Which Linux

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Quassimodo

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Hello

I'm new on linux os, haven't used it before, just to try it out and get familiar with it I'm going to install it on my old PC. On my old pc I use Windows Xp which is fine when you don't use so many applications. But lately I had trouble viewing most of the videos, live channels so I decided to switch to Linux. There are a lot of choices and I have no clue which one to install. I'm looking for recommendations on this issue.
Tech Specs are below:
Dell Optiplex 745
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 1066MHz
3GB DDR2 667MHz ram
Samsung 80GB 7200RPM SATA
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 965
There is no GPU just a DVI card which I don't use
Operating System is Windows XP SP3
 


Thanks and yes, this is exactly my pc, the "Small Form" one I guess.
 
G'dat quassimodo, Wiz will no doubt return in approx 12 hours time.

In the meantime, if you wish to you could try this. If ir works for you...good. If it doesnt, then no harm done.

In summary, this 'burns' an iso (downloaded linux ) to a usb/thumb drive. You then boot your pc from that thumb drive, and this allows you to TRY Linux.

It does not install it on yoiur Hard drive

I have used Linux Mint as the example....it may be a litttle 'heavy' for your pc....in which case there are plenty of others to choose from. They can also be tried out using the same procedure.

Remember, you can do no harm by trying this.

Wiz will have more to say on the subject later (no doubt !)

How to install/try Linux Mint on your Windows PC

First, you can -- and should -- try Linux Mint before switching to it. Fortunately, unlike other operating systems, Linux distros like Mint make it easy to give them a test run before installing it.

First you'll need to download a copy of Linux Mint, which comes with three different desktops: MATE, Xfce, and its default desktop, Cinnamon. If you have a 2012-or-newer PC, I recommend you download the 64-bit version of Mint with Cinnamon and multi-media support.

If you don't have an ISO burner program, download one. I recommend freeware programs ImgBurn for optical drives and Yumi for Windows for USB sticks. Other good choices are LinuxLive USB Creator and UNetbootin. These are also free programs.

((( I use unetbootin. I download the iso file separately....I don't use unetbootin to download it for me. I then use the are at the bottom of the unetbootin window to locate the iso on my pc, select the USB stick to write it to....select 4gb of persistence (so that after a reboot most/all the changes i have made will still be there)....and away we go !)))


Giving Mint a try

Once you've installed the burner program and have the latest Linux Mint ISO file in hand, use the burner to put the ISO image to your disc or USB stick. If you're using a DVD -- Mint is too big to fit on a CD -- check your newly burned disc for errors. Over the years, I've had more problems with running Linux and installing Linux from DVDs from bad discs than all other causes combined.

You can set it up a USB stick with persistent storage. With this, you can store your programs and files on the stick. This way you can carry Linux and use it as a walk-around operating system for hotel, conference, and library PCs. I've found this to be very handy and there's always at least one Linux stick in my laptop bag.

Next, you place your disc or USB stick into your PC and reboot. During the reboot, stop the boot-up process and get to your PC's UEFI or BIOS settings. How you do this varies according to the system.

Look for a message as the machine starts up that tells which key or keys you'll need to press in order to get to the BIOS or UEFI. Likely candidates are a function key or the "esc" or "delete" keys. If you don't spot it the first time, don't worry about it. Just reboot and try again.


Once you get to the BIOS or UEFI, look for a menu choice labeled "Boot," "Boot Options," or "Boot Order." If you don't see anything with the word "boot" in it, check other menu options such as "Advanced Options," "Advanced BIOS Features," or "Other Options." Once you find it, set the boot order so that instead of booting from the hard drive first, you boot from either the CD/DVD drive or from a USB drive.

Once your PC is set to try to boot first from the alternative drive, insert your DVD or USB stick and reboot. Then, select "Start Linux Mint" from the first menu. And, from there, you'll be running Linux Mint.

Some Nvidia graphics cards don't work well with Mint's open-source driver. If Linux Mint freezes during boot, use the "nomodeset" boot option. You set this to the Start Linux Mint option and press 'e' to modify the boot options. Then, replace "quiet splash" with "nomodeset" and press F10 to boot. On older PCs using BIOS, press 'tab' instead of 'e.'

MINT WILL RUN SLOWER THIS WAY, BUT IT WILL BOOT AND RUN. If you decide to install Mint, you can permanently fix the problem with the following steps:



Run the Driver Manager
Choose the NVIDIA drivers and wait for them to be installed
Reboot the computer
SO FAR YOU HAVEN'T INSTALLED ANYTHING ON YOUR PC, BUT YOU WILL BE RUNNING LINUX MINT. USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY WITH IT TO SEE IF YOU LIKE IT..

Using a DVD drive Mint will run slowly, but it will run quickly enough to give you an idea of what it's like to use Mint. With a USB stick, it runs fast enough to give you a good notion of what working with Mint is like.

PLEASE...play with it...explore everywhere....you CANNOT break it...remember it is on a thumb drive....if it goes up in smoke, just reboot and away you go again. No harm done.

Advice : Have a look at 'Timeshift' it is similar to windows system restore.....just MUCH better. It actually works.

A good tutorial can be found : https://www.linuxliteos.com/manual/tutorials.html#timeshift

While you are playing with Linux on a thumb drive you will not need Timeshift.....but after you have actually INSTALLED Linux...then i HIGHLY recommend you give Timeshift a run. If you have an external hard drive as well, this is the ideal set up. You are able to send a 'snapshot' of your system to the external hard drive via Timeshift' ....it serves as a 'safe spot' which you can restore from with one click.
In the case of a (HIGHLY unlikely) bad update, where your normal Linux would not boot.....simply boot the pc to the external hard drive...select the 'snapshot' you wish to run (usually the one made before the bad update)....click on 'restore'....go make coffee.
It will be done by the time you have made it. Simple.


=+==================================================================================================

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-install-linux-mint-on-your-windows-pc/

==================================================================================================

Read the rest of this article online.

PLEASE NOTE...THE MOST CRITICAL CHOICE IN ACTUALLY INSTALLING WILL BE :....HOW TO PARTITION YOUR HARD DRIVE !!!!!!.....GO ONE WAY AND LINUX WILL INSTALL ALONGSIDE YOUR WINDOWS INSTALL......GO THE OTHER WAY AND YOUR WINDOWS INSTALL WILL BE WIPED OUT. GONE. FOREVER. CHOOSE CAREFULLY !!!!!!!!

I have always installed Linux in such a way that wipes out windows/whatever else is on the Hard drive/ssd

You may wish to dual boot. The instructions for that are at that link, where it tells you to "install linux mint alongside.."...

This procedure will install Linux Mint next to your existing Windows system and leave it totally untouched. When I do this, I usually give half my PC's remaining drive space to Mint. You'll be asked to choose which operating system you want to boot by default. No matter which one you pick, you'll get a few seconds to switch to the other operating system.

You'll also be required to give your system a name; pick out a username for yourself, and come up with a PASSWORD. WRITE THE BLOODY THING DOWN. You WILL need it....many times over. On many occasions when you type the password into linux.....it will NOT show on screen...not even asterisks etc etc......so have a record of it..... somewhere.

Set up a regular Timeshift schedule. Easy to do. Peace of mind assured.

Unless you work for the nsa, don't encrypt your drive. For normal day to day use , you do not need it.

Drivers : Next, you can have it check to see if your computer needs any additional drivers. I highly recommend you run this. After this, you can choose to install proprietary multimedia codecs such as drivers to watch DVDs. I think you should do this, as well.


You should also set it to update your system to the latest software.

Unlike Windows, when you update Mint, you're updating not just your operating system but all the other programs such as the default web browser, Firefox; office-suite, LibreOffice; and any other programs you've installed from Mint's Software Manager.
(software manager :....click on menu...then on software manager (hover over icons, you will find it)...)



To update manually, click on the shield icon in the menu bar. By default in the Cinnamon desktop, the bar will be on the bottom part of the screen and the icon will be on the right. It will then prompt you for your password and ask if you really want to update your system. Say yes, and you'll be ready to give your new Mint system a real try out.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ. Your updates will be automatically set to ""JUST KEEP MY COMPUTER SAFE""......DO NOT stop/delay/fiddle with updates. THIS IS NOT WINDOWS. Just let the update manager do its thing. It will not destroy your pc and have you spend countless hours trying to resurrect it from the ashes....This NOT windows. Have Faith.

At some later time after you have become REALLY familiar with Linux, you may progress to the update setting..::Let me Review Sensitive Updates""....That is for LATER.
(and just in case you select that update policy, and something goes sideways....thats what Timeshift is for !!!)


The setup routine also offers to let you look at system settings and find new programs with the Software Manager, but since you're probably a new user, you can skip those for now. Please..... skip this FOR NOW.

Set up Firefox (if you use that) If you have used F'Fox in windows you may have used the "Sync Settings" in Firefox account. Use that to 'sync' your settings, add ons, history,bookmarks,preferences,logins etc

Email : You can use Thunderbird to display your email. It seamlessly displays email from Gmail, Yahoo...etc etc
Thunderbird is included with Linux by default.
Click on menu...type in Thunderbird....right click to put the icon on the desktop, or to put the icon in the panel.
 
Thanks for the reply. I will use Linux, no doubt about that, just when I go to the download section, there are too many to choose from, at least for me. From what you said I think I should rule out Linux mint, but I might try it on my Laptop after I become a bit familiar with Linux (since I've been using only Windows). I guess putting Linux on usb is a good idea to start with it. I might start using like that but first thing is which one to choose from.
 
About Linux mint I can't fix the problems. Mozilla is slow, and there is a resolution problem. I have 24" Led monitor connected via VGA but Linux only shows 1024x768(4:3) resolution, cannot find a way to change to 1920x1080 which I had on windows xp, and it's kind of a big deal. I think drivers are installed automatically, audio works fine, on system information it recognise processor, ram, graphic and hard drive, but the screen with that resolution is a disaster. I had some attempts to fix it on terminal, I've tried it but didn't work. I'M not familiar with terminal.
I had to install it twice, for some reason I had error at the end of installiation in the first try.
 
Resolution adding part worked very well. But the second part of that, creating xorg.conf.new, I couldn't do that. I tried both Mint 12 and 13 version of it but it just didn't happen, so I have to write it on the terminal everytime I reset my pc. For the mozilla one I downloaded chromium and it seems fine but in general the system is working slowly, getting freeze for 5-10 seconds when I open software/device manager, and sometimes it's not responding. So far this is my experience with Linux Mint cinnamon 32bit .
I'll play around with it a bit but I think I need to try a new one.
 
Hi @Quassimodo , that article referred to by @arochester , albeit good value, needs editing to make it current, although by the comments, even as recently as one year ago, some of its content appears to work. But it was first written 6 years ago.

Why I say this is because you don't need to try out Linux Mint 12, 13 &c, they are obsolete and unsupported.

If you choose to use a Mint, it should be version 18.3 or 19.

If you still have a working Mint onboard, is that alongside the Win XP?

In Mint, at Terminal you can type

Code: 
xrandr

and you will get perhaps some long output, and take a record of that and paste it to us. In particular, note one that may have an asterisk beside a figure eg 60*

If you have Mint and XP on the same machine, then you will have a Grub Menu when you boot up, giving you a choice of whether to boot into Mint, or else boot Win XP.

In that menu, there will be an option at the bottom to choose 'c' for a command line. Take that, and at the screen that follows, it will tell you to press Tab for a list of available commands.

Do that, and near the bottom will be one or both of two commands -

vbelist and videoinfo

If you have both, get the output of both, if just one, use that, and report the output to us.

Then we can establish what resolutions your unit supports, and this will apply whatever Linux you choose to run.

Cheers

Wizard
 
Hey @wizardfromoz

Yes I tried the article @arochester sent, and I read the comments, tried all but couldn't create xorg.conf.new. I still need to type or copy/paste the commands to get the resolutions higher than 1024x768.
I am currently using Mint 19 and I erased all in my drive, so there is no XP or anything about it (I don't mind whatsoever). I don't run both I only run Mint right now. Below some information if that helps to identify problems.
System: Host: oguz-OptiPlex-745 Kernel: 4.15.0-30-generic i686
bits: 32 gcc: 7.3.0
Desktop: Cinnamon 3.8.8 (Gtk 3.22.30-1ubuntu1)
Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine: Device: desktop System: Dell product: OptiPlex 745 serial: N/A
Mobo: Dell model: 0GX297 serial: N/A
BIOS: Dell v: 2.6.2 date: 08/12/2008
CPU: Dual core Intel Core2 6300 (-MCP-)
arch: Conroe rev.2 cache: 2048 KB
flags: (lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 7447
clock speeds: max: 1606 MHz 1: 1601 MHz 2: 1606 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel 82Q963/Q965 Integrated Graphics Controller
bus-ID: 00:02.0
Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
Resolution: [email protected]
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel 965Q x86/MMX/SSE2
version: 2.1 Mesa 18.0.5 Direct Render: Yes
Audio: Card Intel 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-30-generic
Network: Card: Broadcom Limited NetXtreme BCM5754 Gigabit Ethernet PCIE
driver: tg3 v: 3.137 bus-ID: 02:00.0
IF: enp2s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 80.0GB (23.7% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: SAMSUNG_HD080HJ size: 80.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 73G used: 18G (26%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 59.0C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 176 Uptime: 1:19 Memory: 521.0/3015.3MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.3.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.4.191) inxi: 2.3.56

you will get perhaps some long output, and take a record of that and paste it to us. In particular, note one that may have an asterisk beside a figure eg 60*
Click to expand...
I don't know what you mean by that but when I type xrandr I get this:
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA-1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
1024x768 60.00
800x600 60.32 56.25
848x480 60.00
640x480 59.94
1920x1080_60.00 59.96*
1600x900_60.00 59.95
1368x768_60.00 59.88
DVI-D-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
1900x900_60.00 (0x174) 118.250MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 1600 start 1696 end 1856 total 2112 skew 0 clock 55.99KHz
v: height 900 start 903 end 908 total 934 clock 59.95Hz

I installed chromium but even now there is a problem. WHen I try to write a reply for this I can't because there is no box to write my response. I have to wait like 3-4 minutes to load and write a reply to you on chorium and the videos are very very dark and some colors are dark. I don't have these problems on firefox. About firefox it's still slow. System is slow compared to Win XP(had 1920x1080 on Win XP), I get some freezes even on terminal, I tried different resolutions and it appears to matter. With Lower resolutions system run smoother than higher ones, but slowness is there.
 
Hi @Quassimodo! I see in your "System Spoiler" above that the flag "lm" is present. This is "long mode" and means that your CPU is a 64-bit model. Also Intel confirms this here.

If you are still in a mood to try other distros, I would suggest Linux MInt MATE Edition, and the 64-bit version. I have found that the MATE desktop is sometimes more graphics friendly than Cinnamon, but in any case with future distros you should try the 64-bit versions.

Cheers
 
Hey @atanere. I had no clue about CPU whatsoever. I didn't know what that "lm" means, I just assumed it was 32 bit since it's an old PC. So I should leave Cinnamon aside and try Mate version? I want to have that 1920x1080 resolution.
 
atanere said:
Hi @Quassimodo! I see in your "System Spoiler" above that the flag "lm" is present. This is "long mode" and means that your CPU is a 64-bit model. Also Intel confirms this here.

If you are still in a mood to try other distros, I would suggest Linux MInt MATE Edition, and the 64-bit version. I have found that the MATE desktop is sometimes more graphics friendly than Cinnamon, but in any case with future distros you should try the 64-bit versions.

Cheers
Click to expand...
Hey Quassimodo,

I agree with the atanere Linux Mint Mate should work better with your pc specs than Linux Mint Cinnamon.

The Cinnamon desktop requires more system resources to run than the Mate desktop.

You and I have similar specs other than integrated graphics adapters and amount of memory and distros.

@Dell-OptiPlex-360:~$ inxi -Fxz
System: Host: Dell-OptiPlex-360 Kernel: 4.15.0-30-generic x86_64 bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.0
Desktop: LXDE (Openbox 3.6.1) Distro: Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS
Machine: Device: desktop System: Dell product: OptiPlex 360 serial: N/A
Mobo: Dell model: 0T656F v: A01 serial: N/A BIOS: Dell v: A01 date: 11/28/2008
CPU: Dual core Intel Core2 6300 (-MCP-) arch: Conroe rev.6 cache: 2048 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 7446
clock speeds: max: 1867 MHz 1: 1595 MHz 2: 1595 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel 82G33/G31 Express Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 ) drivers: intel (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
Resolution: [email protected]
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel G33 version: 1.4 Mesa 18.0.5 Direct Render: Yes
Audio: Card Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-30-generic
Network: Card: Broadcom Limited NetLink BCM5784M Gigabit Ethernet PCIe driver: tg3 v: 3.137 bus-ID: 02:00.0
IF: enp2s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 40.0GB (20.5% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD400BD size: 40.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 37G used: 7.7G (23%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 59.0C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 142 Uptime: 19:46 Memory: 739.7/3869.7MB Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.3.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.4.191) inxi: 2.3.56
@Dell-OptiPlex-360:~$
 
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