The Linux community also thinks of those poor old laptops. According to the Puppy Linux developers, Puppy is “grandpa-friendly certified.” Lubuntu It comes with pre-installed Chromium web-browser, including Adobe Flash and instant access to thousands of free compatible applications. So, now the question comes to that, Do you have an old laptop which is running slow? Though it would be very blunt to advise, then also if you ask me for advice on choosing the perfect OS from the list I would tell you to start from Puppy Linux, as it is the best and most optimized solution among all others in this list. To know more you can read our other articles on some of these Operating system listed here on this website. 7 best Linux live CD distro for 7 different purpose. Linux is an open-source operating system, meaning it’s free, and anyone can modify it and create different versions. But it can run on 7-8 years older laptop as of 2019. If you have an old Windows XP PC or a netbook, you can revive it with a lightweight Linux system. To know how to install Linux OS on a USB drive using Windows OS, see our article: How To Install Ubuntu From a USB Stick on Windows 10 PC. DSL is a really very good option for data recovery from damaged laptops and old HDD. Antix is a Debian based one of the best lightweight Linux distro. Best OS for an old Macbook Price Based On Default Desktop Environment --Pop!_OS. That’s why in this list we’re going to go over the top 4 best Linux distributions to run on old, aging hardware. We can download this version of Linux from ... Arch Linux is positioned as one more option to give a second life to our old computer. It offers access. So, If you have Intel Pentium 111 /3 running on the 256MB RAM then no need to throw that in thrash you can use install and run antiX. It’ll allow your old PC to experience new features as if it were brand new. This lightweight Linux OS also can be used on DIY projects. However, this is from a Dell Latitude D600. Linux Lite is a lightweight Linux distro based on Ubuntu LTS, which means that each version has a 5-year support period, namely, only a major update every 5 years. Installation of open source apps can be done on any server and the pc itself, all you have to do is to choose the apps or games as per your need from the repositories. The distro has an Ubuntu LTS-based foundation. Choose Your Operating System and Refresh Your Old Laptop. Here's our pick of the best lightweight Linux distros for older computers - and best of all, they're all free. It runs fine for the most part. A vast and active help and support the community. It can reside in the device with other data to, and that is how it will become a pocket OS cum Data Traveller. The Elive can be easily handled by the Linux beginners and non-experience users because of the mixture of Windows and a kind of MacOS interface look such as the docker and the folder icon are both seems familiar. The system is completely beginner-friendly and perfect for a Linux-newbie. As well as you can make a self bootable USB drive to start the whole OS from your USB device directly, in this way you can have the taste of the OS as well as you can check that all the hardware drivers are available for the operating system or not even before you try the OS on the local hard disk. Even in some professional units for the data recovery jobs from damaged PC, this Linux distro is getting used. This lightweight OS is developed by Raspberry Pi Foundation which can give new life to your old PC. Full, Base, Core, and Net are four flavors of Antix Linux. Zorin OS is a Linux distro which is the most famous for being Windows users friendly. Best Linux For Old Laptop: 10 Recommended Lightweight Distros, Best Linux File Manager: 10 Reviewed Which People Discuss Most, Best Antivirus for Linux: 13 Efficacious And Recommended In 2019, 22 Best Linux NAS Solutions and Linux SAN Software, Checkout the Best Linux Distro For Beginners From 10 Exclusive Linux Distros. Close • Posted by 1 hour ago. It's one of the best linux distro for old laptops. Hey guys, i have a question, i have a 10 years old Dell Laptop with 1GB of RAM, that laptop was with Windows 7, but it was baaaad to use, it was so heckin slow, so i tried to switch to Linux Mint, it's... Fine? I think Lubuntu as already very popular, so i'm skipping all those unnecessary fuzz, just get it from the link below. It uses the Legacy-Non-PAE Kernel utilizes the older 3.2 Linux kernel which is optimized enough for up to 15+ years old hardware, so it can run with very low resources. Along with this minimalist take on Linux, Puppy Linux is one of the best at making older hardware feel new again. Working in SSB (Site-specific browser) is possible. You don’t have to use a hard drive even. My … Best Lightweight Linux distros for old laptops and desktops. as most of the laptop even laptop from the 1990s era can read the bootable USB devices where other methods like bootable CD may not work properly as in most of the old laptops there are damaged or malfunctioned optical drives are a common problem. It also has a desktop menu like the Smart-phone interface where the user can get the settings, system information, power settings, etc. As almost all the old laptops which were made and sold at the time of the year, 1998 to 2010 may have working hardware parts inside them but it is unusable as they are not capable of running the present OS options. Lubuntu does come in three different installation package, two regular packages for most of the users those have more than 640 MB RAM 64-bit CPU and 32-bit CPU. Hardware: Intel Atom N455 @1.66GHz. It is installed on the HDD like other normal OS and also runs like them, even the mouse works flawlessly in this OS. It’s a great Ubuntu-based lightweight Linux OS that’s based on LTS releases. Because you don’t get any suitable OS to run, but stop, there is a way out. Free: Scratch: Budgie, GNOME, MATE, KDE Plasma: See Full List--Pop!_OS. not only offers to look and feel of windows but also offers you to run windows app instantly with wasting any moment. Slax is called a live operating system which is based on Linux and run from an external media without any permanent installation. So, a little bit knowledge in command code of Linux is needed, though that can be an achieved very quickly by practising. It uses Xfce desktop but is not very light-weight, because it comes with a suite of software. It also has access to the official repository for additional applications in the Linux servers. ");b!=Array.prototype&&b!=Object.prototype&&(b[c]=a.value)},h="undefined"!=typeof window&&window===this?this:"undefined"!=typeof global&&null!=global?global:this,k=["String","prototype","repeat"],l=0;lb||1342177279>>=1)c+=c;return a};q!=p&&null!=q&&g(h,n,{configurable:!0,writable:!0,value:q});var t=this;function u(b,c){var a=b.split(". It isn't close of being new, so i'm looking for something lightweight, but that isn't a really hard to install, also if possible LiveUSB and/or dual boot. There is mainly two distro available on this kind, Android-x86 Project, and Phoenix OS. So, if your pc has RAM more than that then also it will use only 3GB of RAM at max. Linux is known for offering tremendous overall hardware compatibility, but Linux is most famous for its compatibility with older laptop hardware. It has a pre-installed web browser to go online, an email client, some office application and also media application to handle your videos and photos. Though that does not mean it is going to use a lot of your RAM, as most of those OS needs a minimum around 512mb RAM for the job. Let’s discover the best Linux distro for laptops that are old and planned to throw away. 14 Best lightweight Linux OS for old Laptop in 2019, Best Free & Open source Home Media Server Software, Best Linux Based Raspberry Pi OS: 30+ Operating Systems, Best Linux Ubuntu Cleaner software to clean system disk, apt…, MySQL GUI Tools for Windows and Ubuntu/Linux: Top 8 Free & open source, 4 Best open source & free YouTube Downloader for Ubuntu Linux, 7 Best free & Open source Linux Mint & Ubuntu music player, 5 Best Linux Distros looks like Windows 7/10/XP Interface, 14 Best Linux Distro for Beginners all the time to learn Linux, How to disable automatic opening of USB drive in Linux Mint, OneinStack: How to install it on Ubuntu and CentOS, Types of open source software and Licenses, How to Download and Install MuseScore 3.0.4 on Ubuntu, How to use the disappearing messages feature …, Microsoft Edge Browser now features an intelligent …, How to Remove primary account from Chromebook, How to become administrator user in Windows …, 6 Best Free Password Managers for Windows …, PUBG Mobile coming back to India, Confirmed, CPU: 1.5GHz (700MHz Min)  32-bit & 64-bit, Minimum 1GB and recommended 2.7GB hard disk size, VGA graphics card capable of 640×480 resolution. According to the OS’s website, Linux Mint is now the leading Linux distro, surpassing Ubuntu and all other distros to become the … Tiny Core comes with a small number of packages and uses very minimal resources. Just like Lubuntu, Linux Lite has a fabulous user interface that will make it hard to believe that it has such low memory demands. Arch Linux can be as compact and fast as you want. It also offers much security to your data as the data within the USB drive will be carried in your pocket, so in case of laptop theft or lost your data will be saved inside your pocket. Your email address will not be published. It comes with a good number of default applications. One of the coolest features is that it has a built-in web application management tool called “ICE” which makes sure that the user gets the same experience while dealing with web applications. Even now, the latest release of Bodhi Linux is based on the newest version of Ubuntu. The 5th lightweight Linux for old computers is Peppermint. This article will share some of the best Linux distros for old laptop hardware and also touch on what the minimum requirements are for each distro. Puppy Linux. It is also beneficial for those who are migrating from windows. The minimum system requirements are attached to the recommended distros, which are elaborately discussed. Tiny Core Linux. It stops working as it used to work initially. directory/Slax/. The distros mentioned above are just guidelines so that you can find the best Linux for old laptop. So, today, we shall discuss a bundle of best Linux for old laptop. 2. The configurations of the system are mostly executed from shell and text editor. Plus, you also get to access its built-in repository of software. With Ubuntu, you can easily install and run any Linux Application or Software on your computer. However, Damn Small Linux has an old version as a stable release. Unlike Remix it is meant for a little more older pc and it is more optimized as a PC OS. Puppy Linux . The computer has a Intel Celeron that clock in at around 900MHz and a grand total of 368mb of usable RAM. Some of them even do not need to have HDD on the Laptop to work properly. : 1.7 GHz processor. For more functionality, users can visit get the Linux’s package repositories from Ubuntu Software Center. Mint works very well, with full multimedia support and easy to use. This Tiny Linux distro is really very small in size which is just 12MB without graphical user interface and on 17MB, it offers the FLTK or FLWM graphical desktop environments. Instead, consider running a lightweight version of Linux on it. 1. Here is the list of 25 best lightweight Linux distros sorted according to their system requirements. For example– Linux distros those are running Desktop environments with high graphics such as Fedora, Ubuntu OpenSuse, Centos and more. Hello, i have this laptop that currently has Windows 7, but i want to give a try to linux someday. Above mentioned distros are recommended for ancient laptops. The Arch Linux-based distro is one of the most popular Linux distros and is famous for its outstanding hardware support. Slax is available for both the 32bit and 64bit processor architectures. All the OS listed here can run on a very low amount of RAM, mostly on 1 GB RAM, also needs very less amount of CPU power, most of them do not need a 1 GHz CPU. As an Android smartphone, this is a full-fledged device with all the office functionality, media access, web browsing and other utility. By default, however, it lacks most of the tools modern PC users expect, so be prepared to install everything you need manually. It is damn small, and it is so. The entire directory of the OS is stored in a single USB device or CD in a specific path i.e. The only real question: Which version (or "distro," short for distribution) of Linux? 1024x600 screen. : 1.7 GHz processor. Whatever may be the purpose of using Linux OS or Laptop, the basic needs remain the same. It can run on non-graphical Linux with much fewer requirements mentioned above. It is based on Ubuntu LTS, it’s lightweight and easy to use Linux distributions. 40 GB hard drive. Now (finally), onto the main part, the best lightweight Linux distros for old computers/laptops.Click on the distro’s name to find more info, screenshots, and download links. However, bringing it back to my life should not be a difficult task. We recommend you to first shortlist some of the enlisted OS beneath according to your own hardware’s specification and download the setup and make a bootable USB with the operating system your choice to test with your hardware. An ancient laptop is well capable of running this distro. In this writing, we shall come across some very lightweight Linux distro which can give life to ancient computers. A point to be noted that this OS is limited of RAM usage up to 3GB only. Thank you, interesting list. All of the operating systems highlighted in this article are Linux-derived, which means that all of them are open source and thus also absolutely free. Many people may have bought multiple laptops even after that timeline. This OS is even compatible with laptops which are dated from the 1990s, as it needs only 64MB RAM to work. A fast and lightweight Linux operating system for Chromebooks. 14 Best lightweight Linux OS for old Laptop in 2019. Plus depth technical knowledge of Electronics Appliances & Gadgets. The Dell XPS 13 7390 is one of the best Linux laptops currently available. It has incorporated the ICE application that integrates any websites like a desktop application. And a revived old PC is the bonus. How to choose the best Linux distro for laptops; Image credit: Absolute Linux . It can easily run on an old PC or laptop and has many Apps that come bundled in the installation disk. The Android-based OS would be a good choice for old laptops. Also, these Linux distributions are famous for running out of the box so you don’t need to worry about troubleshooting. By installing these lightweight distros, you can breathe new life into an old PC thought to be long past its prime. A newbie won’t face any problem while booting the computer as no extra software is needed. You can also access the app store which let you choose from thousands of apps and utility software. Best Linux Distro For Old Laptop and Desktops. GalliumOS. Whether buying a Linux pre-installed laptop or selecting a Linux distro for your existing laptop, there are many things to consider. Like the Puppy Linux lightweight Linux os, it also can boot from a CD as a live Linux distribution or even from a USB pen drive. Only needs 16MB of RAM to run. Well, this is the perfect time to re-purpose it and make it not only functional but fast. Back in the day, this was a top of the line laptop… There is no requirement of system hard disk. It offers access. Instead of the small size, it has really some performance juice within it. While most computer users are familiar with mainstream operating systems like Windows, MacOS, or Chrome OS, there’s another option: Linux. My Rec ommendation for Pop!_OS. It can run with full functionality Just using the RAM and only 128MB is needed at max, it is even capable enough to power a 486DX MoBo with 16MB of RAM. How about a Linux distro that is lightweight, customizable, and possible to personalize all together? LXLE is a small and good looking distro. It runs smoothly on older devices with very fewer requirements. You can enjoy a bunch of open-source Linux games on these revived PCs as a bonus. The driver support let you run most of your gadgets like wifi module, keyboard, mouse, webcam and etc. This distro is fast, light, and one of the best lightweight Linux distro. A very lightweight distribution from Linux family, those who are looking for a lightweight OS which needs low resources to run, those who need many resources for gaming in low specs; this Linux Lite is the ideal option for them. Updating is super easy with the uCareSystem that comes by default. Now the point is not all of you have found a customer to buy your super old, under-performing laptop. Provides same taste and performance as Ubuntu. This OS is developed on 32-bit architecture though on pc environment it supports the 64 bit also. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Let’s see the list of those: When you have a chance to save your old laptops, then why should you skip? The only drawback it has compared to Puppy Linux is that it has some functions enabled only through the command line method (CUI). 512 MB of RAM. The newbies of Linux migrated from windows will feel at home with this best distro for laptops. Linux Lite. There are many best options available in the market, depending on various usages aspects and choices of the individual user. Bondho Linux is a distro that is suitable for installing and running on an old computer. It has a well reputation on the list of best Linux for old laptop. The fantastic thing is that it has a graphical user interface, though the size is only 16 MB. For any basic user with basic computation needs like web browsing, word processing etc in a low-end computer, Xubuntu can become the solution required. It provides up to five years of support for each release. At this moment it has three main versions available (though there are many more versions available, for more details on this awesome OS read our dedicated article about Puppy Linux on this website). or under-performing? I think Lubuntu as already very popular, so i'm skipping all those unnecessary fuzz, just get it from the link below. It also comes up with pre-installed media player – VLC Media Player, which has broad support for most of the video codecs available. However, you have to limit your need for high graphical applications. Even with the low amount of resources, Linux Lite runs very fast. Tiny Core distro is so small that it is lower than a modern text editor. FREE: Debian>Ubuntu: GNOME: 79. It is just like Bhodi Linux, so lightweight lLinuxos and comes without much junk or pre-packed applications. It is a very versatile one of the smallest PC OS as it is only 50MB (yeah! So, we are here with a list of lightweight Linux os to put old things back to work. that’s right) mini desktop oriented Lightweight Linux distribution.DSL is a really very good option for data recovery from damaged laptops and old HDD. He has experience of working in the Telecom industry for more than two years as a Radio Frequency Engineer in different top companies. Well, this is the perfect time to re-purpose it and make it not only functional but fast. The 32 bit version has 208MB sized and the 64-bit version has the 232MB sized .iso file. For example– Linux distros those are running Desktop environments with high graphics such as Fedora, Ubuntu OpenSuse, Centos and more. It does not come with any pre-installed apps. Besides, it provides a dedicated support team that provides help to users. Since these Linux OSs are community-based open source, sometimes these OS Dev teams will drop support and leave users in the dark. The installer needs minimum 2.7GB hard disk size. Peppermint uses the LXDE desktop environment that is lightweight and easy to use. Figure 3: The user-friendly world of Puppy Linux. Linux Lite – the second-best distro for old laptops. Wish your old computers will get life once again after reading this writing. Linux is known for offering tremendous overall hardware compatibility, but Linux is most famous for its compatibility with older laptop hardware. If you've a Intel based Chromebook, then you should give it a try. Hello, i have this laptop that currently has Windows 7, but i want to give a try to linux someday. Ok so I have this very old laptop that was gave to me when I was younger. 1. Damn Small Linux. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. An ancient machine, capable of only running Windows XP is enough to run Linux Lite. The 32bit version is designed and optimized to run on very old computers even in CPU like Intel 486; which released in 1989. It comes with three packages for installation to fulfill the demand of users with different system configurations. While Linux laptops don't come cheap , you can still find a few budget Linux options . Back in the day, this was a top of the line laptop. the 64bit version needs a better pc a more hardware specification. In fact, some Arch Linux users have replaced all graphical applications with their CLI equivalents to prove to themselves that beautiful icons and visual effects are overrated. It ships as a system-free distro. Many Linux distributions are made specifically for utilizing the ancient, underpowered hardware found in older machines. These include such things as: Comfort-level; Laptop age; Purpose of laptop; Battery life; Aesthetics; Let’s look at six best Linux distros that seem custom made for laptop users. This article will share some of the best Linux distros for old laptop hardware and also touch on what the minimum requirements are for each distro. Where another version is there with minimal installation needs for very low resource system which can run with 64 MB or 128 MB (recommended) of RAM. Need very less CPU power and fewer resources. Easy to configure. (e in b)&&0=b[e].o&&a.height>=b[e].m)&&(b[e]={rw:a.width,rh:a.height,ow:a.naturalWidth,oh:a.naturalHeight})}return b}var C="";u("pagespeed.CriticalImages.getBeaconData",function(){return C});u("pagespeed.CriticalImages.Run",function(b,c,a,d,e,f){var r=new y(b,c,a,e,f);x=r;d&&w(function(){window.setTimeout(function(){A(r)},0)})});})();pagespeed.CriticalImages.Run('/mod_pagespeed_beacon','http://www.how2shout.com/tools/best-lightweight-linux-os-old-laptop-2019.html','sYQ6avUs-G',true,false,'1t8FLadPM8g'); There are some more and best lightweight Linux distros, which can be considered as some of the best Linux for old laptop. This OS has 100 MB (core OS size) and boots less than even a minute on any old system. Linux distro for an old laptop? This compact OS will even run on an old 486 PC. The one requires low system configuration comes first and also keep in mind that, the distributions which require low processing power couldn’t have fancy UI animations and 3D stuff. The purpose of this distro is to provide the users with a ready-to-use distro. he antiX Linux is a flexible and free operating system which can be used by both beginners and experienced users of Linux. Bhodi has a dedicated desktop called Moksha. Choosing the right laptop for your Linux setup can be a bit overwhelming at first. The peppermint desktop environment is based on LXDE.