Help again please

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I have a computer that is about 6 years old (desktop) that is running XP. I have not had it online since about Sept but I would like to try and salvage the machine by installing and learning some basic Linux system which I know absolutely zero about. I have read that there are various versions for Linux novices that even have an option to make the desktop look similar to what I am accustomed to with Windows. Could someone please offer some suggestions taking into account I am totally clueless but have plenty of time to work with it and learn as I go. It is not going to be an everyday driver, just something to learn on and I figure it is a waste not to use whatever in the box can be rescued and utilized.

Thank you.

Get hold of a 32-bit version of the latest Linux Mint, with either GNOME (if they still do that) or Cinnamon desktop environment. Mint was my first fully featured Linux distro and I found that it made the transition from WinXP / Vista / Win7 very easy.

If you want something a bit faster I'd recommend Bodhi, if you don't plan on doing any work with it.

Thank you. I have been looking at these systems, particularly Bodhi but I cannot figure out how to install from the internet. I have no external hard drive and wouldn't know how to use it if I had it. So how do I go about installing directly from the internet over the XP please?

Honestly, I wouldn't know what I was talking about if I tried running Linux over Windows, hopefully someone more knowledgeable can give you the answer you want.

I'm what you might call a 'Yay! It does Facebook and Piracy' level Linux user.

Though if I may, I suggest downloading the Bodhi ISO and either burning it to CD / DVD or by making a bootable USB stick. Both methods will let you test your Linux distro of choice without actually installing it first - though I recommend using a USB stick as the trial will run quicker. Installing it via the trial is also very easy, and has a pretty fool-proof install wizard.

Note: trialling Linux won't give you an indication of true performance speed - a proper install on your primary HDD will always work better / faster.

If you go for a USB drive, go here http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ and download UNetootin. This will let you configure your USB stick with your previously acquired .ISO to make what's called a 'Live CD' (unsure why it isn't called a Live Stick, though the same name is given to bootable discs).

Once this is configured, restart PC and hit F2 (from memory) to bring up BIOS and change the boot sequence so your USB drive boots first. Save and exit. You'll get the option to trial or install.

If you install, it will give you the option to format your entire HDD, or partition it into a 'dual boot' style setup. I recommend a dual boot, as it lets you keep your old OS. I've never lost any Windows files doing this but it is recommended you backup any files just in case.

I have 3 OSs on my system, Win7 for Photoshop, Linux Mint for playing around / trying to break, and Ubuntu for everything else. You switch between them by restarting your machine and selecting from a menu which pops up after the manufacturers splash.

Note I haven't used Bodhi for a while, but their emphasis has always been on fast and elegant. I put it on an ailing Toshiba laptop that struggled to run XP with 512MB RAM as a hand-me-down for my IT-illiterate baby bro. He loves it.


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Reading back, I see my post isn't particularly concise. If you want to dual boot just Google 'installing linux from a bootable usb' and you'll get a better tutorial than I could ever give.

Surprised others haven't chimed in already with their distro recommendations.

Edit: UNetbootin is just my tool of choice, there are others that do the same job.

Thanks for the info. I am still clueless. Most of what you said is way over my head. I currently have only an 8G flashdrive. Is that enough?

Plenty plenty, Ubuntu / Mint uses about 2GB, Bodhi even less.

I'll have a nosey round and see if I can find any decent tutorials. Bear with me

Sources

Bodhi 32-bit http://www.bodhilinux.com/downloads_desktop.php

Mint http://www.linuxmint.com/release.php?id=18 This is the most recent Long Term Support (LTS) version. If the computer you're running is a slug you may want to try the XFCE (32-bit) version of Mint, which has a much more lightweight / quicker desktop.

Tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVCxkbZnEgA

This guy's voice is really irritating, but he's clear and covers everything from using Unetbootin and rebooting / changing boot sequence. His instructions will work with most versions of Linux, certainly does with all the ones I've tried.

Installing from the internet over your XP install is not possible. What would be better is to install the distro of your choice (I also recommend LinuxMint, though you might want to try the KDE version) to a USB Key drive via this program. --You can then use the Linux image on the USB Key to install to a USB Hard Drive at a later date and leave you installed XP main drive intact and unchanged.

I am currently running an old IBM with <512mb RAM.
If your PC is of a relatively low specification then I recommend Porteus.
It has worked out the best for me thus far.

Thank you for your efforts but this POS Compaq Presario desktop will not permit me to boot from magic stick. I will just use it for nonessential browsing and searches but will not put any sensitive data into it. I have restored to factory so I will just run it into the ground and then use it as a paddleboard anchor.

If you can boot from CD I recommend playing with Puppy Linux. Someone on this forum recommended it and all I had to do was download the ISO and cut it to CD. The old XP box then booted on the CD - it gives the best of both worlds, it leaves your XP intact but lets you have a play with Linux.

Keep in mind that booting from a DVD or a CD halts the performance, and may result in the required drivers not loading.