Posted 11 November 2024 - 08:06 PM
I recently bought a new computer so decided to wipe the hard drive on the old one before getting rid of it. I used Active KillDisc 24. Seems to have worked fine but now I'm thinking I might want to use the old machine for something else. How would I go about installing an OS on it now or can I?
Posted 11 November 2024 - 08:44 PM
At this point, depends on what you what to use it for. In most cases, Linux Mint is a great alternative, and it's free. Linux runs great on older machines and is easy to use; most of it is intuitive and requires no scripting.
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Posted 11 November 2024 - 09:24 PM
Thanks Ranchhand. Frankly I just want to have it running so I can work online with it. Perhaps just to listen to Stingray music in my workshop and perhaps do a bit of surfing. No videos, no email, no games, just really basic stuff. I usually have the radio on but it is driving me absolutely bananas listening to how some empty headed young thing just learned they can buy a hot tub for only $19,000 or that if you dog has bad breath Woofies is the place to go.
Anyway, sure, Linux Mint sounds fine. Would you be able to point me in the right direction to do the install? Download it on a memory stick and plunk it in the old machine? I'm not quite sure how a blank machine with no OS is going to assimilate new software.
Thanks.
Posted 11 November 2024 - 09:51 PM
It would help if you give the CPU and the amount of RAM. Also the model number of the computer if an OEM like Dell or HP. That would determine which version of Mint to download.
Edited by JohnC_21, 11 November 2024 - 10:18 PM.
Posted 12 November 2024 - 08:18 AM
I'm thinking I might want to use the old machine for something else. How would I go about installing an OS on it now or can I?
To add to the already advised, if you were running Windows 10 the licence key and MB details are stored on the MS database so you can download a Windows 10 ISO from here
PSU guidance - 10 stripe - Johnny Lucky - PC Mech - PSU Lemon List Which power supply do you need?
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Posted 12 November 2024 - 05:39 PM
OK, it's an Acer Aspire X3470 which was running Windows 7. There is a sticker with license key on the side of the box. CPU labelled as AMD A6 - 3600 series. One 4GB one 2GB ram.
Posted 12 November 2024 - 05:46 PM
Just so you know "where it is" when I try to turn this on now I get a black screen with something like No boot program is installed or boot program has failed.
Posted 12 November 2024 - 06:23 PM
You should be able to run Mint Cinnamon fine on that computer.
https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=316
Once you download the iso of Mint download Rufus.
Attach a 8GB or larger USB flash drive. Start Rufus. Select MBR for a partition scheme. Select Bios for a Target System. Format is FAT32. Click Select and browse to the Mint iso file.
Press Start. Any data on the USB drive will be wiped. When finished attach the USB flash drive to the ACER. You may need to change your BIOS settings to make the USB Flash drive the first boot device. You might be able to get a boot menu by tapping F12 at boot where you can select the USB flash drive. When at the Mint desktop click on the Install icon.
I could not find any BIOS updates on the support page.
https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/Aspire_X3470/downloads
Here is your service manual
https://www.manualslib.com/download/232906/Acer-Aspire-X3470.html
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