It's a 32 bit dual core 2.3 GHZ processor, with 4 gigs of ram.
Dual booting Linux and Windows 7
- Thread starter shinnen
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CaffeineAddict
Well-Known Member
I have only bad experiences with changing DE's on existing system, because by doing so a lot of leftover stuff if you decide to remove the other one.
Also one DE might interfere with other's settings if keeping both, this sounds odd but I had this problem too so I'm not fan of this method.
It seems not according to what @Brickwizard said, you'll have to install KDE after Mint is installed.
If you want KDE as first and only DE, I'd suggest Debian.
The only problem with Debian is that it's software is "out of date" for stability reasons. you'll get only security updates.
You'll hardly have any needs to troubleshoot anything on Debian for above reason - because it's stable system.
How certain are you that this is 32 bit? (That'd be a fairly rare CPU if it was that fast and dual-core.)
32 bit is going to really, really limit your access to distros.
Brickwizard
Well-Known Member
32 bit is all but dead, there is little choice, LMDE ,Anti-x, Debian Slax, open SUSE, and sparky are a few that still support 32 bit [but from what i have read, that support will end next year]
CaffeineAddict
Well-Known Member
Are you sure you're not using 32 bit Windows 7 on 64 bit CPU?
Brickwizard
Well-Known Member
Agreed but if its an E4**** series they were often paired with 32 bit motherboards in entry level machines
BUT of course if he uses LMDE then it will automatically install as 64 bit if the machine is capable of running it or 32 bit if not
Yeah, it could happen. It's just not normal, so I figured we'd better make sure.
But didn't you say that Debian has a steeper learning curve for Windows user? or .....
Well, that's what the control panel reported it as ... 32 bit.
CaffeineAddict
Well-Known Member
Debian certainly does not have steeper learning curve, it's just less "shiny" compared to other distros.
By "shiny" I mean for instance Windows 11 is shiny compared to Windows 7 which is due to shiny UI and shiny software that looks modern and cool.
In that sense Debian is not modern or cool.
Debian is most often used for servers and for people who value stability.
The time when Debian becomes difficult to use and troubleshoot is when you don't do things "Debian's way", to understand what this means I'd have to write a lot here but if you're interested there is documentation that explains the mistery behind it:
DontBreakDebian - Debian Wiki
You decode for yourself, please don't listen to me, but if I were again to choose a Linux distro it would again be debian, I just love 99% of it. but that's just me.
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Brickwizard
Well-Known Member
As i said before, if you download LMDE from the link i have given you, write it as a bootable USB and try it, if your computer is 64 bit it will load 64 bit, if your computer is only 32bit, it will load as a 32 bit system.
the only other thing to consider, if it is pre 2010 it may not be USB bootable
Oh, well, I don't care about shiny or cool. I want clear and simple. I'm not good with command lines either. I'll look at the url.Debian certainly does not have steeper learning curve, it's just less "shiny" compared to other distros.
By "shiny" I mean for instance Windows 11 is shiny compared to Windows 7 which is not due to shiny UI and shiny software that looks modern and cool.
In that sense Debian is not modern or cool.
Debian is most often used for servers and for people who value stability.
The time when Debian becomes difficult to use and troubleshoot is when you don't do things "Debian's way", to understand what this means I'd have to write a lot here but if you're interested there is documentation that explains the mistery behind it:
DontBreakDebian - Debian Wiki
wiki.debian.org
You decode for yourself, please don't listen to me, but if I were again to choose a Linux distro it would again be debian, I just love 99% of it. but that's just me.
....... john
Brickwizard
Well-Known Member
if you want it plain and simple, follow my how do I install guide [link below this will work for 90% of machines] you may have to run a few short terminal codes to install some legacy drivers, its not hard if you follow instructions, I still suggest you use Mint LMDE as per my link earlier, most of the apps you will need are included, and the Cinnamon DE is designed for point and click for ease of use.
You shouldn't be running an end of life OS that is connected to the internet, period.
CaffeineAddict
Well-Known Member
Please run
CMD as Administrator and run command below (copy\paste and press enter):
Code:
echo %PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%What does it say?
Brickwizard
Well-Known Member
that will not tell us if it has a 32 bit motherboard
CaffeineAddict
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure I understand, can 64 bit CPU be installed on 32 bit motherboard?
I assume you're referring to mobo socket?
Reason why I ask the OP to share this output is because it's easy to confuse Windows bitness with CPU bitness from UI report and also because 32bit OS can be installed on 64 bit CPU which makes it possible to misread what's said in control panel in windows.
Brickwizard
Well-Known Member
OK a bit of history for you, when AMD came out with the first 64 bit processors they were backward compatible with 32 bit motherboards, It was not uncommon for entry level laptops/desktops to have a 64 bit core cpu in a 32 bit motherboards [I have delt with many over the years, mainly Asus, Acer,HP and early media-star, [ give me 5 bucks for everyone I have had across my bench in the past , and i will be able to afford a good refurbished 2 yr old, 19" dell lappy]
When 64 bit motherboards became the norm, it was still not uncommon for entry level machines to come with Windows 32 bit, this was as much a marketing ploy as MS supplied the bulk licences for the 32 bit cheap, and if you wanted to upgrade to 64 bit you had to pay full price for a new licence.
Brickwizard
Well-Known Member
@CaffeineAddict are you in the UK... if so you may also remember a range of computers made and sold by tiny computers from north-west England, you never knew what components they had in them until they went wrong [which was often] and you stripped one down, in the trade we referred to them not as TINY but as TOUGH ITS NOW YOURS
