Consider using a workaround or evaluate Linux as a more suitable alternative.
Consider using a workaround or evaluate Linux as a more suitable alternative.
HP Pavillion 15 has just one issue: the CPU is a Core i7 6500U. I intend to fix it for my mom, who still uses it mainly for browsing the web, word documents, PowerPoint (G-suite works), and Zoom. I’ve discovered some ways to run Windows 11, but it feels slow on Windows 10. Should I upgrade that way or should I consider a lighter Linux version instead? Since I mostly use a Mac, I’m not very sure about the best path. PS: I’ve swapped the hard drive for an SATA SSD already.
Can the RAM be increased as well? It should work well enough for basic tasks, even on a Skylake i7 system running Windows 10.
There are minimal unofficial Windows versions such as Tiny10, Tiny11, and even Windows 11 Ghost Spectre. When using Rufus to generate a bootable USB, you can skip hardware prerequisites and set up an offline local account. Avoid AtlasOS—Linus discussed it in a video, but it’s risky for security and lacks updates by default. For Linux, I suggest Linux Mint. Mint Cinnamon is based on Ubuntu, while Mint Debian is built around Debian. Either option should work well. They’re user-friendly, requiring minimal terminal interaction beyond password entry during updates or installs.
As someone who uses an HP Pavillion, I’ve encountered a problem: after installing OS, my keyboard stops responding for a minute or two when I power on or restart. It seems to be a hardware compatibility issue, possibly related to the device. The fix I found was to open the terminal and edit /etc/default/grub, changing GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT to quiet splash with i8042.dumbkbd=1. This should resolve the issue for older laptops like mine.
I'm running Windows 11 Ghost Spectre on both my desktop (Xeon E3-1225 v2, i5-3470) and laptop (Core M-5Y10c). Both seem unsupported by the latest version. The laptop now feels more responsive, even better than the old Windows 10. If your family uses Windows, adding Linux might not be worth it, especially since you're already comfortable with Microsoft Office. The i7-6500U and 12 GB RAM still offer solid performance for everyday tasks on Windows. I understand @Inception9269's preference for Linux Mint if you'd like to switch.
She's been using Linux Mint for more than ten years. It's only a matter of updating the system every couple of years.
The Corei7 will work perfectly with Windows 11, as the only concern is the CPU. Good luck! Your mom's laptop might also run slow over time due to accumulated files, requiring a clean install of Windows.
I tested Linux on an old laptop with an i5 5300U. Performance was poor, compatibility issues were frequent, and the battery life suffered due to weak power-saving settings. Ubuntu ran slowly, PopOS was responsive but the Synaptics trackpad didn’t function well with some keys. ElementaryOS was the most reliable, eventually I managed to get it working, including the trackpad and key functions after tweaking the GRUB starter file. Even with the lid on, the battery still drained quickly. If I’d persisted, a Windows 10 installation might have been a better option. After some months, I installed Windows 11 and it worked flawlessly. I upgraded the RAM for around $15, making it much faster and more responsive than any Linux distro I’d tried before. Most importantly, I no longer needed to charge it daily—just once a week.
I’m sure if I put a Linux distribution on my mom’s laptop, she’d become her 24/7 tech support. If you don’t have TPM 2.0, go with Windows 10. Just perform the standard “fresh” installation, add drivers, and you’re done. Windows 10 keeps getting updates until October 14th, 2025.