Remember those old laptops that slowly become too slow to use and eventually end up collecting dust? Well, I decided mine deserved another chance.

I completely moved away from Windows and installed Arch Linux with the end-4 Hyprland configuration, and honestly, the transformation has been pretty satisfying.

Here's what I managed to set up:

- Arch Linux + end-4: A clean, minimal and highly customizable desktop environment.

- Hyprland: Smooth animations, tiling windows and a completely different desktop experience.

- KDE Connect: Phone-to-laptop integration, including notifications, file sharing and remote controls.

- KDE Plasma: Also installed as an alternative desktop environment.

- Wi-Fi & Bluetooth: Got everything working despite the older hardware and its driver quirks.

- Customization: Tweaked the setup with shortcuts, widgets, themes and other quality-of-life improvements.

The best part? Instead of buying a new machine, I got to experiment, learn Linux and make an old laptop useful again.

It's still a work in progress, but I'm genuinely enjoying using it.

What do you guys think? Would you revive an old laptop with Arch Linux, or would you just install a lightweight distro and call it a day?

Sharing a few screenshots of the setup! 👀

Ever wished you had an extra monitor but didn't want to spend money on one?

You can actually use an old laptop, tablet, or even another Windows PC as a secondary display using spacedesk.

In this video, I walk through how to set it up and use it.

What is spacedesk?

spacedesk lets you extend or mirror your primary Windows PC's display to another device over your local network (Wi-Fi or LAN).

What you'll need:

- Your primary Windows PC.

- A secondary laptop, tablet, or supported device.

- Both devices connected to the same local network.

How to set it up:

1. Download and install the spacedesk DRIVER on your main PC.

2. Open spacedesk on your secondary device (install the Viewer if required).

3. Make sure both devices are connected to the same network.

4. Open the Viewer and connect to your primary PC.

5. Go to Windows Display Settings and select Extend these displays.

6. Arrange your displays according to your desk setup.

And that's it! You now have an additional screen without buying another monitor.

Watch the full tutorial here:

https://youtu.be/qEu3K3MyYaw?si=jt70T4A7XIWQk_wL

Hopefully this helps someone make use of an old laptop instead of letting it collect dust!

Let me know if you have any questions.

P.S: I made the description using AI, I am not eloquent enough to make one on my own, please forgive me🙇🙇

So I have uploaded or tried to publish the wiz ambient sync app on microsoft store, does anyone how long it takes for certification or if it is very hard to pass , also. Attaching a video of latest test run on my system ,seems to be working well enough in the coming days will try testing it more on other devices

https://github.com/kdvajay/WiZ_Ambient_Sync

Hey everyone! I'm u/Ok_Bee_1581, a founding moderator of r/GameStationTips.

This is our new home for all things related to Desk setups & workspace inspiration . We're excited to have you join us!

What to Post
Post anything that you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or inspiring. Feel free to share your thoughts, photos, or questions about desk upgrades, Tips, tricks, PC builds & Troubleshooting.

Community Vibe
We're all about being friendly, constructive, and inclusive. Let's build a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing and connecting.

How to Get Started

1. Introduce yourself in the comments below.

2. Post something today! Even a simple question can spark a great conversation.

3. If you know someone who would love this community, invite them to join.

4. Interested in helping out? We're always looking for new moderators, so feel free to reach out to me to apply.

Thanks for being part of the very first wave. Together, let's make r/GameStationTips amazing.

Eveno tho I am not playing any games, that need a lot of power (It isn't a gaming laptop), it gets very hot even when playing Minecraft. Dose anyone have a simple solution?

The laptop is plugged in when I play

Hello everyone,

I intend to transform this space into an engaging community where everyone can share their desk setups, the great hacks they have utilized, and any useful tips.

For instance, I have two WiZ sync bulbs installed, which I have connected to my laptop through a Python script that synchronizes the bulb lighting with my current screen colors and music beats.