Set up the distribution without USB or CD compatibility features
Set up the distribution without USB or CD compatibility features
Focus on setting up a minimal distro straight onto the PATA HDD without using USB ports. Consider using an old PC as a host machine, connect the PATA drive via a PATA-to-USB adapter, and run the installation there. This keeps the original laptop hidden and avoids detection.
If it's quite old, installing a current setup might be impossible... but with a network link you could attempt a netinstall.
It seems the system likely lacks sufficient RAM for smooth operation. Linux won't perform wonders; web apps and programs will demand a lot of memory even with the OS. An older machine might last a bit longer than on Windows, especially if you use a lightweight distribution, though not very long. It could still serve as a useful tool or hobby project for certain technical tasks (like working with outdated hardware that needs a COM port). If your partner is interested in this, you might try installing GRUB on a floppy and using a network installer from there. Most popular distros don’t offer network installation images, but Arch Linux does have one (it fits well on a floppy). Some laptops may support booting from a network connection through other methods, though I’m not sure about those options.
Edited June 18, 2020 by Wild Penquin clarifying the point
I need to replace the old hard drive since it’s likely broken, but I’m convinced the best operating system for this setup will be an older Microsoft version (I’m not sure if 98SE or XP is better) because the computer will still be too slow for online browsing. At least it will support some DOS games or pinball, as they come preinstalled on both systems.