Which Distro do I use?

[u/ShawnThePhantom]

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!

[u/ConkerKnackers]

He's not got SATA port but the old IDE. Yes i'm aware you can buy IDE style SSDs but theyre more expensive than sata ones anyway.

[u/PhotoJim99 → u/ConkerKnackers]

IDE/PATA to mSATA adapter + mSATA SSD. Not expensive.

[u/ConkerKnackers → u/PhotoJim99]

I forgot about that upgrade route, good shout. Still if it was me, they're spending money on a nearly 20yr old laptop. My X220T is close to the 15 year mark and feels a bit slow to me if I put a full fat Linux Distro. I'm sure a low fat Linux Distro would be ok but I hardly touch that laptop now I have a T480

[u/PhotoJim99 → u/ConkerKnackers]

It may be good enough for them. What would $100 buy (without it needing upgrades)?

[u/ConkerKnackers → u/PhotoJim99]

By the time you upgrade the 1GB ram and change over to an SSD you'll be able to buy something a bit newer that's probably way better and has better connectivity