Need help choosing a Linux version

[Chesmu]

I'm looking for one that's gonna last until 2030 or more on this specs, easy to use, safe and secure that could run games with maximum 1GB in size with around 800MB RAM usase, is there any version that doesn't need extra security adjustments? Internet connection security is more important for me than viruses / malware.

Pentium(R) Dual Core 2.60GHz
NVIDIA GeForce 9400 GT
1024 VRAM
2046 RAM
238GB HDD

What can be installed on this?

[wuddih]

antix runs on anything.

[Haruspex]

There's Lubuntu[lubuntu.me]

It's a flavor of Ubuntu using LXQT, an extremely fast and lightweight desktop environment.

One good benefit of using a Ubuntu flavor is the very widespread support. If you run into an issue, chances are you'll easily be able to find a Ubuntu-specific solution.

Lubuntu is so lightweight, it will even run on systems with only 512 MB of RAM and single core 700 MHZ processors. You're well above that, and there's no reason it won't continue to run just fine even with updates for years and years.

Just make sure you enable the proprietary, closed-source Nvidia drivers. They're disabled by default.

[Chesmu]

Originally posted by Harusp3x:

There's Lubuntu[lubuntu.me]

It's a flavor of Ubuntu using LXQT, an extremely fast and lightweight desktop environment.

One good benefit of using a Ubuntu flavor is the very widespread support. If you run into an issue, chances are you'll easily be able to find a Ubuntu-specific solution.

Lubuntu is so lightweight, it will even run on systems with only 512 MB of RAM and single core 700 MHZ processors. You're well above that, and there's no reason it won't continue to run just fine even with updates for years and years.

Just make sure you enable the proprietary, closed-source Nvidia drivers. They're disabled by default.

Thanks, do you know if there is anything else crucial to be done when installing this version? Anything I must adjust?

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by Chesmu:

Thanks, do you know if there is anything else crucial to be done when installing this version? Anything I must adjust?

Not really. As you mentioned in your other thread though, maybe turn on the software firewall if you make it a habit to connect to public networks, and while I don't personally think it's necessary, install ClamAV. Really just install, enable Nvidia proprietary support, update, install Steam, and enjoy.

[Chesmu]

Originally posted by Harusp3x:

Originally posted by Chesmu:

Thanks, do you know if there is anything else crucial to be done when installing this version? Anything I must adjust?

Not really. As you mentioned in your other thread though, maybe turn on the software firewall if you make it a habit to connect to public networks, and while I don't personally think it's necessary, install ClamAV. Really just install, enable Nvidia proprietary support, update, install Steam, and enjoy.

Ok thanks, one more question tho, what do you think about Linux Mint? I see a lot of people recommending it

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by Chesmu:

Ok thanks, one more question tho, what do you think about Linux Mint? I see a lot of people recommending it

I like it. It's also based on Ubuntu and provides a nice, clean out of the box experience for most users. It's using the MATE desktop environment, which is very Windows-like. In your case though, 2 GB of RAM is the minimum, with 4 GB recommended for a more comfortable experience. Linux Mint is lightweight for all intents and purposes, but in your case you'll probably want something even lighter.

[Chesmu]

Originally posted by Harusp3x:

Originally posted by Chesmu:

Ok thanks, one more question tho, what do you think about Linux Mint? I see a lot of people recommending it

I like it. It's also based on Ubuntu and provides a nice, clean out of the box experience for most users. It's using the MATE desktop environment, which is very Windows-like. In your case though, 2 GB of RAM is the minimum, with 4 GB recommended for a more comfortable experience. Linux Mint is lightweight for all intents and purposes, but in your case you'll probably want something even lighter.

Well that much of RAM usage will definitely cause problems, I'll trying Lubuntu then. I hope my files in my HDD don't get deleted when switching from Windows to Linux, not sure if that ever happens

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by Chesmu:

Originally posted by Harusp3x:

I like it. It's also based on Ubuntu and provides a nice, clean out of the box experience for most users. It's using the MATE desktop environment, which is very Windows-like. In your case though, 2 GB of RAM is the minimum, with 4 GB recommended for a more comfortable experience. Linux Mint is lightweight for all intents and purposes, but in your case you'll probably want something even lighter.

Well that much of RAM usage will definitely cause problems, I'll trying Lubuntu then. I hope my files in my HDD don't get deleted when switching from Windows to Linux, not sure if that ever happens

Back it all up first. You'll be wiping your drive and completely reformatting it with a whole new file system during installation.

[Chesmu]

Originally posted by Harusp3x:

Originally posted by Chesmu:

Well that much of RAM usage will definitely cause problems, I'll trying Lubuntu then. I hope my files in my HDD don't get deleted when switching from Windows to Linux, not sure if that ever happens

Back it all up first. You'll be wiping your drive and completely reformatting it with a whole new file system during installation.

Bruh, do you mean it's not just about drive C? all partitions will be lost? not sure if I can backup 200GB of files :/

[Silicon Dystopia]

I always say I like Slackware. I don't usually recommend it because everyone has different needs and preferences but I keep coming back to it for more than 2 decades. I don't think it gets the love it deserves.

Also, get a new drive for Linux. There's no reason not to these days unless you're on a laptop (even then, there's sometimes options). It takes up a lot less space than WIndows.

What do you want to do with it? 2G will be fine but you might want more depending on your application. A Minecraft server will appreciate more, for example.

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by Chesmu:

Originally posted by Harusp3x:

Back it all up first. You'll be wiping your drive and completely reformatting it with a whole new file system during installation.

Bruh, do you mean it's not just about drive C? all partitions will be lost? not sure if I can backup 200GB of files :/

Yep. This is Linux. There is no "Drive C". There are drive partitions and their mounting points. Back that stuff up.

[Chesmu]

Originally posted by Harusp3x:

Originally posted by Chesmu:

Bruh, do you mean it's not just about drive C? all partitions will be lost? not sure if I can backup 200GB of files :/

Yep. This is Linux. There is no "Drive C". There are drive partitions and their mounting points. Back that stuff up.

Alright looks like I'm gonna need to buy something afterall , even if it's a storage device

[Chesmu]

Originally posted by Silicon Dystopia:

I always say I like Slackware. I don't usually recommend it because everyone has different needs and preferences but I keep coming back to it for more than 2 decades. I don't think it gets the love it deserves.

Also, get a new drive for Linux. There's no reason not to these days unless you're on a laptop (even then, there's sometimes options). It takes up a lot less space than WIndows.

What do you want to do with it? 2G will be fine but you might want more depending on your application. A Minecraft server will appreciate more, for example.

I will be installing a lot of games, downloading movies, music and such, it's all multimedia which takes space.

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by Chesmu:

Originally posted by Silicon Dystopia:

I always say I like Slackware. I don't usually recommend it because everyone has different needs and preferences but I keep coming back to it for more than 2 decades. I don't think it gets the love it deserves.

Also, get a new drive for Linux. There's no reason not to these days unless you're on a laptop (even then, there's sometimes options). It takes up a lot less space than WIndows.

What do you want to do with it? 2G will be fine but you might want more depending on your application. A Minecraft server will appreciate more, for example.

I will be installing a lot of games, downloading movies, music and such, it's all multimedia which takes space.

That's an idea too. Get a new internal drive, swap it out, and install Linux on that. This way if you have regrets just swap back and you'll be back to your old Windows installation. If you decide to stick with Linux, you can start copying stuff over from your original drive and use it as secondary storage.

[Silicon Dystopia]

You can mount your windows partitions under Linux so you could use those for your media. You'll probably want at least a couple of extra gigs of RAM for that though you could try without. Just be prepared. If you'll be running the kind of games you were running under windows, you should be OK. Linux has a lot less overhead.

You could probably find a way to install it on your main drive if you were determined but there's more room for error with your existing data there.