The Linux.uk Community Forum

Thanks Steve, thanks everyone.  Your comments are much appreciated.

Matt

Hi Brian,

My current PC is a HP550; i7-6700; 3.4GHz; 16GB RAM; 120GB SSD; 3TB HDD.  I would like a new PC with a similar or greater spec.

I don't really want to use this one to install the new OS on as, when I upgrade to a new PC, I always have the two running side by side for a while, until the new one is bedded in and I've found no significant problems.  Jumping straight to a new OS/computer with no (or significant difficulty in) turning back, is too much of a leap of faith for me.  Which is why I'd prefer having a new 'clean' PC that I can install my own OS choice.

Matt

Thanks for your comments.

By 'Main PC', I mean that I will be using it for all of my normal stuff, such as normal office apps, watching DVDs, some video editing (although that has reduced somewhat lately), VMs (generally playing around with), and, yes, internet use.

I currently have a (relatively) old i7 running Win10, purchased to run video editing software that I specifically needed at the time.  However, this need has been reduced lately.  I do most of my work (at home) on this computer and have found it relatively responsive.  (It does have a small SSD at the front end.)  I would have no problem in continuing to use it for years to come, but that wont be possible with the soon to be stopped updates.  (I'm also getting more nervous about the direction in which MS, Apple, Google, etc. are heading.)

What I though was that I should get a relatively up-to-date system and install, say, Ubuntu on it and go from there.  But it needs to be a good system, and one that hasn't been locked into another OS.

If I understand the idea of the TPM correctly, (thanks Brian for the link,) than this seems to make standard computing more secure, but worse when it comes to changing things like the OS, or data recovery with another computer.  (Maybe I'm not getting it properly.)  Do all up-to-date motherboards come with them?

Matt

Hi,

I've been hearing a lot of bad things lately regarding Windows and iOS, and am becoming less and less comfortable about having my main computer running Windows - particularly Win11.  However, I am unable to locate a non-Windows and non-iOS computer that will allow me to install Linux.  I don't know very much about the 'Secure Boot' or 'TPM', but the impression I get is that, if I buy one with these set up, I will not be able to install another OS (or will need authorisation/something from MS??).  I don't have a massive amount of money, and I would rather get one from a reputable source.  I also have little experience building computers with the more modern set up.  (When I built them, there was no internet connectivity - 40MB HDD, etc.  .)

Can anyone advise me on a sensible route, and also the compatibility (if that's the right word) of the TPM?

Much appreciated,

Matt

Yes, it's a 32bit processor.  What I'm really looking for is a well supported, 32 bit, comfortable to use, distro, that I can run on the laptop.  It's a Samsung NP-N110 - with some slight modifications (I think I remember upgrading it to 2GB mem - but it's got at least 1).

So many currently supported OSs are now only 64 bit - which for an OS that is trying to be an alternative to Windows 10/11, then this make sense.  However, it's starting to leave a hole in the market for old 32 bit machines that require a supported OS.

Thanks, Keith.

The main reason for installing a new OS on a VM is so that I can fiddle about with it for a few weeks before deciding whether to install it properly on the laptop.  It's not that I've decided to use Puppy, but that I need to evaluate it long term.  I don't want to continually use a Live CD on the VM, and I don't want to install it prematurely on the laptop.  I've done this with many OSs.  Many of them for fun, but some to seriously evaluate.  With Win11 rearing its ugly head, I may find a distro that I'd prefer to change to (not that I'd necessarily consider Puppy as my main OS), so long term evaluation is useful.

Thanks Keith, David.

The live CD works fine on the VM, and will probably do so on the laptop.  That's not the problem.  What I don't want to do is attempt to do a full install on the laptop to find that it can't.  Admittedly, I could get it working perfectly well on the VM and then still find it won't work on the laptop.  However, my concern is that, if I can't get it to install properly on the VM I've less confidence in it working on the laptop.  I have Lite on it the moment which works fine - almost - so I don't want to install OS after OS to find the one that works fine.

The VMs are a good way to try out various OSs before using them, both the way they work and the way they install.  Some installations are relatively easy, but some are more complicated than they're worth.  Only trying them out will show this, and the easiest way is through a VM.  It also means that I can have several OSs on the go at the same time allowing me to compare them.  Each one running on its own live CD is a little impractical - particularly considering that I do not intend to run it on the live CD on my laptop.

Quote...your computer, your rules.

This is true, but I value your opinions, even if I finally decide to take a different route.  Which is probably true for most of us.

Matt

Thanks Keith.

I found that the 'notify' button was off, but I'm sure I turned it on at the start.  I've noticed this before, but I can't guarantee that I'm not making a mistake.  It's definitely on now, so I'll keep an eye on it and let you know if it happens again.

Matt

Another P.S. (I'm not sure if here is the right place to trouble shoot all these), the notifications that I'm (now) getting are coming up in my gmail spam folder.  Despite clicking on the 'not spam' button, they keep appearing there.  Any comments/suggestions?

I think there's a misunderstanding.  I'm trying to test it out to see how to eventually install it on an old laptop, but the installation does not appear to be working on the VM.  I don't want to try it on the laptop until I can install it properly on the VM.

Hi,

Trying to test Bionic Pup on a VM to see how it runs.  I'm using "Puppy 18_04 bionicpup32-8.0-uefi.iso" and I've been playing with the settings, but I can't get it to work.  The live CD works, no problem.  But when I try to install it on the VM, all it does is hang at the start - I don't even get the scripting.

The basic settings for the VM are 512MB RAM, 2GB HDD, single core,  16MB video.

Any ideas, and do you need any other information?

Also, is this version still supported?

Matt

Steve57,

Quote from: steve57 on November 10, 2021, 08:09:40 PMIf that had been me I would immediately be looking for an alternative distro, purely on principle.

The thought did occur to me as well.  However, I've used Lite 3.8 on and off for the past few years and, generally speaking, I think it's a good one.  I think the reason is not that they couldn't help, but that the creator (if that's the correct term) didn't want to assist with an older version.  Considering, though, the distro is free, I can't see the problem.

Quote from: steve57 on November 10, 2021, 08:09:40 PMwhat exactly do you mean by "the laptop won't hold v5"? Lack of RAM, lack of storage space, only 32 bit, processor not up to the job? Or something else?

All of the above, I think.  Without checking through the specs of both again, I'm sure that my laptop fails to come up to the minimum spec for v5 on any of the normal criteria.

Brian000,

Quote from: Brian000 on November 10, 2021, 09:41:48 PMwelcome to a community that will try to help, regardless of warranty periods, etc 

Thanks.

Quote from: Brian000 on November 10, 2021, 09:41:48 PMthis suggest that Lubuntu should be OK.

I had a feeling I'd looked into that some time ago, but I'll revisit it.

Quote from: Brian000 on November 10, 2021, 09:41:48 PMbut consider also searching for the N10 model too, which I understand has similar specs to your N110.

Not sure whether you're suggesting getting an N10 instead.  The N110, I have.

Thanks for your additional advice.  Much appreciated - particularly after the Lite Forum

Matt

P.S.  Is there an easier way to insert quotes?  I've been using 'Insert Quote' and deleting what I don't need.  Is this the normal way people do it?  Also, I'm not getting notifications for a reply.

I've had a prompt to update the thread - thanks Keith.  I have got no further with the problems.  I needed the laptop to take away a few weeks ago, so I just worked around it, then.  Since then I haven't used it as such.  I did try asking the question on the Linux Lite Forum, but got a bit of a frosty response from the creator, I believe.  I think the reason was that 3.8 isn't supported now and he didn't want others helping me with an out dated OS.  (Understandable, to a point.)  It was also suggested that I update it to v5, but the laptop won't hold v5.

Thanks

Thanks SeZo,

Under the Security tab, the 'Automatic lock the session:' is set to 'When the screensaver is activated'.  (The other option is 'When the screensaver is deactivated'.)
The 'Delay locking after the screensaver for' = 1 second.
The 'Lock screen when system of going for sleep' is unchecked.

I don't know where to find the screensaver settings.  There're not in Power Management or Display, or any of the other settings that I can find.

Matt

Thanks.

I've tried the various options and nothing seems to change. The screen blanks after closing the lid (which I have no problem with) and, after some time, the 'Enter PW' comes up.  I can't see anything else to change.  The system does not seem to lock itself into one state, as the options I set seem to stay set.

Thanks for the link re numlock.  Unfortunately, I have already tried all these options, as well.  There is an option for numlock state in the BIOS which is set to 'off', and the 'Restore Num Lock State on Startup' has been set to both with the same result, that of the numlock being 'on' at 'Enter PW', at boot up or on opening the lid.  Turning 'numlock' off is easy, but continually frustrating - particularly, considering I know it shouldn't be the case.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Matt

In 'Power Management', 'General' tab, 'Laptop Lid' section, 'When laptop lid is closed:' is on 'Switch off display' on both batt and plugged.  In the 'System' tab, 'System power saving' section, batt and plugged are 'Suspend', inactive: never.  Is this what you were referring to?

Also, as aside, the numlock keeps turning on.  How do I get it to stay off on boot up?

Matt