Beginner-friendly Linux version to use with this PC?

[NeutronVortex]

Hello, I'm wondering what would be a good version of Linux to install on an old Dell T1700 Workstation. This very one right here, to be specific:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q6DDFK1?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

This would be my first Linux PC so I'm looking for a version that is as beginner friendly as possible.

Secondly, the gfx card I plan to use is a gtx 1050 2gb, but from what I'm reading Nvidia cards could potentially have issues on Linux so I'd also be curious in an alternative sub ~75 watt tpd gfx card that is compatible with whichever Linux OS you are recommending also, if possible. Thx in advance for your time.

[NeutronVortex]

Publicado originalmente por Bad 💀 Motha:

Stick to a 64bit Linux distro (version/build) that is still current and is not already considered EOL

I installed the latest Linux Mint Debian edition from the website. I downloaded the .iso and burned it on a DVD. Everything was kool during the install but afterwards it asked to remove the install media and press enter to reboot the PC. I took out the DVD, pressed enter, the PC restarted, but now it's saying 'no bootable drives found' I pressed F1 to try again several times, same thing. Powered on/off, same thing.

Y'know, the initial pre-installed Win 10 was working great... too bad that got wiped... *sigh*

Edit: Maybe there's loose a cable, idk...

[Bad 💀 Motha]

First check which mode your BIOS is set to; Legacy or UEFI.
If it supports UEFI then you want that on Full UEFI.
Then select the default boot device.

It will probably boot fine right now, you just need to change the boot device in the BIOS.

[NeutronVortex]

Publicado originalmente por Bad 💀 Motha:

First check which mode your BIOS is set to; Legacy or UEFI.
If it supports UEFI then you want that on Full UEFI.
Then select the default boot device.

It will probably boot fine right now, you just need to change the boot device in the BIOS.

Thx, I'll check that out later. I think I'm done for today tho; been feeling terrible since I woke up -- stuffy/runny nose, headache, freezing -- I think I'm coming down with something. Thx for being awesome.

[NeutronVortex]

Also, I gave everyone who replied an award. Merry Christmas and all. :)

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Ok have a great holiday! Hope you feel better.
Get some Ginseng, Honey, Green Tea and also Vitamin B6, B12 and C

We're always around if you need more help.

For now I think it might be as simple as you going in the BIOS and setting your OS HDD/SSD as primary boot device.

[skOsH♥]

Go with Ubuntu and then dive into Manjaro, and then graduate to Linuxfromscratch

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Also you can put Win10 back on there at any time by making your own Win10 USB flash drive. Don't waste your time making OS Installer Media DVDs as they become obsolete very quickly. When you use USB for that you can wipe it out and reuse it for whatever you want. Because you have a Dell, the Win10 would auto re-activate if you instal it. Which you can get the ISO from Microsoft official Win10 website. You could also install Win11 on there and activate it for free off of your Win10.

[NeutronVortex]

Ok, so I removed the off-brand vivetronic ssd and noticed that lone screw was in there really tight -- it was star screw too, shame on you! -- so tight that that corner of the ssd was popped out a bit.

Also, I noticed one of wires in the cable above the HDD was cut so I guess that's why it was oddly screwed in under the DVD bay like that with different cables.

Anyway, I replaced the vivetronic ssd with a wd blue 1tb ssd(brand new from walmart), reinstalled linux mint debian, and I got the 'no bootable drive found' msg. I went into setup switched from UEFI to Legacy, moved the wd ssd to the top of the boot order, and this time I didn't get the same msg but instead the screen stayed black with a white underscore blinking in the top left. Restarted a few times, same thing.

Does this mean linux mint debian isn't compatible? Seems like it wouldn't let me install it in the first place if that where the case.

[r.linder]

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

[NeutronVortex]

Publicado originalmente por 尺．し工几ᗪヨ尺:

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

Thx, but I think I'm done messing around linux mint. I reinstalled Win 10 and it's working fine. I guess the hardware on the T1700 is too old for the latest linux mint builds or something. I actually choose that one because I saw people saying it worked on this PC on some linux msg board, but I guess that info was about a prior version and is outdated now. Seems like it should run a compatibility test with your system before letting you install it.

Electric Cupcake mentioned Lubuntu and Kubuntu working on older hardware so I might look into trying those out on second ssd later on.

Thx everyone for you input. :)

[r.linder]

Publicado originalmente por NeutronVortex:

Publicado originalmente por 尺．し工几ᗪヨ尺:

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

Thx, but I think I'm done messing around linux mint. I reinstalled Win 10 and it's working fine. I guess the hardware on the T1700 is too old for the latest linux mint builds or something. I actually choose that one because I saw people saying it worked on this PC on some linux msg board, but I guess that info was about a prior version and is outdated now. Seems like it should run a compatibility test with your system before letting you install it.

Electric Cupcake mentioned Lubuntu and Kubuntu working on older hardware so I might look into trying those out on second ssd later on.

Thx everyone for you input. :)

I would chalk it up to user error, not support, I had Mint running on a system with an i5-3470 just this year, based on Ubuntu 22.04 which I'm pretty sure is still the latest version.

[NeutronVortex]

Publicado originalmente por 尺．し工几ᗪヨ尺:

I would chalk it up to user error, not support, I had Mint running on a system with an i5-3470 just this year, based on Ubuntu 22.04 which I'm pretty sure is still the latest version.

I used the Debian of version of linux mint, not the Ubuntu version. I don't know if I did something wrong or not; I watched a couple vids and just did what they did.

[r.linder]

Publicado originalmente por NeutronVortex:

Publicado originalmente por 尺．し工几ᗪヨ尺:

I would chalk it up to user error, not support, I had Mint running on a system with an i5-3470 just this year, based on Ubuntu 22.04 which I'm pretty sure is still the latest version.

I used the Debian of version of linux mint, not the Ubuntu version. I don't know if I did something wrong or not; I watched a couple vids and just did what they did.

The requirements are the same as regular Mint, if it's not working then you probably made a mistake somewhere or missed something, hence why I linked the instructions.

[NeutronVortex]

Well, even though I said I was done, I went ahead and reinstalled again but this time on an old hdd and it seems to work, haha.

I thought the issue might be the sata cables at that point so I put back in the first ssd that still had linux on it and hooked it up to the hdd's cable but I still get stuck on the same screen with the blinking underscore(I made sure it was attempting to boot from the right hard drive.)

Publicado originalmente por 尺．し工几ᗪヨ尺:

The requirements are the same as regular Mint, if it's not working then you probably made a mistake somewhere or missed something, hence why I linked the instructions.

The only thing I'm doing differently is not connecting to the internet. Maybe it needs to download a driver for my ssds or something. I'll reinstall again on a different ssd with a wifi dongle plugged in another day and see if that works.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Whenever you install an OS, make sure you unhook all your extra drives; only connect the USB installer media you made, and the drive you wish to format and wipe clean in order to clean install an OS onto.