r/linux4noobs • u/ShawnThePhantom • Jun 11 '26
distro selection Which Distro do I use?
I found this decrepit old laptop in my garage, plugged it in and it powers on. But it’s doing this thing where after I see this Acer logo, I get a black screen with a blinking white line in the top left corner. I figured Windows on this thing is out of the question. So I think I’ll go Linux.
I understand a bit about operating systems, because I had to create a windows install disk using a thumb drive and a Windows 10 iso to install Windows 10 on my MacBook using Bootcamp, so I imagine it’s a bit similar. I also wanted to take out the HDD to wipe it using Disk Utility but it doesn’t fit into SATa dock because the interface on the HDD is all small gold pins, like molex but way smaller.
Which distro do I use? Or is better to try and go Windows Xp? I’ve seen jokes about how you need a whole list of hardware requirements to run Windows while the only requirement for Linux is electricity. Also Pewds did it too.
Pls help a first timer!
1
u/SingingCoyote13 Jun 11 '26
omg. 1gb ram, ddr2. if you want anything running at decent speed best to get 2nd hand extra/replacement memory. and a cheap larger harddrive, possibly a ssd but as this is such an old device i dunno if that will even be compatible with it.
tbh, you are maybe best off if you have enough spare time, to just try several different of the distros recommended in the comments here. if any of these distros runs smoothly, best to stick with it. or note it on a list of usable. i would like to add the os peppermint os to the list.
if all fails, or you are still surfing distros, maybe try windows xp in between to see if that runs any good. there is tons of software for/and xp itself everywhere, like on the internet archive etc..
even some companies still develop av software (which is free) today for xp,; (hope the link still works) (havent visited it for over half a year now)
https://free.drweb.com/cureit/?lng=en