I have two old laptops, one of which belongs to my partner.
Laptop 1: Acer Aspire 5315 (2GB Ram-2x1GB) BS Vista
Laptop 2: Dell Latidude D810 (1GB Ram-2X512MB) OS WinXP
In both of them I only find one DDR2 Ram module, there should be 2. Why I mean that, I used the ddr2 from the Acer in the Dell, which now states 1.5GB of RAM. More on this later with pictures. Nothing next to each other or one below the other.
First of all, the question is about a somewhat up-to-date operating system.
Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 - all 32bit and later 4GB Ram (2x2GB) how fluid are the OS. Does Windows 10 ask a lot compared to Win7 or Win8.1?
Only Libreoffice and Caliber are used. Internet doesn't need it. Hold only 2 to 4 simple programs.
Win 10 is the best thing ever. Look how much at least ram it takes. Then it will work. Got it working on 15 year old toshibas
Why a current operating system? If you don't go online, it doesn't matter. And else maybe Linux? It's not that resource hungry.
Yes, how old is your Toshiba and which CPU, Windows 10 needs 2GB I think. But the CPU is only Intel Pentium M 750 1.86GHz for me.
It's also about the software, the question is whether my partner can get along with Linux. Therefore I would like to stay under Windows if possible
From the user's point of view, Linux can now be operated in exactly the same way. In any case, no more getting used to it than from XP to Win 10. And LibreOffice etc. Work there too. You can just try it out and, for example, boot from CD as a test.
Which Linux version do you recommend?
I recommend installing Cloudready on laptop 1. This is an adapted Chrome OS that turns any device into a Chromebook. It runs smoothly even on devices that are over 10 years old. Here is the download: https://www.neverware.com/freedownload You need the USB Maker and an empty FAT32 formatted stick with at least 8GB.
After you have created the stick, you boot it on the laptop. The installation wizard completely deletes the hard drive and then installs Cloudready. A restart then takes place. After the restart, just log in with your Google account and your "Chromebook" is ready. Then go to Settings> Media Plugins. Proprietary Media Components are then installed there. Then you can also use streaming services such as Netflix.
#############################################
For the 2nd laptop I would recommend AntiX Linux: Here is the download of the ISO: https://mirror.23media.com/mx-isos/ANTIX/Final/antiX-19/antiX-19.3_386-full.iso Then write this with Unetbootin https://unetbootin.github.io/ on an empty FAT32 formatted stick.
I personally tried open suse with the KDE desktop. This is most similar to windows. Something like a start button at the bottom right. A desktop that you can cover up… Everything is almost like Windows. The symbols look a little different and some things are called a little different. But you get used to it quickly.
Laptop 1 (Acer) is to be cannibalized because it hangs up when it gets too hot. Just want to do something on the Dell, it's for my partner. I myself use a Medion Akoya E7420 which I upgraded a little (Boot SSD from 128 to 500GB, 2nd hard drive from HDD to SSD (size has remained 1TB, Ram from 6 to 16GB-2x8GB)
Only Libreoffice and Caliber are used. Internet doesn't need it. Hold only 2 to 4 simple programs.
If the software for Linux is available, I don't see any problem on this point.
BUT: Linux & Laptop is sometimes a tragedy if I believe the Linux experts at heise-Verlag. Mainly because various laptops can have specialized hardware that Linux does not support or, better yet, does not support it.
In this respect, it can be of advantage to you that the devices are older, since the probability is higher that the required drivers are available in the kernel.
One more BUT:
You will also have the driver problem with modern Windows versions - regardless of whether the computer has enough power for it.
So I had the problem with an old Akoya Medion laptop that Medion only made the drivers available for Vista & 7 - but not for later Windows versions.
So I could no longer use various special keys from Windows 8 on, because with the best will in the world I couldn't find any suitable drivers.
Strangely, the keyboard didn't work at all under Windows 10 and the computer responded - although it should be able to log Windows 10 - extremely sluggishly, so I went back to Windows 8.1.
Short:
You will have to try it out.
In the overall context, I would actually try Linux first. Or maybe ChromeOS - if the desired programs are available.
Simply from the fact that the driver search for Windows laptops proves to be difficult for laypeople if the manufacturer does not provide a suitable one.
I'm not an expert, but neither am I a layperson. I now have drivers up to Windows 8.1 all together. Of course not the original drivers specially from the manufacturers. But in the device manager everything is shown closed. At the moment I have Windows 8.1 on it on the Dell. No problems with the hardware. Just a bit sluggish, although not much is installed.
Of course not the original drivers specially from the manufacturers.
That would be the challenge.
The Windows standard drivers can of course also suffice.
Especially since Windows 8/10 can handle significantly more drivers via the Windows update than was the case with its predecessors.
Just a bit sluggish, although not much is installed.
What can help in this case, provided that HDDs are still installed, the use of SSDs.
But nice that it works in general!
Unfortunately the Dell only has an IDE / ATA interface. Is there an adapter for it and space is scarce for a laptop.
Thanks for the cloudready link.
Then I don't have to look for something like that.
I also have an older laptop that I wanted to try out ChromeOS on.
I would have found https://www.amazon.de/...B07YRJ9SG3 right away. But that also takes up space - even if only minimally.
Can you send me a link or model name
Take a look at https://www.michlfranken.de/linuxfx-10-2-linux-mit-stabilen-ubuntu-unterbau-im-windows-10-design/, that is probably most similar to Windows
Here's a hint: Cloudready was taken over by Google. Google wants to turn it into a real Chrome OS with Google Play Store that can be installed on any PC / laptop.
What about the drivers, all will be set up without any problems
Is not a problem for me. But thanks for the hint!
Old hardware is more likely to be supported than new. There won't be any problems with the basic functions anyway. But therefore: boot from the disk for testing and just try it out
