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Old laptop with dying OS

Tags:
  • Laptops
  • Windows 7
  • Windows XP
Last response: in Linux/Free BSD
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March 14, 2014 7:15:25 PM

I have a laptop upgraded from XP to Windows 7 but activation key has expired and I cannot get a new key these days. I would like to install Ubuntu for it since it doesn't support Windows 8.1. Any other good suggestion?

More about : laptop dying

March 14, 2014 7:20:15 PM

It's time for a new laptop. LOL If it was running XP it has GOT to be older than dirt. I'm not poking at it, just giving you a realistic answer. :) 
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March 14, 2014 7:27:26 PM

dustinhunt78 said:
It's time for a new laptop. LOL If it was running XP it has GOT to be older than dirt. I'm not poking at it, just giving you a realistic answer. :) 


I already have an ultrabook running windows 8, im just trying to know what i might able to do with the old laptop. I enjoy to customize computer.
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March 14, 2014 7:34:00 PM

Unless you want to spend money on a computer that never again will be great, I'd go with the Ubuntu. You will at least have a backup computer should anything go wrong with the newer one.
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March 14, 2014 7:34:30 PM

Hopefully this will be more useful: Since it's an older laptop you will probably want to try something with the XFCE or LXDE desktop environment. You could try Mint XFCE and see how that performs (I've become a fan of Mint). There are variations of Ubuntu that have lightweight desktop environments like Lubuntu or Xubuntu. Linux Lite sounds promising too. Give them a whirl and post back your experience/thoughts.
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March 14, 2014 7:58:31 PM

Here is the spec of my laptop and i hope that will help.
Mobile Intel 1.80Ghz
1.25GB RAM
150GB HardDiskDrive
1024x768
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March 14, 2014 8:21:48 PM

Hey Vanfan, I'd suggest getting Mint XFCE. Mint has always worked well for me and the XFCE desktop environment should work out well on your machine. It requires 384MB or RAM and recommends 1gb which is right up your alley.
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a b D Laptop
a b $ Windows 7
March 14, 2014 8:31:32 PM

Vanfan said:
I have a laptop upgraded from XP to Windows 7 but activation key has expired and I cannot get a new key these days. I would like to install Ubuntu for it since it doesn't support Windows 8.1. Any other good suggestion?


What do you mean by "the activation key has expired"?

OEM and retail keys don't expire.
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March 14, 2014 8:33:43 PM

pauls3743 said:
Vanfan said:
I have a laptop upgraded from XP to Windows 7 but activation key has expired and I cannot get a new key these days. I would like to install Ubuntu for it since it doesn't support Windows 8.1. Any other good suggestion?


What do you mean by "the activation key has expired"?

OEM and retail keys don't expire.


I think the OS was crack or not genuine at all

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March 14, 2014 8:38:58 PM

Not genuine software (for Windows anyway) will display that it is not genuine in the bottom right corner at all times.
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a b D Laptop
a b $ Windows 7
March 14, 2014 9:39:48 PM

Xubuntu will be good
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March 15, 2014 7:50:39 AM

Vanfan said:
I have a laptop upgraded from XP to Windows 7 but activation key has expired and I cannot get a new key these days. I would like to install Ubuntu for it since it doesn't support Windows 8.1. Any other good suggestion?


I would suggest MX-14
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March 25, 2014 2:12:19 PM

Ubuntu 12.04 works decently (slowly) on my old 2002 Toshiba satellite s1000-z2 laptop, also designed for XP. You don't need a lightweight distro - Ubuntu 12.04 LTS should run fine.
(I CANNOT talk about XP without thinking of the smiley! XP)
-Edir

P.S. Remember to choose best answer.
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Best solution

a b D Laptop
a b $ Windows 7
March 26, 2014 2:26:42 AM

Ubuntu's default desktop interface will slow you down some. From Ubuntu you can install other desktops like Cinnamon which is used by Mint, LXDE which is used by Lubuntu or XFCE all of which all much lighter and faster. I myself run Gnome3 which is in between and should run fine on your system.

You install any of these from the Ubuntu software center, just search for desktops and can select them during boot by clicking on the little Ubuntu icon next to username during sign in or if you have auto login set you just logout and make your selection and log back in. It will always boot to the last one used.
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