Originally posted at myOpera Saturday, November 23, 2013 4:03:53 PM
(For some reason this piece, among some others did not make it through the export from myOpera.)
Well here I am finally finishing this project I’ve had going for several months…
As I mentioned previously, a Linux distro must have certain features. Did I find something that suits me and will run on my ancient machine.
In a word, Yes.
But it was quite a go’round to get there.
Firstly I decided on PCLinuxOS. Here’s why:
– It is a Rolling Distribution – just the updates. I never have to download the entire OS again
– Ease of installation – the Install Wizard was easy to follow and use
– Ease of Configuration – nice easy to use Control Centre
– Stability
– Support (There is a large and friendly group of users who are more than willing and able to assist with any issues that crop up.)
I started with a KDE (mini) environment but KDE has advanced so much my poor old video card could not cope. Even with all the fancy graphics options turned off, it sputtered and stalled.
My research led me to the Mate Desktop Environment.
Sounded good, made to work with older technology so I installed PCLinuxOS (Mate).
As well as being pleasing to the eye, it seemed to work fairly well. That is until I started to add some applications.
WINE is a primary example. I had not really noticed as I was busy installing, but as I went to use WINE, I could not find it. Last effort took me to the shell were I found that it was indeed installed and it was from there that I had to launch it.
This is fine for me, but some of the software is not just for me and not having WINE available on the desktop or as a menu item is a almost deal breaker. There were also some display issues (my old Intel card).
More research showed me I could add and remove “Desktop Environments” or “Windows Managers” at will. So I went to town…
Some were too minimal for other users, and others demanded too much of this aging system. (There is an option for OpenBox w/KDE, for instance which will not run at all. Though OpenBox itself runs fine.)
Final configuration is PCLinuxOS with LXDE as the default Desktop Environment.
It is stable, fast and not strange enough to threaten other (Windows) users.
I also have XFCE4 (my preference), and OpenBox to choose from.
Final result is a 10 year old machine that is faster now than the day it was delivered.
(Under 30 seconds from Power On to the login screen and and Under 20 seconds from there to my desktop!)
Support for my audio, video, printer/scanner, CD/DVD writer, trackball, cameras, SD Cards/Memory Sticks and odds and sods of mp3 players. Hopefully some programs for my radios… but that is another story.
So I am a happy camper.
The budget has room for a new computer next spring. Now I am debating whether or not to buy one without an OS? Hmm
Stay Tuned, there is more to come…
Wow! That was quite an accomplishment. Congratulations. Enjoy your new (uh.. ancient) computer running Linux. I’m not as brave or patient as you. I’m more into running the new Windows 8.1. Can’t wait for the update in April. Enjoyed reading about your experience.
Thanks. It was an experience. I wanted to do it as the machine is, let us say, disposable. If I screwed up, well pull out the hard drive and send to the recycler. We still have the laptops. Being retired also helps, time-wise at least.
But now that I got it working I am looking at moving everything to Linux, or at least having only one Windows machine (perhaps a dual boot configuration). There are applications I need that are Windows only and do not run in WINE.
Once I get the car tuned up and repaired, figured out my taxes, and get a 40th Anniversary gift for the bride I may have enough for another Second Hand Computer. Perhaps a Win 7 workstation or something similar.
Congratulations on the upcoming 40th. Your projects are going to occupy your time but they appear to be challenging and enjoyable. Best wishes to your success.
Cool, but…
Why ‘Vivaldi’
doesn’t have
a SEPARATE & SINGLE click
button:
‘REpost In My Blog’
alike that WAS
at
myOpera’s
blogging?!.
~
pls try vector linux for ur old machines even 16M ram can run nicely.
or knoppix cd dvd,or making bootable knoppix cd image on your pendrive to boot…
NOWADAYS , NO NEED TO BUY NEW PC, YOU CAN ALWAYS HUNT SECOND HAND SPAREPART OVER EBAY OR YOUR LOCAL FLEA MARKET, THEN ENSEMBLE ONE BY YOURSELVES.
DO CHOSE 64 BIT AMD DUAL CORE CPU,OVERCLOCKING IT TO 4 CORE AND RUN, YOU’LL SAVE MORE….
KEEP BUYING SECOND HAND PARTS, YOU’LL STAY IN THE EDGES OF LATEST TECH.
do add some photos about your current old hardwares, vivaldi community can help making better suggestion for updating ur system at cheapest price