Install Linux on an old notebook

Rimutaka

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Hi,

I have a notebook, 7 years old, and currently running Windows 10 Home.

I want to use Linux OS and remove Windows from my notebook.

The specs of my notebook as follows:
Model: Satellite Toshiba L750D
Processor: AMD Phenom II P960 Quad-Core Processor
Display: AMD Radeon HD 6300M Series
Drive: 500 GB

Based on above information, is it ok to use Linux?

Thank you.
 


welcome to the forums
and the answer is YES , it is modern enough to run ANY distribution you choose

Bwiz
 
What's your RAM situation? While you can likely run any distro, some desktop environments consume less RAM than others.

If you've got at least 4 GB, you're probably good to go with any distro, though I'd really consider 16 to be a minimum these days. That's largely a matter of preference. I like to have everything I am likely to need open and running. I also like to have a bunch of browser tabs open.
 
Hi,

Thank you for all explanations,

Do you have information on how to download Linux (step by step)?

Regards,
 
choose your distribution
go to the website and download your chosen distribution and take a note of sha sum [you will need this to check later]
using an iso burning program [most of us recommend Etcher, burn you download as a bootable Iso pen-drive
to install

1, plug in the machine
2 insert Iso , usb into drive
3 switch on and open the short boot menu on a Toshiba its usualy tickle F12 [sometimes F2] as it switches on [this should bring up the short boot menu]
look down the list and find usb click on it and enter, after a few seconds it should start to load to Ram, [you do not need a harddrive at this stage]
4,when it is loaded check everything works ok [wi-fi, sound, graphics] easiest way to do this is click on the wireless icon find your router and enter the password, when loaded go to your favorite music video site and pick something your familiar with, if it plays ok and the picture looks good you can then decide if you want to take a chance on installing.
5, double click the install button the iso will then check the components of your machine this may take several seconds to a couple of minuets, then provided the harddrive checked out ok it will start to install [if it fails at this stage the harddrive is probably shot]
watch it install when it asks about partitioning choose use complete disc, you will also be asked if you wish to install non-free/proprietary drivers tick the box for yes and enter
you will need to enter information as it installs so keep an eye on it, a typical linux installation can take from 10 to 20 minuets [far less than windows]
if it installs you will get a message do you wish to re-start now, accept
now sit back whilst it re-boots then it will take a couple more minuets to clean up the installation and get rid of the install files,
then if all goes well we will have a working linux lappy

Bwiz
 
Last edited:
This page may help you choose a distro that suits your needs.
Most of them have live .isos and you can burn them to a usb stick and try the out for a bit first.
I recommend Etcher as the usb burner. Found here:
Good luck and enjoy the journey.
 
My RAM is 8 GB.

That'll be adequate, though sometimes constraining - if you want to have things like a jillion tabs open, TeamViewer open with VirtualBox, etc...
 
Hi,

Thank you all for advices provided.

Finally, I downloaded Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS and ran it to my notebook. I am not a computer geek so this is my fresh learning curve for Linux.

So far, there are two error messages appear on screen as shown by figures 1 and 2.

What do these messages mean? How to fix them?

Regards,
 

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  • Figure 2.jpg
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Looks like either a corrupt download or a bad burn of the install medium,or even usb pen-drive fault
did it load a live session to the Ram ? did it work OK ? or is this your initial install attempt.?
 
you do what the first pic says go to a teminal and type
Code:
sudo apt update
That will either update the package data base or spit out errors of what is preventing that from happening.

If it gives errors post them here. You can copy and paste from the terminal.
Good luck.
What Brickwizard is asking is also important.
 
For Brickwizard:
I do not quite understand about your questions.
I can start and use Ubuntu, only icon of error messages still there.

For kc1di:
I go to terminal and type as you mentioned, it shows 46 updates. But I don’t know how to execute them.

Finally, I try to access software updater, follow the instructions and it solves the problem.

Regards,
 
I do not quite understand about your questions.
a corrupt download or bad burn of install medium can lead to a piece of code missing
I try to access software updater, follow the instructions and it solves the problem.
dose this mean it is now working without any errors?
 

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