Which operating system is better for a weak computer. Which operating system to install on a weak PC or laptop. How to test a Linux laptop before purchasing
We probably all have old devices, laptops or computers that simply cannot work properly with a modern operating system, be it Windows or Linux. But such devices can still be used usefully. There are Linux distributions that are specifically designed to consume minimal RAM and CPU resources.
In this article, we will look at the best Linux distributions for your old laptop or computer that you can use on your devices. This is not a ranking, just a list, and all items are worthy of your attention. Today there will be no long introductions, let's move straight to the review.
Lubuntu is one of the best distributions for older laptops. It is based on Ubuntu, but is quite lightweight and stable. LXDE is used as a desktop environment, it can work even with the lowest hardware specifications.
All the necessary programs are supplied with the system, but there are much fewer of them than in the regular version of Ubuntu, which makes the distribution even lighter and smaller. For normal operation, Lubuntu requires a Pentium II or Celeron processor with support for PAE technology. The minimum amount of RAM: 128 MB, and hard disk space - 2 GB.
2. Puppy Linux
This is one of the lightest distributions. It is small, but quite powerful and can be used both on new computers and on fairly old hardware. Fresh images take up about 300 megabytes, and contain only the OS kernel and a small set of the most necessary programs, such as a browser, player, etc.
Interestingly, Puppy boots and runs from RAM, so programs start very quickly. After installation on USB, you can install additional programs, and all of them will also work from RAM. Puppy Linux uses JVM or OpenBox as its default window manager, which makes it even faster. Minimum requirements: 500 MHz processor, 128 MB RAM and 512 MB disk space.
3. Tiny Core
You've probably already heard about Tiny Core. This is the smallest Linux distribution. Even modern text editors are larger than this full GUI distribution. The image size is only 16 MB. You can install it even on the most ancient machine.
The system comes with only the most necessary programs, but this does not mean that you cannot install other programs that you need. Tiny Core currently comes in three versions - Core, TinyCore and CorePlus. The first is 11 MB in size and contains only the console interface, the second is 16 MB, has a FLTK/FLWM graphical interface, and the third is 116 MB, and is an installation image with utilities for configuring the system.
4. Bodhi Linux
Bodhi Linux is another Linux distribution for an old laptop, based on Ubuntu. It is fast enough and not overloaded with applications. It comes with only the most necessary programs, such as a file manager, Internet browser, text editor, terminal. But you can install everything you need via apt.
Enlightenment is used as the desktop environment. It consumes little memory and has a very beautiful and simple interface. Minimum requirements: 500 MHz processor, 128 MB RAM and 4 GB disk space.
5. Peppermint OS
Peppermint is based on Lubuntu, which can already be considered a Linux distribution for low-end laptops. This also uses the LXDE desktop environment. But a more interesting set of programs has been implemented. The distribution does not contain the usual cloud applications, but there are links to Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, etc. Applications open in the pre-installed Chromium browser.
However, you can install all the programs you need through a package manager. The minimum amount of RAM for the distribution to work is 192 MB, which is 62 MB more than other options.
6. Macpup
If Puppy Linux looks too simple and ugly for you, you can try Macpup Linux. It is based on Puppy Linux, so it has all the advantages of Puppy Linux, including running from RAM.
But the system looks more beautiful, Enlightenment is used as the desktop environment, there are transparency effects, an animated dock panel at the bottom of the screen, and much more. Everything you need is supplied with the system, including text processing programs. The distribution requires 164 MB of RAM to operate.
7. BunsenLabs Linux
This is another lightweight distribution that can run on older hardware. It is based on Debian and you can run the system if you have at least 256 MB of RAM. Openbox is used as a window manager, which has been specially modified to reduce resource consumption.
8. MX Linux
The latest version of MX Linux is based on Debian 8.2. This is a very fast distribution that can be used on both new and older devices. LXDE is used as a desktop environment, and the distribution also includes programs such as the Whisker menu and the Qupzilla browser.
9. Porteus
This is a Slackware-based distribution, primarily intended for installation on removable media, but can also be used on a hard drive. All Porteus data is in a compressed state, and the file system is created on the fly. All additional programs are supplied in the form of modules.
The desktop environment can be XFCE or LXQt. To run the graphical environment, 144 MB of RAM is enough.
10. Slitaz
Slitaz can start and work normally on a system with 256 MB of RAM. It uses the Openbox window manager, as well as several proprietary tools such as TazPanel. With TazPanel you can install programs, change system settings, bootloader and much more.
The distribution has several editions, the simplest of which can run on 20 MB of RAM, but only in the console interface. All necessary programs are supplied with the system.
conclusions
In this article, we looked at the best Linux distributions for weak laptops. From this list you can definitely choose what is right for you. What lightweight distributions would you recommend? Write in the comments!
Today, many users have old computers or laptops. Sometimes they are a secondary device in the home for typical tasks such as watching videos or typing. Microsoft requires you to use Windows 10, which does not always work comfortably on old hardware. This article discusses which GNU/Linux system to choose for a weak laptop or computer.
Criterias of choice
Before choosing a GNU/Linux distribution, you need to answer two main questions:
- Are you ready to use GNU/Linux?
- What tasks will be solved on the selected device?
The answer to the first question is usually no, because most people are used to Windows, although they may not know what they're up against. The fact is that any GNU/Linux distribution, no matter how similar it is to a Microsoft product, has many differences. For the average user, this will not be a big problem - he will still be able to use the browser, listen to music and print documents. You'll just have to get used to the new interface. With more study of the system, the difference with Windows will be felt more and more.
In fact, there are very few distributions that are only suitable for powerful computers. And it’s not even about the OS itself, but about the graphical shell that will be installed with it. Any GNU/Linux system will run faster than Windows on older hardware. Therefore, it is worth deciding on the tasks that, to a greater extent, depend on the computer itself, and then move on to choosing a system.
The main criteria when choosing a GNU/Linux distribution include:
- processor architecture. It is important that the OS matches the architecture, otherwise it will not even install;
- RAM consumption. For weak hardware, this is a particularly important point, since it is necessary to have the maximum possible amount of free memory to run programs;
- accompaniment. There are many good distributions that are already outdated and the developers do not release updates for them. In such cases, there is a risk of having an unclosed “hole” in the system, which will result in an insufficient level of security. For active operating systems, new “patches” are always released in the form of patches, and for them you can find support on the Internet on the issue of interest.
Specifying the remaining components of the computer by type of video card is not so important, since they only limit the execution of specific user tasks, and not the entire OS.
Note! Having an active Internet connection makes it easy to install the necessary program or ask for help from the community.
TOP 7 GNU/Linux distributions
This list includes those systems that have proven their stability in practice with the slightest user intervention in their operation.
| Name | Supported Architecture | Minimum RAM | Disk capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lubuntu | i386, x86_64 | 512 MB | 3 GB |
| Puppy Linux | i386, x86_64 | 64 MB | 200 MB |
| antiX | i486, x86_64 | 256 MB | 3 GB |
| Damn Small Linux | i486 | 16 MB | 50 MB |
| i386, x86_64 | 512 MB | 5 GB | |
| Fedora | armhfp,x86_64 | 1 GB | 6 GB |
| x86_64 | 1 GB | 6 GB |
Short review
It is worth saying a few words about each of the presented operating systems.
Lubuntu
Ubuntu operating system with a pre-installed LXDE graphical shell (a transition to LXQt is expected). By default, it lacks visual effects when working with windows, and also reduces functionality, which significantly reduces the requirements for computer resources.
After installation, the system occupies 3 GB of hard disk space. It is recommended to allocate at least 10 GB for the root partition for installing programs and system logging.
Puppy Linux
A very lightweight distribution that requires only 64 MB of RAM. The minimum computer requirements are a simple window manager. In fact, this is not an ordinary system, but a set of distributions based on Ubuntu and Slackware of different versions.
A special feature of Puppy Linux is that it works from a flash drive without installation with the ability to save a session. In this case, the operating speed will be much faster than from a disk, due to the use of RAM.
antiX
The system is also classified as too low-demanding because it requires 256 MB of RAM, any processor and up to 3 GB of root partition size to operate. Based on Debian and has several window managers to choose from.
Like Puppy Linux, antiX can run from a flash drive and save changes.
Damn Small Linux
Record holder for minimum computer requirements. It needs 16 MB of RAM and ~50 MB of space for the root. Based on Debian.
Despite such a small size, the kit includes a music player, browser, text and graphics editors and other frequently used programs. The only distribution kit presented that is no longer supported by the developer.
An Ubuntu-based distribution that has long held the top spot on Distrowatch for popularity among GNU/Linux. It is easy to use for beginners, which is why it also has some disadvantages such as the optional (and not mandatory, as in most OS) security update capability.
The most common edition is with the Cinnamon graphical shell. Despite its nice appearance compared to the systems reviewed, it does not require many resources.
Fedora
The distribution is an “experimental platform” for Red Hat and CentOS, as it installs the latest versions of the software. The system supports several desktop environments, but the most lightweight is LXQt.
Like Debian systems, global updates are released on Fedora a couple of times a year, which means you don't have to worry about your hard drive being full.
The clear leader of Distrowatch based on Arch Linux, supporting many graphical shells (including custom builds). It's easier to say that GNOME consumes the most resources relative to others. Even KDE now doesn't require as much RAM as GNOME.
Manjaro is the only distribution in this top that officially runs exclusively on the x86_64 architecture. In general, i386 processors are already rare, so it is difficult to find hardware on which the system will not run. The only obvious drawback is the presence of at least 1 GB of RAM.
conclusions
To choose GNU/Linux for a weak laptop or computer, you must first decide on the typical tasks that will be performed on the device. Next, you need to select the distribution that will be suitable for the hardware, at least in terms of RAM and supported processor architecture.
27.01.2016
Time moves forward, technologies are rapidly developing and improving, while becoming more accessible. However, many people still have, in addition to their main computer or laptop, some kind of outdated device that is a pity to throw away and has not been able to be used to its full intended purpose for a long time.
As you yourself understand, there are plenty of reasons why you may have a weak computer. Another question is what operating system to install there so that interacting with this machine does not seem like torture. Obviously, the choice in this case will fall on Linux, Now all that remains is to decide which specific distribution of this OS is best suited for your PC or laptop. This is what will be discussed below.
The name of the distribution speaks for itself - this is a lightweight version of a full-fledged OS. If you are familiar with the Windows XP interface, then you will not have any problems mastering “light” Linux - everything looks familiar and very friendly.
Part Linux Lite includes several pre-installed utilities and programs, including a graphics editor, an office suite from Libre, a VLC player and Steam (just a minute!). GIMP is enabled here by default, but Flash and Java do not work natively, as does playing MP3 files. To solve this problem, you will need to install additional packages. They, like other necessary programs, are installed in Linux - from the console or synaptic.
Download Linux Lite you can with official website the creators of this distribution. There you can also familiarize yourself with the minimum requirements for this version of the OS.
Bodhi Linux
Another lightweight (500 MB) and undemanding Linux distribution for system resources, installation of which will take you just a few minutes.
Pre-installed applications in Bodhi Linux very little, which in our case is more of a plus than a minus. You can always install the necessary software yourself. Once you have configured the OS, you will immediately feel the true thrill of how your weak PC or laptop “flies”. The only trouble that a user of this distribution may encounter is the Russification of the system. Sometimes, even after installing a full language pack, the OS will only partially “speak” Russian to you.
Download latest versionBodhi Linux you can on official website.
Minimum system requirements: processor with frequency 1 GHz, 256 MB random access memory, 4 GB free disk space.
Runtu Lite
Excellent OS distribution Linux for weak computers. The big advantage of this version of the system is its regular updates, numerous repositories with a huge software base, detailed descriptions of solutions to the most common problems that can be found on the Internet, as well as a huge community that will answer (or has already answered) all the questions of inexperienced users.
Runtu Lite, like the distributions described above, is undemanding to system resources and has a simple but very attractive interface. Mastering this version of Linux is not difficult, nor is it difficult to customize it for yourself. There is a pre-installed audio player; it is better to use VLC to play videos. There is a simple and convenient file manager, torrent client, browser (Firefox). Everything else can always be installed manually.
DownloadRuntu Lite you can on official website the creators of this distribution. You can also familiarize yourself in detail with the minimum system requirements and a detailed list of pre-installed software.
A lightweight Linux distribution built on Unbutu. Actively supported by developers. The installation file weighs some 700 MB, including, in addition to the OS itself, the required minimum of programs.
Uses the LXDE working environment, which is very gentle on system resources. Separately, it is worth noting the extremely attractive interface of this distribution.
You can download it at official Russian-language website by selecting the desired system bit depth. There you can also find the minimum system requirements. It is also worth noting the presence of a large Russian-speaking community, whose members are ready to answer all the questions of inexperienced PC users.
That's all, you've probably already decided for yourself, which Linux to choose for weak computers. We wish your “machine” a new life, productivity and high speeds.
Modern popular distributions make immodest demands on
gland. And on standard computers 7-10 years ago, if they start up, then
They definitely won't fly. And such dinosaurs still survive in large numbers in
government offices, educational institutions, in geeks' closets. The life of such
computers will prolong the correct selection and configuration of the OS.
To get Linux that works quickly on older equipment,
There are two ways: use an existing distribution with low system
requirements, or finish your favorite dist to the desired condition. Every way
its pros and cons. The first way is faster, but the second gives more freedom
actions and expo :). As a rule, modern distributions need at least 384 MB of RAM
For normal operation, the CPU frequency is not so critical; 400 MHz is enough). But
you need to understand that if you launch Firefox - and the system with 384 MB of RAM immediately
will go into swap. So for normal work with the browser, mail and IM it is advisable
512 MB - 1024 MB. I'll try to choose an OS for the "spherical configuration"
beginning of the 21st century:
- Processor: Intel Pentium-III 800 MHz;
- RAM: 128 MB SDRAM;
- Video card: built-in or discrete with 8 MB of memory;
- HDD: 20 GB.
Ready solutions
Distributions designed to run on older hardware appear almost
not every day. Unfortunately, in most cases they disappear as quickly as
as they appear. There are very few long-livers in this niche. Usually these are respins
popular distributions with "light" DE and a set of programs.
Perhaps the most famous lightweight distribution is DSL (Damn Small Linux). IN
The magazine has written about it more than once, so I won’t repeat it. But long
the lack of new releases and the old kernel of the 2.4 branch make it not the best
choice. The most popular distribution has two options for the old one
hardware: xubuntu (by modern standards, a long-lived distribution) and a newcomer
lubuntu.
Xubuntu - official version of Ubuntu with Xfce instead of Gnome and a few others
a set of software (Abiword+Gnumeric instead of Openoffice, Thunderbird instead of Evolution, and
etc). Calling xubuntu a “light” distribution can only be conditional -
minimum requirements include 192 MB of RAM (but it is highly recommended to at least
256 MB). However, practice has shown that at 128 MB (with swap) xubuntu still
starts (but not in Live mode) and even tries to work, but very thoughtfully.
It is not recommended to launch any applications :). Distribution image size
- 681 MB, and the full installation takes about 2 GB. But the distribution has advantages
huge Ubuntu package database and good localization.
Lubuntu is an unofficial Ubuntu-based distribution with LXDE instead of Gnome and
a significantly revised software set. In addition to the standard replacement for the gluttonous
OpenOffice to Abiword+Gnumeric, Firefox replaced by Chromium (in terms of consumption
RAM is a fairly good replacement; Xubuntu should do the same).
The distribution at the time of writing was still in beta status, release scheduled for October 2010
(along with the release of Ubuntu 10.10). Lubuntu can already be called "light"
distribution kit, since it is more or less workable on 128 MB of RAM (and even
runs in Live mode, although with such an amount of RAM you have to fiddle with it
with installation). The distribution size is 521 MB, and the complete installation takes about
1.5 GB.
Antix is another derivative, this time from a distribution that is not very well known among us
SimplyMEPIS with added packages from Debian Testing. In minimum requirements
PII 266 and 64 MB of RAM are declared (with a swap of at least 128 MB). True, it is recommended
still 128 MB of RAM. There are two versions: full (485 MB) and base (264 MB). Full
installation of the full version takes about 1.5 GB. The latest release is 8.5, released in
April this year. IceWM is used as DE (although fluxbox, wmii and dwm
also installed). Russification of the distribution is very conditional, it is included
non-trivial and replete with gems like “office”. But it is present out of the box
(thanks to the debian-multimedia repository) most of what you need for a comfortable
life of codecs.
Another fairly well-known distribution for old computers is puppy
(constantly in top10 on distrowatch). Although a new one came out in May of this year
release of Lucid Puppy 5.0 (based on Ubuntu Lucid Lynx binaries), branch 4.x (with
latest stable release 4.3.1) is still supported and is planned to be released soon
4.4. The installation ISO version 5.0.1 takes only about 130 MB, and the OS is
installed - a little more than 500 MB. Despite its small size, it contains
a considerable amount of application software: abiword, sylpheed, inkscape, gxine (and also
all the necessary codecs), geany and much more. When starting the browser it pops up
a window asking which browser you want to install (just like in Windows :)).
Although you can also launch the pre-installed PuppyBrowser, based on Firefox.
In general, the distribution tries to resemble as much as possible a small-soft OS, and does not
only design, but also operating principles (for example, work by default
offered from root). The OS works fine on 128 MB of RAM as after installation,
and in Live mode, practically without using swap. As a window manager
JWM written in C and having a minimum of dependencies is used. Another one
interesting feature puppy - when you shut down the LiveCD, save the changes
data to external media.
Slitaz is a relatively young distribution. Release 1.0 was released in March 2008. With
Since then it has been released once a year, the current one is 3.0. Surprising
ISO image size: only 30 MB (smaller than DSL!). In addition to the distribution itself with
offsite, you can download a separate disk image with all available packages (less
1.5 GB). Openbox is used as a window manager, the panel is LXPanel. On
30 MB LiveCD fits Firefox, gFTP, transmission, mplayer, leafpad and
there are a lot of other nice little things. There is even built-in HTTP (lighttpd) and
SSH (dropbear) server. There is Russian localization, but not complete (installer,
for example, not Russified at all). To run the standard version in mode
LiveCD is recommended with at least 192 MB of RAM, 128 MB refuses to run
categorically. For those unfortunate people who don’t have that much memory, the developers
released special versions of LiveCD: slitaz-loram (80 MB of RAM is enough for
launch) and slitaz-loram-cdrom (only 16 MB is enough).
Tiny Core Linux is the most amazing of the "light" Linuxes. Developers
managed to cram a full-fledged OS with X into a 10-megabyte image. For graphics
The FLWM window manager and the FLTK toolkit are responsible. It is not surprising that the software set
minimal: there is no browser or any text editor. But you can
literally a couple of mouse clicks to install. There is no installer as such either -
It is suggested to partition the disk using cfdisk, format the partitions manually
transfer files and install grub. Tiny core manages to work well on 64 MB
RAM. Unfortunately, such a small distribution size was achieved not only by
due to throwing out almost all applications. Many drivers were also excluded.
For example, a lot of wood for wireless cards was left behind. So I
I would use this distribution only if no other
no longer starts.
Hand made
For fast operation of an old PC, it is not necessary to install a separate
distribution - you can always finish your favorite one to the desired state. Here again
There are two ways: use ready-made DEs or assemble your environment piece by piece.
The first way is easier, the second is more interesting :).
Among the light DEs we can note LXDE and Enlightenment (yes, Xfce is not the same anymore...)
LXDE is available in the repositories of most distributions. For example, on Ubuntu LXDE
put like this:
$ sudo apt-get install lxde
Thus, we will practically get lubuntu (practically, because
after all, lubuntu has its own additional ppa repository).
Enlightenment is also in the Ubuntu repositories (in 10.04 - only E16, in 10.10 -
both E16 and the currently under development E17) and is placed accordingly:
$ sudo apt-get install e16
$ sudo apt-get install e17
After installation, the downloadable DE can be selected when logging into GDM. If
assemble your graphical environment, then the number of possible solutions can be
limited only by imagination. Conventionally, a graphical environment can be composed of
the following components:
- Window Manager;
- Session Manager;
- Desktop and file manager;
- Panel;
- Some useful software, like a terminal emulator, archiver, etc.
similar.
The agony of choice
The window manager is responsible for the interface of graphical environment windows and their behavior.
The choice of window manager is very wide: from the well-known metacity, compiz and kwin to
"light" openbox, fluxbox, IceWM and JWM. I chose openbox -
because of speed, convenient configurator (ObConf) and habit :). In addition, in
Unlike many other window managers, openbox is actively developing.
Is there life in the console?
Far from being in last place on the list of RAM eaters in the lungs
distributions cost X's. In some cases, giving up X's will be good
solution, and sometimes the only way out. Of course, life is in a bare console
requires some preparation and adaptation. But don’t think that everything is completely
sad - there are dozens of excellent console applications for all occasions
life. Using framebuffer you can even view images and videos,
and with gpm - use the mouse. Here is a small list of good console games
programs:
- Browsers: lynx (grandfather of text browsers), w3m (support for
mouse, cookies and a few other useful things), links (in version 2
supports displaying graphics via framebuffer);- Mail client: mutt, alpine;
- IM: finch (multi-protocol client, "console version of Pidgin"),
CenterIM (another multi-protocol client. From version 5.0 there will also be
based on libpurple), irssi (IRC client), mcabber (jabber client);- RSS readers: newsbeuter, snownews;
- Image viewing: fbi (and fbgs is a wrapper for it that allows
view PDF and PostScript), fbv, zgv;- Music players: ogg123, mpg123, mpg321, mpd, moc,
mp3blaster;- Video players: mplayer, vlc.
The next component is the session manager. This is the kind of thing that is responsible for
starting other programs (including the window manager), restarting them if
crash, and also provides the ability to save a list of running
applications. The element is, in principle, optional, but quite pleasant. How
As a rule, each DE has its own session manager: gnome-session, lxsession,
xfce-session. Standing somewhat apart is staybox, designed to launch
openbox (and other *box window managers). But it is not in the repository, and it is unknown
Will it continue to develop? In principle, there are no special differences between these
There are no solutions, so I chose lxsession (part of the LXDE project). Unconfigured
Openbox may seem somewhat ascetic - black background, lack of panels,
The only menu is the right button. The choice of panels is probably wider than the choice
window managers: tint2, pypanel, fbpanel, lxpanel and many others. Requirements to
My panels are simple: low demands on resources, presence of a switch
virtual tables, application menu, clock, layout switcher
keyboards. I settled on LXPanel. One of the nice bonuses: support for applets
(keyboard layout, clock, menu...), ability to run multiple copies (if
I want it like in Gnome - top and bottom), a simple graphical configurator.
As a rule, for drawing icons (and sometimes background images) on the desktop
a specialized utility (like
), or file
manager. Using the standard gnome nautilus does not fit into
general concept of a light environment. There are not so many suitable “easy” options
many: pcmanfm, thunar, rox-filer, emelfm2, xfe, gentoo (not to be confused with
distribution :)). I like pcmanfm most for its bookmarks and tabs,
auto-mounting flash drives, support for file type associations (applications for
default), and in general, for a pleasant interface. Under the new environment follows
select accompanying software with low system requirements.
It is better to change Gnome-terminal to something easier: terminator, termit,
lxterminal, sakura. I want a little from the terminal emulator: UTF8 support
and tabs. lxterminal fits these requirements quite well. Browser, along with
terminal is my main working tool. Although there are "light" browsers,
for example, dillo, midory or arora - all of them do not suit me as
tool for everyday work for one reason or another: lack of necessary
technology or job instability. Therefore, I left it as a browser for now
chromium.
I don’t need much from a text editor - just to have it (all the same
I mostly edit configs in nano or mc). I'll install leafpad for text
files, abiword - for odt and doc, gnumeric - for ods or xls. In case of
If you need syntax highlighting, geany may come in handy. As
image viewer, you can use Eye of GNOME, or you can
choose an easier alternative, fortunately, there are many options: geeqie (fork of gqview),
ristretto, mirage and others - for every taste and color. I chose geeqie.
It remains to replace network-manager with wicd, and file-roller with xarchiver, and
we get a complete graphical environment. True, it’s somewhat foreign in this
gdm will look good in a lightweight environment. Therefore, it is also better to replace it with
something simpler, for example, slim (Simple Login Manager) - this will reduce the time
downloads.
Lightweight monitor
A good addition to a lightweight distribution would be the conky system monitor.
It is capable of monitoring any system parameter (including using
calling an external script), while consuming a minimum of resources. Install
Just:$ sudo apt-get install conky
Then you need to create a file ~/.conkyrc. The program has a lot of parameters,
so it’s easier to take a ready-made .conkyrc and edit it to suit your needs.
Examples of .conkyrc files with screenshots can be found on the official website:
.
Installation and pilling
Now all system components are selected. You can install and configure. All
the above is available in the repositories of almost any distribution. I will
describe using Ubuntu as an example, but, I think, for other distributions there are significant
no differences are expected. So, let's put:
$ sudo apt-get install slim openbox obconf lxpanel pcmanfm lxterminal
chromium-browser leafpad abiword gnumeric geany geeqie wicd xarchiver
During the installation process you will be asked which login manager to use. Choose
slim.
Since we’ve already taken up apt-get, we can clean out everything unnecessary from the system along the way,
for example, remove avahi-daemon and kerneloops-daemon. Sane and cups are used (by
at least by me) not very often - they can be removed from startup for
reducing RAM consumption and system startup time:
$ sudo /etc/init.d/cups stop
$ sudo update-rc.d -f cups remove
But let's get back to the settings. First you need to teach login manager to run
correct session manager. Slim can work with different sessions (for choice
session key responds
I managed to get it to launch openbox correctly as a default session. Easier
register the launch of lxsession in ~/.xsession:
$ nano ~/.xsession lxsession -session default
To let lxsession know which window manager to launch, create a file /etc/xdg/lxsession/default/desktop.conf
with the following content:
$ sudo nano /etc/xdg/lxsession/default/desktop.conf
window_manager=openbox-session
The programs that lxsession should launch upon login are written in the file /etc/xdg/lxsession/default/autostart:
$ sudo nano /etc/xdg/lxsession/default/autostart @lxpanel @pcmanfm --desktop
The "@" icon indicates that lxsession will monitor state
running program and restart it if it crashes. Option "--desktop"
indicates that the desktop (icons and wallpaper) will be rendered
pcmanfm. You can specify the path to the picture that will serve as wallpaper either through
GUI:
$ pcmanfm --desktop-pref
or in config.config/pcmanfm/pcmanfm.conf. I recommend also specifying pcmanfm
display the window manager menu instead of its own.
To make lxterminal open from the openbox menu instead of gnome-terminal, you need
enter:
$ sudo update-alternatives --config x-terminal-emulator
And select lxterminal in the list that appears.
Conclusion
Today, when the amount of RAM in new computers is measured in gigabytes, and
single-core processors are bad manners, a modern OS capable of running on
A computer with a turn-of-the-century configuration seems fantastic. And yet, this
is quite real.
Despite the fact that support for the “old lady” XP ceased in April 2014, this system is still installed on thousands of computers around the world. As a rule, these are old and weak machines on which Windows 7/8/10 is very slow. But this does not mean that such a situation should be left to chance!
Why is the system worth changing?
HR is already more than 14 years old. Security systems that are not updated in a timely manner with patches from the Update Center are no longer effective. If you still have XP installed on your computer, you are at considerable risk of losing all your files as a result of malware (and an antivirus is unlikely to help you in this case). And one of the Linux systems for weak computers will help you out.
Which to choose?
Since the hardware of old computers can only shock the imagination with its archaic nature, you will have to choose the lightest, but at the same time the most “friendly” versions. It is generally accepted that Linux is generally distinguished by extremely modest system requirements, but in recent years this has not been entirely true. Firstly, the differences between the versions are huge. Secondly, there are types of systems that can work almost on calculators.
It’s just that a beginner can’t install Gentoo, so it’s better to look for something simpler. So which Linux should you choose for weak computers? This is not the simplest matter, so the choice should be approached quite carefully.
Majority choice
Professionals recommend looking at Linux Mint. This system initially comes with a variety of graphical shells. All of them are quite similar to the old Windows XP. Even Cinnamon (one of them) works well on old hardware, and Mate or XFCE (or LDXE) is ideal for “older” computers.
Until relatively recently, Ubuntu could be recommended for installation on outdated desktops and laptops... But after its developers switched to Unity, novice users began to have massive problems mastering the system. In addition, the new graphical shell puts a lot of pressure even on new hardware, requiring a good video card and a fairly powerful processor. In a word, this version of Linux is contraindicated for owners of “antiques”.
If your “dinosaur” has at least a gigabyte of RAM, the “top-end” Cinnamon will probably suit you. For other cases, we would recommend Xfce. It is this shell that we will discuss in our article. Even if you choose another Linux for weaker computers, but on the same GUI (the so-called graphical environment), our tips will still be useful to you. In any case, you will learn the most basic information, which will still be useful in the future.
How to prepare for the transition?
First, you need to download the ISO image of Linux Mint. Using UltraISO or a similar program, write it to a flash drive. It must be said that its volume must be at least 2 GB. Attention! When recording the system, all data that was previously on the disk drive will be automatically deleted. So make sure that there are no important documents on the flash drive!
Finally, if there is also something important for you on the Windows disks, do not forget to save this data on removable media as well. We strongly advise you not to copy information to drive “D” or another logical partition! The fact is that inexperienced beginners, when installing Linux, often “kill” all the Windows markup, which is why the data on all hard drives is destroyed!
Let's start the installation
We insert the flash drive into any free USB connector (but it is better to use the rear one) and restart the computer. Typically, you need to change the boot sequence in the BIOS. On many computers, the F11 and F12 keys are used to quickly access the boot menu. But this is only true for relatively new computers and laptops.
If you find yourself in this situation, you will have to use the BIOS capabilities. The button required for this is indicated on the initial loading screen. The most commonly used keys are Del and F2. You also have to find the Boot Priority item and set starting from a flash drive as the first item. After this you need to restart your computer. To save settings and then reboot, most BIOS use F10.
What if the computer doesn’t see the USB drive at all?
If the computer is very old, booting from a flash drive may not work at all, since the hardware, in principle, is not designed for this. Well, there's nothing wrong with that: use a DVD. There's definitely a drive for it in an old computer! The free program CDBurnerXP or Nero will help you burn the image to a disc. The latter is not free, but it is more functional. If you have access to a computer with Windows 7/8, then you won’t need any additional utilities, since these systems support disc burning natively.
After everything is finished, you can install Linux for weak computers. Most likely, you will still have to enter the BIOS using the methods we described above. If you did everything correctly, the installer screen will appear in front of you.
Testing and installation
Important! should be performed only after you have verified that the OS is operating normally on your computer. Don't worry: you will always find a Live version of the system on the bootable media. With its help, you can definitely find out whether it’s worth switching to a new OS completely. So, you can check the correct operation of the wireless communication modules and understand whether your video card is suitable for this version of Linux.
After Linux Live boots up, click on the gear icon in the lower left corner to bring up the local equivalent of the Start menu. Find the “System” and “Settings” items: they contain basic information about the hardware of your computer. If everything is recognized, everything is fine. In the remaining paragraphs you can familiarize yourself with the programs that come with this system.
Please note that in the “live” system the entire interface is in English. You don't have to do this. When installing Linux, you will be able to select Russian in the first installation window. At the end of the process, you will have a fully localized, ready-to-use system at your disposal.
Start installation
If everything is in order and your experience is positive, simply click on the “Install Linux Mint” shortcut, which is located on your desktop. As is the case with the installer of any program for Windows, you first need to set the basic parameters.
First, the program will independently check the amount of available disk space and the presence of an Internet connection. Let us immediately note that it would be better to connect to the Internet, as this will reduce the number of further “movements”: all necessary updates and localization packages will be downloaded already at the installation stage, so you will not have to deal with this in the future. All you have to do is select your time zone, assign a password, username, and keyboard layout. Unlike Windows, you can’t refuse to choose a password, so it’s better to write it down somewhere so you don’t forget.
Only after this does the Linux system begin copying its files to the hard drive. It should be noted that this process takes about 30-45 minutes. Once everything is ready, the system will prompt you to reboot: watch the display carefully, as it will tell you at what point you need to remove the installation media.
What to do after installation?
As we said, any version of Linux that uses the Xfce environment should, by its nature, work well with older hardware. Immediately after logging in, you will see a fairly simple and functional desktop. If you have at least some experience with a computer, you will probably figure it out quickly and without any problems. As a rule, questions may arise only with the display resolution. This can be changed via the Settings/Resolution menu. All names will already be in the “native and mighty”: Russian Linux in this regard is even easier to set up and learn!
If this is the case in your case, that is, you need to set the resolution yourself, then the automatic one did not work for some reason. There is no need to worry: you need to go to the “System/Driver Manager” menu, select from the list the one marked “Recommended”, click on the “Apply changes” button, wait until the process is completely completed, and then restart the computer. If you have any issues with your wireless connection, also use the Driver Manager.
In general, more or less experienced Windows XP users rarely have problems when working with Mint. So setting up Linux may not be a very familiar task, but it is quite easy to cope with.
Working with application utilities
All major programs are accessed through the Start menu. Using the search bar it is easy to find those utilities whose location you do not know. For example, if you start typing th or "mail", the system will immediately display the Thunderbird mail application. We recommend pinning your most frequently used programs to the Taskbar. To do this, right-click on the application shortcut and select the desired item in the pop-up menu.
“Program Manager” will help you install those application applications that are not initially included in the system. To launch it, you need to go to the “System” menu. Since the “Manager” has thousands of programs sorted into categories, even inexperienced users will definitely not be stunned: “Internet”, “Audio and Video”, “Graphics”, “Games” will help you choose the application you need. There is also a search function that makes working with this useful package even easier. For example, you can enter Skype into the search bar so that you are immediately transferred to the installation window for this client.
In general, Linux users have thousands of alternatives to Windows programs. It’s just that in most cases they will be called slightly differently. To find the most suitable application for you, you can turn to the almighty Internet for help.
The search question can be formulated here as you wish. By digging through the links, you will probably find the solution you need. By the way! Don't hesitate to help from the Ubuntu community. These two distributions (this also means Mint) are built on an absolutely similar base, so advice from experienced users will certainly not be superfluous.
Benefits of the Installation Center
Let's assume that you have found out exactly the name of the program that you need for your work. You can simply copy and paste its name into the search bar in the Manager. Please note that we strongly recommend that inexperienced people use it rather than download installation packages from the Internet. Firstly, this way you will get the most reliable and tested releases. Secondly, you can be completely confident in the absolute safety of programs obtained in this way. Even the best Linux will not provide any protection if you install “rogue” applications from unknown sources.
Thirdly, all these applications will be updated centrally, simultaneously with the system itself. This is not only convenient, but also extremely important for the security of your computer and the documents that are on its hard drive. By the way, the availability of updates is indicated by a shield-shaped icon located in the lower right corner. If there is a need for this, then by going to the “System” menu item and selecting the appropriate value, you will start the system update process manually.
Forgetting about “My Computer”
To open an analogue of “My Computer”, you need to click on the icon with the folder icon in the left corner (on the “Taskbar”). In the window that opens there is a house icon, on which is written the name that you chose when installing the system. Let's click on it. A file manager window of a completely familiar type opens, in which you can select folders with the names “Video”, “Photos”, “Documents”, etc. We think that you will be able to figure out their purpose on your own.
In principle, access to removable USB media will be even easier and will not require any effort from the user. Unless you have to firmly grasp the fact that in Linux there are no letters to designate hard drives. When you connect a flash drive or optical drive, the system will not only inform you that it was successfully mounted (connected), but will also display its icon on the desktop. Simple and very convenient!
In the case when your computer has two systems (“Windows” and “Linux”), keep in mind that Linux partitions are not visible from Windows without special utilities! So be careful and don’t uninstall Windows out of inexperience!
Security questions
In principle, security issues here do not play as important a role as if we were discussing the usual Windows. But here, unfortunately, there is no point in relaxing. Some basic precautions must be taken.
The main elements of protection have already been mentioned above. First, a password must be placed on the system, and it is impossible to bypass this condition. It must be entered when performing any operations that in one way or another affect the security of your computer. Without a password, there is no way a hypothetical attacker will be able to introduce any malicious program onto your computer. The second element is the constant installation of updates. Fortunately, in Minta this procedure is easy and obvious.
If you pay special attention to security issues, you can install additional programs that regulate this parameter. Please note that many of these utilities work using the command line to run. To do this, use the terminal, which is called by the key combination Win + T.