Re: Is this fact or scam? (Microsoft update)
Originally Posted by
JBR
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I've often thought about installing Linux Mint on an old laptop. I'll get round to it soon, hopefully.
I think that, first, I'll have to look into more details. I assume I shall have to use the existing Windows (?7 or XP) to download the software, but I'm not sure whether it will be possible to install it whilst Windows is still running, or delete the Windows OS.
An old laptop might be good enough but something worth noting. I've got Linux Mint 19 with the Cinnamon Desktop installed on a laptop computer (dual-booting with Windows). Also on a Desktop computer that I've recently resurrected. I know Linux operating systems are thought to be lighter on resources and run on any old computer but that's not necessarily so. I had to fit a better graphics card to the Desktop computer because it was overheating while running Linux.
When you download Linux Mint, it comes as a .iso file (linuxmint-19-cinnamon-64bit-v2.iso). In windows 10, right-clicking on the file gives the option to burn it to DVD. There will be a way to put the installation files onto a USB stick but I've always used a DVD, so haven't looked into it. I can't remember if Windows 7 has this option or not. If not, a third-party program would be needed for the job. Maybe
ImgBurn or similar.
Once the installation files are on a DVD or USB stick, the computer has to be booted up from that. Pressing the appropriate key on the computer's keyboard as it boots should bring up a boot options window where you can choose which device the computer boots up from. Choose the DVD drive or USB stick.
Then wait ages for the Linux OS to load from the DVD. When complete, that's the stage at which you can actually try Linux Mint without installing it. It will be slow and somewhat limited in function because it's running from the installation media. Nonetheless, you get to take a look at it without any changes being made to the computer.
When/if you decide to actually install Linux Mint, note the file on the Desktop for doing so. Click on it and follow the instructions reading each dialogue box carefully. At some stage there will be an option to either wipe out the Windows OS and use the entire disk, or to install Linux alongside the existing Windows OS in a dual-boot arrangement. If opting for the latter, Linux Mint will set this up for you. When the Linux installation is complete and the computer is re-booted, there will be an option to boot into either Windows or Linux.
It goes almost without saying that any important files should be backed up before starting the above procedure. Ideally, make a complete disk image and a Windows boot disk. If anything goes dreadfully amiss, you can boot up from the boot disk, access the disk image and overwrite the whole lot to get back to where you started from.
Edit: Linux Mint also receives a good number of updates but I think Linux users generally have more trust in these than Windows users have in Windows updates.