linux server for windows coding.

[dogg]

I have an old laptop. dual pentiam , vista installed when dell sold it. has windows 11 now. was coding a little scriptng and everything seemed to be going fine. Then defender got involved.
run some searches and ended up on git but nothing there worked. So I was thinking maybe I get a linux server. but which one. I want to match my resources with the os, gui is a must have.
I like the mate desktop and debian but debian 12 is to heavy for this laptop. debian 12 is slow in this the way superman is fast. and thats a problem like all os's if you don't have the latest you don't really have a usable system. don't need a lot of fancy programs on it. a strictly coding envirement is fine. I have all ways heard that you could build stuff for windows on linux and run them in your windows machine. I have done some builds using resource files. So while I can not say I know What I am doing. I can say I can figure it out. Not worried about secerity be cause this laptop has a wifi button on it. If I am not actively searching the web I just turn my wifi off. the broadcom drivers are hard to get working on linux but have installed them in debian so they work. Anyway thats the back story.
I was thinking maybe I could throw on some system on here that I could use to costomize or cutom build a linux os for just this laptop. Not really intersted in building anything to post on the web. I would like to get windows under control and have come to the conclusion that it needs to be done while it is not running. Any help is apreciated. definatly a long term project.
Going to upload a system resources file so maybe the people that know linux os will have all the info to help me.

 

[Brickwizard]

Welcome to the forums
you only needed to say dell 1540,
mine died just before Christmas [motherboard failed] I had taken out the old slow plate spinner HDD, and put in a reclaimed SSD, which made a lot of difference to boot time and opening apps, I ran on a daily basis a multiboot system of Mint LMDE6, Parrot home and, MX-linux without problems, but if you want something a little lighter, then I suggest Linux- Lite, Bodhi, or lubuntu or even Puppy [but this is not so easy for the beginner]

Thread 'WHAT IS THE BEST LINUX DISTRIBUTION, WHICH SHOULD I USE ?'

Feb 8, 2023

This is the most asked question we receive, and the answer is, NO one distribution is better than any other, some may be a little easier for the newbie moving from Windows, some are designed for a specific task, and a few are for experienced Linux users only.
THE BEST DISTRIBUTION
Is the one that works best on your machine, The one you like the look and feel of, the one that lets you perform your daily tasks.
We recommend that you download around 6 different distributions with different desktops, and test them out "live" from a Pen-drive, You will not get a full speed experience, but...

• Brickwizard
• Replies: 16
• Forum: Getting Started

• 
• 
• 

ADDENDUM
the dell has a BCM43*** wi-fi card [unless it has been changed] for this you will need alternative internet connection [Ethernet it tethered mobile]to download the B43-FWcutter [Broadcom driver]

 

[dogg]

You are right about the broadcom. I think the only thing changed from factory is the os but could be wrong there.
Sorry if I gave to much info but just trying to cover everything. also wanted to be sure everyone know that this was going to be a single use machine. Thank you for the info. I will start tring out the suggestions, I have a few friends that use mint for gaming. So I might start there. They claim it is better for playing phone games then windows and since they are really windows users, it must be easy for windows to convert over. All though I have been checking out linux os since redhat 5 days not as a serious os. more just loading it playing arond with it then going back to windows for production
But I think defender has decided a hacker has took over the admin account or something. All I can do is surf the web. It even blocks most of my downloads. I gave up asking microsoft for help years ago. Let me try some of these and I will get back to you. And once again thank you.

 

[Brickwizard]

Sorry if I gave to much info but just trying to cover everything

not a problem, I am very familiar with Dell products but others not so much.
I mentioned Mint LMDE, as Mint 23 is a bit too heavy for a Dell of that age with all the Ubuntu bloat thats included.

 

[Brickwizard]

But I think defender has decided a hacker has took over the admin account

see

Thread 'Microsoft is now recommending customers to purchase a new PC'

Feb 3, 2025

Microsoft hides "official" workaround for installing Windows 11 on older PCs

When Windows 11 launched in 2021, Microsoft provided an official method for installing the operating system on devices that didn't meet its stringent hardware requirements. However, four...

www.techspot.com

• Brickwizard
• Replies: 41
• Forum: Off Topic

• 

 

[CaffeineAddict]

@dogg
You didn't share the most important part, which is what you'll be programming and in which language?

Because some Windows stuff can be developed or debugged only on Windows, in which case Linux is only useful if your project is cross platform.

edit:
As for problem with Windows defender, all Windows programmers add their toolchain to AV exclusion list to improve build performance, autocomplete and other similar stuff.