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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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What disros works on low end, slow, very outdated pc's? (lemmy.fmhy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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So i have a bunch of pc's/laptops/computers and such that my family members refuse to depart with even though there really bad. so far they mangae to keep 4 bulky computers in total, we do have some new-ish ones but theses ones im talking about need some loving.1 computer is 32 bit and has 2gb of ram, the other 3 have 64-bit and range from 1gb of ram- to 2 and one of which has only 75 space hardrive.

are there any linux distros that might work becasue im a noob who uses windows so im very lost. any tips or suggestions or something would be great.

also if im posting in the wrong plac eplease let me know in the comments.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I, personally, would suggest Debian 12 especially since they still supply 32 bit ISOs. (Also 64 bit, but that's kind of a given at this point)

Debian is rock stable due to testing like crazy
Adding a lightweight desktop like XFCE would help with not overloading the PC
If I remember correctly, updates for the next 5 years since it's a long term support (LTS) release
I am guessing you mean 75 GB which should still have, at minimum (absolute worst case everything went wrong kind of wrong), 60 GB left for programs and files

Since they provide both 64 and 32 bit ISOs and run the same thing, all support issues can be done exactly the same on all the computers since, I assume, there is no dedicated graphics card (Nvidia, AMD) in any of them.

Here's a link to the downloads: https://www.debian.org/distrib/

Download from the "complete installation image" area on the left, second section down.

Edit: If you can use a DVD or USB then use the DVD link, but if they can't then the CD image will also work.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

This answer is getting down voted, but Debian is the answer because it is user friendly and supports 32bit. If you need to seriously bring new life to these machines upgrade the RAM and buy SSDs. Using a lightweight desktop environment like MATE is a good option.

Don't give users unfamiliar with Linux a window manager or Arch.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Fully agree on Debian, as long as you're up for a learning curve. In terms of performance it's fine; I've run it on a machine with a 40MHz processor back in the day with no GUI and it worked fine. If your machine can do XFCE then so much the better than that. Just be aware that there's a bit of learning curve - if you're unfamiliar, just expect that there'll be some adjustment period and learning / things not working right while you figure it out stage, and expect to read documentation and have technical challenges involved.

I would also recommend if you do go this route to do small images instead of complete images. "Complete" is for if you expect to have no internet (so have to download everything you might possibly need.) Small is fine in 99% of cases. Installing from the internet is exactly as easy as installing from disk, except that you don't need to find the disk and you don't need to download a big honkin' disk image with 5% of packages you'll use and 95% which you won't ever touch. Debian is big.