Top choice for upgrading Windows XP on older desktops
Top choice for upgrading Windows XP on older desktops
Looking for a suitable Linux distribution? Budgie seems more Mac-like than Windows, while Puppy Linux or Lubuntu might be easier to adjust. Your system has limited resources—just 2 GB RAM and an 160GB drive with two SATA 3 ports—so prioritize lightweight options.
These distributions are well-suited for older desktops. Xubuntu offers the most flexibility, Lubuntu is the lightest option, and Puppy Linux runs everything in RAM, which might cause issues with Chrome. I recommend Lubuntu for your setup. Arch Linux is an alternative but demands more technical expertise.
I recommend the KDE version of Sabayon Linux or another KDE-based distro if you desire a desktop environment akin to Windows XP. Make sure to turn off file indexing, as it can cause performance issues. You can adjust this in the system settings window or simply execute ‘balooctl disable; pkill baloo’ to remove it. If you strongly prefer Windows XP, consider ReactOS—a true Windows clone that works with Windows apps—but be aware it lacks the quality of any Linux distribution.
I'm adding another vote for Lubuntu because it's lightweight and straightforward to use.