Minimal operating system design
Minimal operating system design
Hey there! I just got a budget old laptop for school and it’s running Windows 10. It’s really slow, feels heavy, and not very responsive. The previous owner probably tried to install Windows 10 on it, but it didn’t work well. I’m searching for a lighter OS that still works with most apps, programs, and maybe some games. People recommend things like Bodhi Linux, Manjaro Linux, Elementary OS, Tiny10, and even Chrome OS. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these options. Thanks a lot!
For most browser tasks, ChromeOS seems to be the top choice. If you're not comfortable with Linux, Mint offers a gentler introduction, while Arch with lightweight desktops like XFCE or LXDE provides a solid alternative. Setting it up can be a hands-on experience, perfect for those who like diving in rather than gradually adapting.
Try it on Windows 7 for compatibility with older apps. For longer support, consider Windows 8.1 or 10—though most old hardware struggles with bloat, and even debloating won’t fix everything. Switching to Linux is an option; it will keep getting updates for a long time, even on very old systems. Linux Mint is a good starting point if you choose that path.
Kelvinhall05 gave some good suggestions. However this is an old laptop so I have a feeling it is very slow due to thermal issues and getting a lighter os does not fix that. Can you instal hwmonitor and check the temps when doing basic stuff? What i3 is this there is no 4th gen i3 that runs at 1.1ghz. The lowest end one runs at 1.3ghz and whilst slow should still be ok for web tasks.
That's a solid observation, I might need to revisit this later. The CPU is actually operating at 1.9 GHz, with 2 cores and 2 threads.
You might also consider reinstalling Windows just in case. Either way, using a tablet with an i5 4200y and 4GB RAM works fine on Windows 10, but the RAM is the main problem. The i3 2375m with 8GB RAM and an SSD performs well as the office’s public browser machine. I’m a bit puzzled about why a device better than that is so slow.
I believe there might be an issue with the internal components, but I don’t have the time or funds to resolve it immediately. It’s essentially a temporary fix. Thanks a lot!
These are actually quite good for Windows 10. Verify the specifications—I don’t think an i3 can handle HD4600.