Hardware New OS for my old Acer-Laptop

[Wahrrelasse]

My old Acer-Aspire 5738z (https://www.amazon.de/Acer-Aspire-Notebook-Pentium-2-1GHz/dp/B002N1WFM0) currently running Vista Home Premium 32-Bit begins to fall apart. It's not possible to reinstall Windows and I wanted to try out Linux for the first time. So what Distro should I pick?

 

[slaphappygamer]

I tried knoppix a long time ago. That ran well, but I'm not sure if there is anything more current. I tried in 2003ish

 

[romanaOne]

I like Manjaro: It is based on Arch but most everything is set up for you. Whatever you pick, consider getting more RAM: 3GB isn't REALLY enough and will slow things down a lot.

 

[tech3475]

I prefer Linux Mint with cinnamon, or at the very least the cinnamon UI (which may be possible to install on other distros).

 

[Wahrrelasse]

I like Manjaro: It is based on Arch but most everything is set up for you. Whatever you pick, consider getting more RAM: 3GB isn't REALLY enough and will slow things down a lot.

It actually has 4 GB of Ram. I don't if more is useful since it's a 32-Bit Laptop

 

[jDSX]

Puppy linux would be a good fit, runs all off of ram you could try lubuntu too.

 

[romanaOne]

It actually has 4 GB of Ram. I don't if more is useful since it's a 32-Bit Laptop

Is it 32-bit hardware or just 32-bit Vista?
Try booting a 64-bit USB Linux live USB (any distro) and see. You might be able to have 2x4GB = 8GB if a 64-bit OS runs.

http://www.swsd.sk/img.asp?attid=77057

 

[Evilengine]

I also tried differend Distros, except for Knoppix, the first time.
try www.distrochooser.de
For my new PC I chose Ubuntu GNOME, for the old system I chose ElementaryOS, LUbuntu should be also a good choice.

 

[Wahrrelasse]

Is it 32-bit hardware or just 32-bit Vista?
Try booting a 64-bit USB Linux live USB (any distro) and see. You might be able to have 2x4GB = 8GB if a 64-bit OS runs.

http://www.swsd.sk/img.asp?attid=77057

I've just tried booting a ubuntu 15.10 64-Bit Livedisk and it works. That means it is 64-Bit compatible right?

 

[Wantija]

Your CPU is 64 bit, always check the manufactures website.
https://ark.intel.com/products/3725...r-T4300-1M-Cache-2_10-GHz-800-MHz-FSB?q=T4300
T4300 is kinda old, and 3GB is really stretching it for how bloated websites are these days. Try Lubuntu or Xubuntu and stick with whichever one runs better. Getting 8GB DDR2 RAM should help but I don't know if the CPU would bottleneck it, if it's cheap go for it. If you want to take it a step further look up upgrading the CPU.

Also it's never impossible to reinstall Windows, just a heads up. Getting a SSD will breathe new life into it if your HDD is old and dying.

 

[Deleted User]

No point reinstalling Vista because support ends in seven days. I'm really sad to see such a good operating system go, especially since it was never given a second chance.

Try Windows 7 or install a Linux distro such as Mint or, as the above person suggested for a different distro, Lubuntu/Xubuntu. I've tried Xubuntu on worse hardware and it was quite nice.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

I didn't know there is people who actually dislike windows os.

 

[The Catboy]

I didn't know there is people who actually dislike windows os.

I didn't even boot into Windows 10 before removing it from my laptop.

As for this thread, I got you covered bro! Personally, I always suggest testing out several distros first. Never settle on the first one that works because there's a chance that another one works better. So these are my suggestions
Linux Mint XCFE
Linux Lite
Manjaro
Antergos+XFCE
LXLE
Peppermint OS
Bodhi Linux
Solus Linux

These are all distros I've used on older/weaker hardware and found amazing results with.

 

[Wahrrelasse]

I didn't even boot into Windows 10 before removing it from my laptop.

As for this thread, I got you covered bro! Personally, I always suggest testing out several distros first. Never settle on the first one that works because there's a chance that another one works better. So these are my suggestions
Linux Mint XCFE
Linux Lite
Manjaro
Antergos+XFCE
LXLE
Peppermint OS
Bodhi Linux
Solus Linux

These are all distros I've used on older/weaker hardware and found amazing results with.

Well, I'll try them and decide Thank you

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

I didn't even boot into Windows 10 before removing it from my laptop.

Were you gonna melt if you made eye contact with the logo?

I need to find a OS, just ordered a laptop with no OS in it to save money, but i need to get steam working on it and not sure if i can without one.

 

[Piluvr]

Lubuntu, or try Zorin OS. I tried it, totally worked for my laptop.

 

[MaK11-12]

It actually has 4 GB of Ram. I don't if more is useful since it's a 32-Bit Laptop

Linux can make use of 64 gigabytes of RAM using a kernel with PAE enabled. Saying that, the CPU in your laptop may support 64 bit software anyway. EIther way, Linux 32 bit will be able to use all 4 gigabytes of RAM on yuor laptop.

I didn't know there is people who actually dislike windows os.

Windows 8 was pretty bad, but Windows 10 is a fucking shit show.

For beginners I would recommend Debian. Otherwise use Arch Linux. Both have very good documentation. I honestly think 4GB RAM is enough for most tasks. I have 34 tabs of chrome open, playing music, GIMP image editor open and I've only used 3.4GB RAM.

I just checked the CPU in you laptop (Intel Pentium Processor T4300), and it does in fact support 64 bit, so you can choose either 32 or 64 bit when using Linux. You should go for 32 bit if you have less than or equal to 4GB of RAM.

I hope this helps.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Windows 8 was pretty bad, but Windows 10 is a fucking shit show.

Well someone gonna need those os if they wanna play games or use some software for it. So to me is either don't use it (If is truly bad) or bear with it to get games like Killer Instinct or some other microsoft exclusives.... including steam windows only games.

 

[MaK11-12]

Well someone gonna need those os if they wanna play games or use some software for it. So to me is either don't use it (If is truly bad) or bear with it to get games like Killer Instinct or some other microsoft exclusives.... including steam windows only games.

I don't typically play games on my laptop as it's only intel integrated (as is OP's) and not a dedicated GPU. However, Steam is available on Linux as well as a subset of games. Sure it's not much, but it's really up to the user to decide if they want a speedy, free as in freedom, open operating system or botnet and spyware.

In addition, software like Wine is available to enable the running of some windows software under Linux.

So it's a choice that each user will just have to make tbh. Some people dual boot Linux and Windows, some use GPU pass-through with a Windows VM, others don't use Windows on their laptop but only on their desktop.
It's a shame that games are typically Windows only, but it's getting a little bit better as time goes on.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

I don't typically play games on my laptop as it's only intel integrated (as is OP's) and not a dedicated GPU. However, Steam is available on Linux as well as a subset of games. Sure it's not much, but it's really up to the user to decide if they want a speedy, free as in freedom, open operating system or botnet and spyware.

In addition, software like Wine is available to enable the running of some windows software under Linux.

So it's a choice that each user will just have to make tbh. Some people dual boot Linux and Windows, some use GPU pass-through with a Windows VM, others don't use Windows on their laptop but only on their desktop.
It's a shame that games are typically Windows only, but it's getting a little bit better as time goes on.

But then why are games mostly windows only?