Which Linux distro is best for me as a beginner according to my PC specs ?

I am new to Linux. I have been using windows 7. Though my processor supports 64 bit the repair guy put 32 but os which doesn't help in using some apps. I have used puppy Linux but faced a lot of issues even in setting up my wifi connection. Can anyone recommend me a Linux distro which is easier to use and will work on my 8 years old laptop.

My laptop specs are -
1 GB ram
AMD C-60 APU (dual core )
Radeon HD graphics
512 GB hdd storage

This likely won't help you, but I'll provide my thoughts. For more friendly advice, you'll need to wait for responses from others.

I still use hardware with 1GB of RAM, but not often, as most uses today (eg. browsing the web) requires more RAM., but on devices with 1GB of RAM, what I think matters most is matching the desktop/WM you'll use (and what that desktop/WM requires) with the apps you'll end up using. ie. so the desktop & your apps are sharing resources & not needing different resources.

On old IBM Thinkpads using pentium M & using 1GB of RAM for example, I'll have multiple desktops installed, but will select at login which I'll use. By having multiple installed I'm using more disk space, but its the RAM that worries me. I'll decide at login what I'll do in that session (which lets me know the apps I'll use, thus I'll know what libraries/toolkits they'll use) then I select a desktop that will also use those same libraries/toolkits.

Myself, the 'Linux distro' as you put it doesn't matter. I'm very partial to Debian or Ubuntu, but I'll use whatever I consider best for the install (I have a system upgrading to my left, it's either opensuse or fedora; I can't tell what's running from the screen except it's RPM based thus not Debian/Ubuntu). The next difference between distros is the age of the software stack, but some have multiple choices anyway.

FYI: WM = window manager; lighter & smaller but less features than a full desktop.

G'day orange21, Welcome to Linux.org

No doubt the good people here will suggest all of the 'lite' os's etc etc etc

My suggestions?

Buy a new/second hand laptop. (finances permitting , of course!!)

How much RAM is that laptop capable of running ??....Is the repair guy likely to know ?

Try AntiX.
Connect WiFi to see if it works, before hitting the Install button.

By the way, it's easy to install wifi on Puppy, there are usually 3 ways to do it.

Two others which I have used and may work for you are Linux Lite and LXLE, you can find both on DistroWatch.com.

There is also this 2023 article

https://www.zdnet.com/article/want-to-save-your-aging-computer-try-these-5-linux-distributions/

Welcome to linux.org

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz

So you have a circa 2011 AMD powered laptop,
my suggestions are
1]if possible, upgrade the ram [max for that machine will probably be 4gb] then it will run any 64 bit Linux
2] use a Linux build especially made for low resource machines [this link will give you the bare minimum requirements] https://fossbytes.com/best-lightweight-linux-distros/
3]pass it on to a charity that supports 3rd world education, and get something newer [but as It's the same age as my del laptop I would upgrade and keep]


Edit.. Would I be correct in assuming it's an Acer ? Then you may have to install wi-fi drivers from a secondary source, but we can tell you how, also older Acers have a habit of slipping into hard block [flight mode] when installing Linux, just check first using the dedicated flight mode switch, for best installation either hard-wire your laptop to the router or teather to a mobile network using your mobile phone

Oh and welcome to the forums

Condobloke said:

G'day orange21, Welcome to Linux.org

No doubt the good people here will suggest all of the 'lite' os's etc etc etc

My suggestions?

Buy a new/second hand laptop. (finances permitting , of course!!)

How much RAM is that laptop capable of running ??....Is the repair guy likely to know ?

Click to expand...

I will be buying a new laptop but at the end of this year till then I have to use this one only.
The ram is upgradable to 4 GB.

ML_113 said:

Try AntiX.
Connect WiFi to see if it works, before hitting the Install button.

By the way, it's easy to install wifi on Puppy, there are usually 3 ways to do it.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. I will give it a try.
Yeah that's what was confusing to me coming from windows it was a bit weird for me

wizardfromoz said:

Two others which I have used and may work for you are Linux Lite and LXLE, you can find both on DistroWatch.com.

There is also this 2023 article

https://www.zdnet.com/article/want-to-save-your-aging-computer-try-these-5-linux-distributions/

Welcome to linux.org

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz

Click to expand...

Thanks! I will check these out.

Brickwizard said:

So you have a circa 2011 AMD powered laptop,
my suggestions are
1]if possible, upgrade the ram [max for that machine will probably be 4gb] then it will run any 64 bit Linux
2] use a Linux build especially made for low resource machines [this link will give you the bare minimum requirements] https://fossbytes.com/best-lightweight-linux-distros/
3]pass it on to a charity that supports 3rd world education, and get something newer [but as It's the same age as my del laptop I would upgrade and keep]

https://www.linux.org/threads/what-is-the-best-linux-distribution-which-should-i-use.43789/

Edit.. Would I be correct in assuming it's an Acer ? Then you may have to install wi-fi drivers from a secondary source, but we can tell you how, also older Acers have a habit of slipping into hard block [flight mode] when installing Linux, just check first using the dedicated flight mode switch, for best installation either hard-wire your laptop to the router or teather to a mobile network using your mobile phone

Oh and welcome to the forums

Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions.
It's a Asus
I will try to upgrade the ram.
I don't have any plans of buying a new laptop till the end of this year so can't donate this to charity.
Will try the recommended distros. Will see how it turns out

I am out now for a few hours, just to add newbie friendly that should run on that machine with 2gb ram is Mint LMDE

From memory, Austek [asus] used railink RT3290 wi-fi, although it should work with the kernel drivers, there have been some problems with it, you may need a second method of internet connection to download drivers if you have problems.

orange21 said:

Thanks for the suggestion. I will give it a try.
Yeah that's what was confusing to me coming from windows it was a bit weird for me

Click to expand...

@orange21 :-

As @ML_113 says, getting wifi to work on Puppy is actually pretty easy. However, despite using Puppy exclusively for almost a decade, I wouldn't in fact recommend Puppy to complete noobs.

She does too many things just that little bit differently to all the 'normal', 'standard', 'mainstream' distros. Most users, having tried their first Linux distro, if they like it they usually want to try something else. If you've started out with Puppy, invariably you then need to re-learn everything if you wish to move to a mainstream distro.....and that's a wee bit silly.

I always say that, yes; try Puppy by all means. But wait until you've gained some experience with a mainstream distro first.....it's best for folks to come to Puppy when they're ready for it. It's far simpler to switch to Puppy from, say, Mint or Ubuntu - or any of half-a-dozen others I could name - than it is to switch in t'other direction. I know this from experience!

(This is just my own, personal opinion, of course. Most of the Puppy community wouldn't agree with me, but there ya go..!)

(shrug)


Mike.