What will run better on my old laptop, windows 10 or linux. Some computers have too little horsepower or memory. A rule of thumb is that the computer should not be more than 10 years old. But ubuntu also has many official flavors as well as a greater number of other linux distros based on ubuntu. Considering that linux mint as one of the best linux distros, you can also try other editions like cinnamon available. Click on the distros name to find more info, screenshots, and download links. If you have just two computers, you can connect them using an ethernet wire. Linux lite is one of the popular and easy to use lightweight linux distros out there. Those who have low ram and old generation cpu, this os for you. Going linux choosing a linux distribution for an older. Which version of ubuntu should i install on an old pc. Lubuntu core is based on the most popular userfriendly linux distribution ubuntu.
Linux lite is built upon the latest ubuntu lts release and achieves. Another reason why i love puppy is its collection of software and custom apps. Lubuntu is a fast, lightweight operating system, based on linux and ubuntu. Here are the download pages for the three linux distros mentioned in this post. Do you have an aging laptop that no longer performs as it once used to. There are lots of versions of linux to choose from, all of them free and awesome. Lxde environment is designed for older machines with low hardware specifications, and it is famous because of its excellent performance. Aug 26, 2015 system76 is wellknown in the ubuntu community and sells a variety of laptops and desktop pcs with ubuntu preinstalled. Apr, 2020 if you threw away your old computer, its time to power it back on. Hello team, i have a old desktop running on win7 32 bit. Even though times have changed and software demands far more power. Some of these linux distros are specifically for use in older machines.
Antix a lightweight systemdfree linux distribution for. So, if you have a good hand in the ubuntu commands and an old computer then tries the linux puppy distribution based on ubuntu 16. How to find out if your pc is compatible with linux pcworld. Linux breathes new life into old mac computers infoworld. The total size of the puppy linux distro is around 200mb. Each release comes with its own archives, providing specific versions of tools and their library dependencies. For old pcs this is great, as each linux kernel release improves driver support, performance and etc. I dont know if you can merge your computers together to make a much larger computer to run a single instance of linux or windows. Additionally, both ubuntu and lubuntu feature the same software as well. Software installation and availability is as expected with any ubuntu based distro, however the one difference is that bodhi will support computers with limited resources. Make sure that your system has gcc installed in it. Alternatively download smart boot manager 1, install on a floppy disk and boot the computer you should now be able to boot from your cd drive. The minimum requirements for this particular desktop linux are.
Apr 09, 2014 crunchbang could be providing the best speed possible with the best software selection available. In linux, the preservation of old software is perhaps even more challenging than in other operating systems. Give an old pc new life by replacing windows with linux. It is based on ubuntu lts, its lightweight and easy to use linux distributions.
May 20, 2016 linux will be more efficient and can really breath new life into older machines. In this feature we look at how to install linux on a mac including how to completely replace. Lubuntu works well with old computers, and its lightness is visible in its speed and support for older hardware. Jan 04, 2020 linuxconsole is a unique lightweight linux distribution primarily designed to turn old and semi old computers into game console center. Ubuntu is the most popular linux distro but it isnt exactly lightweight. Best lightweight linux distributions for older computers. Now what distro depends on your familiarity with linux, and what you want out of it. Desktop environment antix is extremely fast even if you run it. The main issue that youd run into is the communication between processors. Its one of the smallest linux distros on this list for 2019.
Recently it has became very slow and becoming useless. Oct 22, 2019 as the name suggests, lubuntu is member of the popular ubuntu family. It contains all the applications you need a web browser, presentation, document. The moksha desktop provides ubuntu fans with older laptops a low resource friendly distro that will run practically anything. Installation on old computers lubuntu documentation. Linuxconsole is an independently developed linux live cd with different editions designed for desktops, servers, gaming consoles, and old computers. The approach of the linux puppy is very simple and most of the things are customized to run on the old computer hardware with low ram and slow processors. Top 5 best lightweight linux distros to boost up your old. Top 5 best lightweight linux distros to boost up your old computer. Lubuntu is a good operating system for many old computers, but not for all of them. Nov 18, 2019 if it wont boot from cd, download floppy boot images of damn small linux and puppy linux wakepup for puppy linux 1 and 2 series and once extracted onto a floppy disk, insert them into your old pc. How to install lubuntu on old and very old computers. The 5th lightweight linux for old computers is peppermint. Antix, based on debian is a lightweight linux distribution without systemd.
Debianbased distribution designed for pcs that are 10 years old or more. May, 2009 atleast two computers with a linux distribution installed in itill use ubuntu 8. Thanks to ubuntu repositories, you get access to tons of free software. Antix is a linux distribution that can run on old computers without any problems. Dec 07, 2019 the 5th lightweight linux for old computers is peppermint. Dec 26, 2018 the size of puppy linux is very less, somewhere around 300mb. Bodhi linux is an elegant and lightweight ubuntubased distribution featuring moksha. By installing a flavor of linux, you get access to the latest software, security patches, and a modern browser. Best lightweight linux distros for old laptops and desktops. Lubuntu is the ubuntu based linux distro which is small in size, faster and stable than any other linux distribution.
Linux distros graveyard ever wanted to go back in the time and try distros youve never tried or old versions. If you dont mind a little tinkering, arch linux is a great choice for aging hardware. For more functionality, users can visit get the linuxs package repositories from ubuntu software center. Jun 29, 2018 ubuntu is a community developed, linux based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. Lubuntu is an ubuntu derivative that uses the lxde desktop environment. I am going to list the best lightweight linux distributions that you can use on old computers some of the distributions mentioned here are also a part of the best linux distributions for beginners. Ubuntu comes with everything you need to run your organisation, school, home or enterprise. Oct 05, 2017 instead, users are given direct software updates, and the absolutely newest stable linux kernel. The one which once had good a hardware configuration but now potentially outdated.
Looking to resurrect or transform a laptop or desktop. All the essential applications, like an office suite, browsers, email and media apps come preinstalled and thousands more games and applications are available in the ubuntu software centre. Tip of the hat to you for trying to bring old computers to life again. Lubuntu, as you may have guessed, is one amongst those ubuntu based distros and is, in fact, an official ubuntu flavor. It requires more ram so it wont perform quite as well as puppy linux or vector linux light on older computers with 256 mb of ram. It a perfect and best suited lightweight linux distro for any old laptop as it takes very less power and resources to run. Now finally, onto the main part, the best lightweight linux distros for old computerslaptops. Peppermint uses lxde desktop environment that is lightweight and easy to use.
My favourite distro for fusing life into any computer is puppy linux. Lightweight linux distros for old laptop 2019 linoxide. Additional software is available via appcenter, a webbased software. With the right linux distribution, you can restore it to its former glory and enjoy it for a few more years. Its primary characteristics are easy installation, extensive choice of software in the form of modules, and excellent hardware detection. Fast, secure and stylishly simple, the ubuntu operating system is used by 50 million. The laptop at the top of this page comes from system76.
If you are new to linux and want to install linux on your older hardware then peppermint is a good choice for you. For local applications, lubuntu can function with 512mb of ram. It a perfect and best suited lightweight linux distro for any old laptop. It runs on lxde desktop environment and as such it one of the official flavors of ubuntu. The operating system features fast boot, support for new video cards intel, nvidia, ati, can be turned into live usb and also can be installed as a dualboot system with windows. Aug 03, 2014 one of the most famous linux distributions in the world, suited for old pcs and based on ubuntu and officially supported by ubuntu community, lubuntu uses lxde interface by default for its gui, beside some other tweaks for ram and cpu usage which makes it a good choice for old pcs and notebooks as well. I just inherited from my neighbors an old pc with windows xp as the operating system would try to use it with ubuntu but im undecided on the version to install, the two versions that excite me the most are. Apr 03, 2020 while being an ubuntu based distro, it also features the xfce desktop which makes it good enough for some old computers. If you are new to linux and want to install linux on your older. So, dump all your worries about lesser storage space on your old pc in. Jan 01, 2020 quick overview of the distros included in our list. The distro uses one of the lightest window managers jwm and though it might not be pretty to look at, itll turn that old lethargic work horse into a galloping steed. Linuxconsole is a unique lightweight linux distribution primarily designed to turn old and semi old computers into game console center. Best linux distributions for everyone in 2020 its foss.
There are a wide range of best linux for old laptops available in the. For more functionality, users can visit get the linux s package repositories from ubuntu software center. Antix a lightweight systemdfree linux distribution for old. Apr 23, 2019 ive installed a number of linux distros onto dozens of different laptop and desktop machines, and so far the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from the owners. Oct 06, 2017 lubuntu is a lightweight distribution, but not nearly as lightweight as, say, puppy linux. Linux is a powerful operating system beloved by coders and capable of breathing life into old macs. Lubuntu consists of lxde, which is the desktop environment. Fluxuan linux fluxuan linux is trying to bring your old computer laptop back to life, based on devuan means is s. I like crunchbang and have used it on under powered computers before. Mar 18, 2020 lubuntu is the ubuntu based linux distro which is small in size, faster and stable than any other linux distribution. Downloading and installing software in linux is also very easy as you only have to select the software you need, and the software will download, install and configure automatically.