Linux for old laptop

adbp1 · 26 Apr 2020 at 16:59

My sister has given me her laptop to fix, it had windows 10 but i cannot get it to repair. so i was thinking Linux or even chrome os. I have formatted drive and installed neverware but i dont really like it.

spec of laptop

HP Stream 11-r000na
Celeron N3050 / 1.6 GHz
Win 10 Home 64-bit
2 GB RAM
32 GB eMMC

what would be the best linux or chrome for the specs above.
needs it working so the kids can do their homework while on lockdown.

Ali

Deleted member 77746 · 26 Apr 2020 at 17:01

Re-install windows 10

adbp1 · 26 Apr 2020 at 17:03

mrbell1984 said:
Re-install windows 10

I dont have windows 10 or the windows key to reinstall

Deleted member 77746 · 26 Apr 2020 at 18:24

adbp1 said:
I dont have windows 10 or the windows key to reinstall

The restore is built in. Paste this into file explorer > hit enter.

Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Recovery

Akagi · 26 Apr 2020 at 18:34

I use Elementary Linux as a good looking and lightweight install on my similar netbook. It runs fine.

joey1211 · 26 Apr 2020 at 19:29

adbp1 said:
I dont have windows 10 or the windows key to reinstall

Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool here and select 'upgrade another computer' or similar. It will then burn the Windows installer to a USB stick.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

You will not need a product key as it's activated via the BIOS or something. A grown-up will be along shortly.

emu · 26 Apr 2020 at 19:33

peppermint os

adbp1 · 26 Apr 2020 at 21:02

Thanks, I will have a look at both of them.

wiiija · 26 Apr 2020 at 21:38

emu said:
peppermint os

I'll second that if you want a real lightweight distro, its not pretty though! you might also want to try Lubuntu.

opethdisciple · 26 Apr 2020 at 23:45

Yes, windows 10 reinstall is built in to the os:

adbp1 · 26 Apr 2020 at 23:49

I dont know which part of wont reinstall and have formatted people dont understand. I dont want to sound ungrateful but i came to linux part of the forum for advice on linux not windows.

thanks I will have a look at peppermint

picnic · 27 Apr 2020 at 09:58

adbp1 said:
I dont know which part of wont reinstall and have formatted people dont understand.

Probably the bit that said

adbp1 said:
it had windows 10 but i cannot get it to repair.

Sorry but this does make you sound ungrateful :rolleyes:

Akagi · 27 Apr 2020 at 17:57

It isn't the question he asked though in fairness.

adbp1 · 30 Apr 2020 at 09:20

Peppermint all installed and running fine, kids are now to do homework together :cool:

Lysander · 30 Apr 2020 at 13:51

That is an awfully low spec PC for work these days. Peppermint was a good call. Haven't used it myself, but yours is exactly the kind of situation that the OS is built for.

Hades · 30 Apr 2020 at 13:59

Good Lord you can still buy that machine today. With that spec and screen size it looks just like the old netbooks from 10 years ago.

Nevakonaza · 9 May 2020 at 08:28

Lubuntu gets my vote, super lightweight.

havenrl · 7 Nov 2020 at 15:47

I have an old laptop to test.
Windows 7 I think, haven't used it for a while.
Thinking about installing Ubuntu to fully test it out, before a full installation on my main computer.

gpuerrilla · 7 Nov 2020 at 21:50

Run them off pen stick to try them out. Try a few till you attach to one and then do the full install.

havenrl · 13 Nov 2020 at 18:36

With my old laptop, althon 2, 4gb ram, barely able to run Ubuntu. Tried it, didn't work.
A little research for old laptops using Linux.

Lubuntu - lightweight ubuntu came around.

I used the iso, and it worked straight away.
Got to the desktop, and didn't worry about having a look with the live iso, as it still has Windows7 on it, I switched to installing asap.
6 minutes, then an upgrade to the current software, hefty 30 minutes, i guess that's down to my old cpu and ram.
Nice and clean look, and works. Dipping my toes into the command line.
Now ready for my desktop to ditch Windows10 and try Linux Mint.

Linux for old laptop

Capodecina