Linux on a Lap Top

[Munroast]

I have a HP Pavillion that has been pretty useless since I got it 6 or 7 years ago, it just seems to want to want to spend all its time updating itself or carrying out pointless tasks, it has always been horribly slow, as such I have barely used the thing.

Some one told me that I should just delete evrything (inc win10) and run it on Linux

would that work ? and how difficult to do ?

 

[sxturbo]

this is the problem with big brand equipment, they like to put loads of bloatware into the system which alienates the customers more than it does to assist them, whoever decides these things are a good idea in these tech companies deserve to be tied and and pelted with tomatoes for eternity.

Its likely that even just reloading a clean version of windows 10 will speed the laptop up no end. i'd advise an SSD aswell.

as for linux, i havnt had much dealing with it. i believe its fast,

 

[chalkywhite]

We run Linux Mint on two old laptops. Really helped during homeschooling and lockdown. Amazing how much can be achieved through Chrome

 

[Diver Fred]

Create a 'live' Linux USB drive or DVD, then change the laptops boot order to use the USB or DVD first and try the OS out.
Ubuntu is good but other flavours exist.

 

[JP_]

Even smaller than Linux Mint is Peppermint. I put this on an ancient laptop years ago and could use Chrome (or Chromium) without a problem.

https://peppermintos.com/

But this was probably 6-7 years ago now, so things likely have changed.

 

[Captain Nemesis]

Knoppix is another candidate. Will run off a CD if a 6/7 year old laptop doesnt have a DVD.

http://knoppix.net//

Its likely that even just reloading a clean version of windows 10 will speed the laptop up no end.

And if it can be arranged, W10 Pro to put a stop to

seems to want to want to spend all its time updating itself

i'd advise an SSD aswell.

Yup.

Some diligence needed to check what it will support and whether there are mechanical considerations.

 

[JP_]

I remember Knoppix, had a CD once ... probably still got it somewhere.
Handy if a PC dies - you can put a HDD in a new PC (or your existing if it can take an extra one) and use a Linux boot CD (or USB drive) to then access the Windows files (photos etc.) that are blocked if you try to do it via Windows. Saved my brothers family photos with a knoppix disk many years ago.

 

[Munroast]

Create a 'live' Linux USB drive or DVD, then change the laptops boot order to use the USB or DVD first and try the OS out.
Ubuntu is good but other flavours exist.

I have heard of this one - ubunto

How do I make a live USB and then do what ?

Is there something that I copy/download onto a USB stick, then reboot the laptop with the USB inserted ?

the lap top doesnt have a cd slot, but will take USB & SD cards

 

[Captain Nemesis]

You'll need to

1. install a utility to create a bootable memory stick from an ISO image (unless W10 has a native one - must admit Ive never looked)
2. download the ISO image of whichever Linux you want to use
3. verify its checksum (strongly recommended)
4. make the bootable stick
5. reboot with the stick plugged in

If (5) doesnt pick it up, power off/restart again but hit whichever key your device needs to get into the BIOS https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/bios-keys-to-access-your-firmware,5732.html so you can change the order of devices it looks for when booting - you need the USB device to be before the HDD

 

[Munroast]

You'll need to

1. install a utility to create a bootable memory stick from an ISO image (unless W10 has a native one - must admit Ive never looked)
2. download the ISO image of whichever Linux you want to use
3. verify its checksum (strongly recommended)
4. make the bootable stick
5. reboot with the stick plugged in

If (5) doesnt pick it up, power off/restart again but hit whichever key your device needs to get into the BIOS https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/bios-keys-to-access-your-firmware,5732.html so you can change the order of devices it looks for when booting - you need the USB device to be before the HDD

Thanks for trying to help- much appreciated

Starting off with line one;
what would an Utility be ?
Is a bootable memory stick te same as any memory stick ?
ISO Image ?

 

[IT Minion]

Thanks for trying to help- much appreciated

Starting off with line one;
what would an Utility be ?
Is a bootable memory stick te same as any memory stick ?
ISO Image ?

A bootable memory stick is a normal stick that's been told to operate slightly differently. To do that you normally have to wipe it.

An ISO image is a particular way of saving the contents of a CD or DVD. The idea is to be a perfect copy which isn't easy to modify, unlike just copying all the files off. They are normally big files that end with .iso . For a long time it was the main way of downloading applications or operating systems to install. There are other options now but Isos are straight forward and reliable.

Ubuntu has a good guide here. https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#1-overview

 

[Munroast]

A bootable memory stick is a normal stick that's been told to operate slightly differently. To do that you normally have to wipe it.

An ISO image is a particular way of saving the contents of a CD or DVD. The idea is to be a perfect copy which isn't easy to modify, unlike just copying all the files off. They are normally big files that end with .iso . For a long time it was the main way of downloading applications or operating systems to install. There are other options now but Isos are straight forward and reliable.

Ubuntu has a good guide here. https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#1-overview

Thanks for that, but; complexities arise in the first part - Apparently ou need to download some utility called "Rufus" so I go the Rufus web page which is a jargon overload web page and their is 4 different downloads of Rufus - they are all downloaded from a platform called "GITHUB" a search for 'is github safe' suggests it is not a safe site, and a source of malware.

 

[IT Minion]

Thanks for that, but; complexities arise in the first part - Apparently ou need to download some utility called "Rufus" so I go the Rufus web page which is a jargon overload web page and their is 4 different downloads of Rufus - they are all downloaded from a platform called "GITHUB" a search for 'is github safe' suggests it is not a safe site, and a source of malware.

GitHub is fine I use it a lot for work. It's owned by Microsoft these days. It's possible that something unpleasant is stored in there, it's basically a library for computer software, but if Ubuntu is pointing you to particular file it's fine.

You probably want version 3.14 from here https://rufus.ie/en/

 

[Captain Nemesis]

https://www.bing.com/search?q=best+usb+iso+burner

 

[Munroast]

Have went for the Peppermint 10 Respin
https://peppermintos.com/guide/downloading/

Have now downloaded the ISO mage (and it sum checks)

It says copy it onto a bootable USB - would it work on a SD card or maybe an SD card plugged into a USB stick, or does it have to be a special type of USB thing ?

Do I have to delete the current (win10) operating system first, or does this just run along side of it. ?

I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing... lol