Old laptop with dying OS

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Vanfan

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Mar 13, 2014
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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?
 
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stillblue
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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Vanfan

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Mar 13, 2014
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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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dmroeder

dmroeder

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Jan 15, 2005
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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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dmroeder

dmroeder

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Jan 15, 2005
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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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pauls3743

pauls3743

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Dec 24, 2011
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What do you mean by "the activation key has expired"?

OEM and retail keys don't expire.
 
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Vanfan

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Mar 13, 2014
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I think the OS was crack or not genuine at all

 
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chamaecyparis

chamaecyparis

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Nov 21, 2010
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I would suggest MX-14
 
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Edir

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Oct 6, 2013
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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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stillblue

stillblue

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Nov 30, 2012
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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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