questions on open source operating systems

[Bob Vavricka]

I have a laptop that the hard drive crashed on and I replaced the hard drive. I had it backed up, but was never able to get it to work like it should from the restore. After messing with it for a long time, I bought a new one. I am interested in giving the old one to a university student that needs one, and was wondering if putting Linux or another open source operating system on it would be possible. It was a Windows 7 machine if that makes any difference. What browsers, software can you run with Linux? I don't want to give him something that will be confusing to use, however, I think it is mainly used to do internet related tasks.

[Chuck Wintle]

I have a laptop that the hard drive crashed on and I replaced the hard drive. I had it backed up, but was never able to get it to work like it should from the restore. After messing with it for a long time, I bought a new one. I am interested in giving the old one to a university student that needs one, and was wondering if putting Linux or another open source operating system on it would be possible. It was a Windows 7 machine if that makes any difference. What browsers, software can you run with Linux? I don't want to give him something that will be confusing to use, however, I think it is mainly used to do internet related tasks.

How old is the laptop? If you go with Linux then my preference would be to install Linux mint as it seems to be the easiest to master. A college student should have no trouble to navigate a Linux system and, best of all, is free.

[Bob Vavricka]

The laptop is probably 7-8 years old--my how time flies. It is a Toshiba with an i-7 Intel processor. I see there are different versions of Linux mint do you have a recommendation on which one to use. I was leaning toward the Mint 17 Mate, but I am open to suggestions.

[Myk Rian]

Don't install anything on it. Let the student decide what to put on it.

[Phil Thien]

Don't install anything on it. Let the student decide what to put on it.

I think that is pretty good advice. If the student wants Win7, there are probably resources available (from the university) to assist getting it loaded and all the required drivers installed.

[Bob Vavricka]

I retired from the University he is attending and I am pretty sure they don't provide that kind or service or software, but will check. The student is an international student who has been working for me this summer to pay for last semester's tuition and get enrolled for the next semester, so he wouldn't have the money to buy an operating system.

[Phil Thien]

I retired from the University he is attending and I am pretty sure they don't provide that kind or service or software, but will check. The student is an international student who has been working for me this summer to pay for last semester's tuition and get enrolled for the next semester, so he wouldn't have the money to buy an operating system.

Well if it came w/ Win7, there should be a sticker on the bottom with the Win7 Product Key. This would work with the appropriate install disk. So if the Product Key says Win7 Home Premium, you just need a Win7 Home Premium disk to use with your Product Key to get it reinstalled.

[Curt Harms]

The laptop is probably 7-8 years old--my how time flies. It is a Toshiba with an i-7 Intel processor. I see there are different versions of Linux mint do you have a recommendation on which one to use. I was leaning toward the Mint 17 Mate, but I am open to suggestions.

I think the easiest Mint version to adapt to is Mint w/ Cinnamon desktop. It feels and works very much like Windows XP to me. It includes media players and the ability to save .pdf files 'out of the box'. The biggest obstacle is likely to be wifi compatibility. Some, primarily Intel wifi chips work without doing anything. Broadcom often requires a one time wired connection to download and install Broadcom specific 'drivers'. You can determine if and how things are going to work without even having a hard drive installed. Boot off a DVD or better yet a USB flash drive. You can PM me and I can give you some places to look if you're interested. One of big barriers to using non-Windows non-Mac OSs has been the lack of a 'good' office suite. Apparently MSOffice 365 works just fine on Linux boxen though I haven't tried it - don't have the need. I find Libreoffice perfectly adequate for my uses.

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

Many, (if not all) major software companies (Adobe, Microsoft, etc.) have discounts for students. Sometimes the only thing you need is a valid .edu email address. Last time I dealt with a student getting MS products, they were able to get the professional edition of Windows 7 for 30 bucks. I don't know if Microsoft still sells W7, though. Might be an option if the student feels a particular need for Windows.

[glenn bradley]

I think that is pretty good advice. If the student wants Win7, there are probably resources available (from the university) to assist getting it loaded and all the required drivers installed.

I'm in this camp as well. I work for a university system and a user license of off our enterprise licenses are available for little or no cost. I run linux on a an old windows machine. As a matter of fact the best use for a machine that will no longer run Windows seems to be to install an "UX" distribution of your choice and breathe new life into the platform.

[Duane Meadows]

Well if it came w/ Win7, there should be a sticker on the bottom with the Win7 Product Key. This would work with the appropriate install disk. So if the Product Key says Win7 Home Premium, you just need a Win7 Home Premium disk to use with your Product Key to get it reinstalled.

OEM Product keys won't usually work with a boxed disk. At least I have not usually found them to.

As for Linux, it would depend on what the school requires. It should work fine unless data interchange with the schools systems is an issue. Or if specific Windows programs are required. I think only the school he will be attending can adequately answer that question.

I use and like Linux for many things, but for some I go back to windows. Just depends on the particular task... best tool for the job kind of thing!

[paul cottingham]

Lubuntu is fantastic on old hardware. Use a menu system if you don't like the stock one. Happiness and joy will ensue.

[Curt Harms]

OEM Product keys won't usually work with a boxed disk. At least I have not usually found them to.

As for Linux, it would depend on what the school requires. It should work fine unless data interchange with the schools systems is an issue. Or if specific Windows programs are required. I think only the school he will be attending can adequately answer that question.

I use and like Linux for many things, but for some I go back to windows. Just depends on the particular task... best tool for the job kind of thing!

Best answer. And as Glenn says, light linux distros are way to use a machine that won't run current Windows. Just for grins, I have an HP Pavilion 6735 - 667 Mhz Celeron probably 1999-2001 vintage - running MX14 (a linux distro). This machine shipped with WindowsME. I upgraded the RAM to 512 MB. and added an Ebay Nvidia PCI video card, got about $20 bucks in it. It won't play videos - flash is a pig - but works for web browsing. I'm thinking about making it into a bittorrent machine for lesser known linux distros.

[Phil Thien]

OEM Product keys won't usually work with a boxed disk. At least I have not usually found them to.

That is incorrect. Starting with Vista, OEM and Retail products use the same installer.

[Duane Meadows]

That is incorrect. Starting with Vista, OEM and Retail products use the same installer.

Yep, Phil, I stand corrected. Was true with XP, but not Vista and newer. Thanks