it and was retired because of it. Also it was not the fastest machine ever built.
I would like to install Linux on it, but I have no idea what flavor.
What would be a good flavor to put on here? Nothing to complicated, because I don’t know much about Linux.
Any recommendations?

Thanks
Sven

 

[HarriePateman]

Hey,

Ubuntu is really good and its free, here are the requirements;

Ubuntu Desktop Edition
700 MHz processor (about Intel Celeron or better)
512 MiB RAM (system memory)
5 GB of hard-drive space (or USB stick, memory card or external drive but see LiveCD for an alternative approach)
VGA capable of 1024x768 screen resolution
Either a CD/DVD drive or a USB port for the installer media
Internet access is helpful

Thank you for your contribution | Ubuntu

 

[Sven1458]

Hi Harribo2014

Sounds like I need pretty basic hardware.
Thanks for your help
Sven

 

[HarriePateman]

No worries.

 

[Ztruker]

Take a look at Zorin Linux as well. It's Ubuntu based but has more of a Windows look and feel.
It has a light version (6.0) and a regular version (8.0) with both 32 and 64 bit versions.

 

[Sven1458]

Thanks, I check it out

Sven

 

[Sven1458]

Ztruker,

I downloaded the software and I was able to use the live version on my home PC. I was able to start a few programs that do not need to be installed, like CBid and cquz. I also was able to start siw, but it complained that it was running in compatibility mode. But it run. gave me no data, because Zorin was not installed, or it was unable to do it like that.
My question is: can I just install any software, either DOS or Windows to the hard drive, or am I limited to what Zorin has to offer?

Thanks
Sven

 

[whs]

Zorin is one of the distros I also run - in a virtual partition. I find it a bit buggy and it does not have a lot of facilities. A much better option is Mint Mate. That is a beautiful system. Try it in Virtual - here is how.

Note: there is also a 32bit version from the site I linked in the tutorial - if that is what you need.

Here is a little Mint Mate demo I made.

This was made from an installation on a flash drive. The setup tutorial for that is here.

 

[Sven1458]

Very nice demo on UTube.
I will download this also and try it out.
Thanks
Sven

 

[whs]

You are welcome. If you have questions, post back.

 

[Ztruker]

My question is: can I just install any software, either DOS or Windows to the hard drive, or am I limited to what Zorin has to offer?

I can't answer that at the moment. I can't even figure out how to install Firefox on Zorin, so maybe I'll go back to playing with Mint Mate as whs suggested. I've got that running in a Virtual machine as well.

What I liked about Zorin is that it doers look a lot like Windows 7.

 

[whs]

I can't even figure out how to install Firefox on Zorin

LOL, Go to Start > Internet > Zorin web browser. Then the window on the right opens from where you can install it. Opera did not work for me but the other 3 do work.

 

[Ztruker]

Great demo. I'll be using it tomorrow to try Mint Mate again. Thanks

 

[whs]

Speaking of demo - here is some fun I had with Zorin:

 

[Ztruker]

Zorin is flaky, or at least it was when I tried it.

Mint has been rock solid so far.

 

[whs]

I agree. For a day to day operation, Mint Mate is the way to go. But Zorin is nice as a study object and maybe over time they can get the bugs out.

 

[Sven1458]

Hi all,

I have installed ( separately ) all 3 of the above Linux flavors.

Every one installed just fine and had no problem finding my internet connection.

Also my printer was found and after downloading Thunderbird I was able to access my e-mail.

So far so good.

Installing Windows programs are a little tricky if not impossible.

I downloaded “ Wine ”, that is supposed to make windows programs run.

I was able to get the installer going within Wine and it started to install, but eventually the program is looking for a specific .dll file in System32 and cannot find it, because the folder does not exist. The supplied office suite LibreOffice has a “Base” program, but cannot read .mdb files from MSOffice. Spreadsheets and text documents are fine.

So as a test I installed windows 7 ultimate and to my surprise it runs better then XP.

Now I have to decide if I want to spend the money and buy awin 7 key.

Regardless, thanks for all the input.

Sven

 

[whs]

If you need Windows programs, you need Windows. I never had a lot of luck with the Wine either.

If you go with Linux, you are in another world. Then you have to use the Linux programs. Those are different but many of them are quite good. But I understand - for a seasoned Windows user, the switch to Linux is not easy.

That's why I run it in virtual and from the stick and use it mainly for internet access (is safer).

 

[gilloz]

You might want to see if your YouTube videos will work. I tried installing Ubuntu 10.04 or 12.04 and YouTube would not work at all. Something about the chip being too old to accept the Adobe Flashplayer. Shockplayer would not work at all. Something about SSE2 in the chip. I still have it installed in my old desktop computer, but without YouTube functioning. Matter of fact, the only video that works is from the DVD player. No videos on Websites pages will work along with YouTube.