HP Thin Client t5745
HP Thin Client t5745
I bought an HP Thin Client from an e-waste bin and attempted to run it, but it appears locked with passwords and restrictions. It doesn’t seem to be Windows—it looks like Linux. I tried installing Windows but it only supports 32-bit, so I upgraded the flash memory from 1–2 GB to 4 GB to upgrade the OS. However, every time I try to install a new operating system, I can’t complete the process. Is this because the device already has an OS installed? If so, is there a way to wipe it clean and install a fresh OS without entering any passwords or steps?
These items are built specifically for connecting to a keyboard, mouse, and screen via RDP, with no other purpose in mind. I wouldn't expect a simple Linux setup to run well on them; Windows seems the better choice.
I thought the same too—maybe a lighter Windows version or Linux could work better. I’m not really used to it yet, but it might be worth trying. The main question is: how will it install? I just want to make sure it doesn’t cause issues like before. I’ll check out smaller Linux versions and keep this thread updated with my findings. Thanks!
I used the same processor in a netbook with Vista before switching to Windows 7. It worked fine enough. People noted that the available storage isn’t sufficient for Windows. Unless you upgrade to a larger hard drive (32GB works for Windows 10) or consider a lightweight Linux setup.
I successfully set up the “Lubuntu-18.04-alternate-i386” version. The old Atheros WiFi chip on my D7T laptop connected to Wi-Fi without any drivers required. It runs slowly, but it functions fine. Thanks!
I could upgrade the RAM later and I understand you can add an SSD there, though I’m not planning to spend much money on it. The only expense I made was a 4GB IDE flash memory upgrade from around 2GB new on Amazon. I didn’t pay for this PC, so it’s nice to see it running smoothly. I don’t have much experience with computers, but I enjoy learning and taking advantage of any help available. Thanks again.