Best, simplest version of Linux to put on old Sony Windows XP laptop?

[FTA4PA]

Here's a photo of the laptop. I have the wifi adapter working right now, and left it on all night to get that battery charged. It finally took a charge after being dead for 10 years! Lithium.

Anyway, this laptop is 11" x 7.5" in size, and came with Dolby audio, and a full DVD burner/player! The lcd is 10.5" diagonally. So far, it's working perfect as a Channels server. I even set it to record Metv "Perry Mason" last night to its internal drive at 11:30pm, and am watching that now. Completely flawless! Even over 2.4Ghz wifi!

Great being able to put that old laptop to use again!

 

[primestar31]

Great being able to put that old laptop to use again!

It sure is. It was state of the art back in 2006, and still looks like a million bucks! Only used it up at the cabin for watching videos. Since it's a Sony, it didn't cost quite that much, but close, lol.

 

[lparsons21]

Great to hear! Keep us posted on your progress with a drive and recordings!

P.S. Props to lparsons21 for first suggestion of finding terminal program. I came in after that.

Thanks for the props. I’ve fiddled on and off with various Linux distros over the years and remember the fun and frustrations of those early versions. I’ve since moved on to just iPads/iPhones with nary a full computer in sight.
Have fun with Linux, it is a tinkerer’s delight IMO.

 

[primestar31]

Should this external harddrive be capable of working on this laptop, using Linux, for recordings? Maybe not, since the laptop is only USB 2.0. Unless USB 3.0 would also work on Usb 2.0?: Amazon product
View: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ODEGWN8

 

[FTA4PA]

Should this external harddrive be capable of working on this laptop, using Linux, for recordings? Maybe not, since the laptop is only USB 2.0. Unless USB 3.0 would also work on Usb 2.0?: Amazon product
View: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ODEGWN8

I use Western Digital drives with all my systems - only drive I trust. Always put bare drives in an external case of my choosing though so never used the Elements from them. I did see though some people asked questions on Amazon about Linux compatibility and backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 for Elements and those who answered said yes to both.

 

[primestar31]

Cool, I just found the Sony's old Port Replicator docking base! That has THREE USB ports in the back. Also, Ethernet, VGA, and old 25 pin parallel printer port, lol. That'll make it all the better using this as a DVR server.

 

[primestar31]

Is there any NEED for an antivirus program on Linux? If so, which freebie one would work best, and not also include a Firewall?

 

[FTA4PA]

Is there any NEED for an antivirus program on Linux? If so, which freebie one would work best, and not also include a Firewall?

I have ClamAV installed. In many years it has never found an issue with any Linux OS files. I mainly use it to scan files that I download. It has found viruses in files that I downloaded from non-Linux systems.

 

[FTA4PA]

Is there any NEED for an antivirus program on Linux? If so, which freebie one would work best, and not also include a Firewall?

If you need to enable a firewall:

Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw) - Debian Wiki

wiki.debian.org

P.S. I don't use this myself - only passing along the info. Mainly rely on firewalls in my modem and router.

 

[harshness]

You're probably asking for headaches in the long term setting up a server on a Wifi-connected, Centrino-based computer. Hardware resources will likely will bite you at every turn.

I only roll out that vintage when I have something that requires DOS and an RS-232 port.

 

[primestar31]

You're probably asking for headaches in the long term setting up a server on a Wifi-connected, Centrino-based computer. Hardware resources will likely will bite you at every turn.

I only roll out that vintage when I have something that requires DOS and an RS-232 port.

It's going to be hardwired ethernet based. I just went wifi for now, so I could have it in my lap to play with.

It was in my closet. Maybe it'll work out, maybe it won't. No worries. If not, I can switch to something else, but I now will have learned a lot from playing with this one. That'll make the switch all the easier.

 

[primestar31]

lparsons21

I noticed that the cpu "Frequency Policy" in Control Panel, boots up into "ondemand" mode. Which means the processor throttles itself, around 600Mhz. I can manually switch it to "performance" mode, and as long as that session stays up, it'll STAY on 1200Mhz, full bore.

Is there a command I can run, so that in the bootup, that'll FORCE it to ONLY use "performance" mode? I can't seem to find anything in the desktop options to permanently force that.

TDE Control Module is at the top of the tab for the processor window. So, that's probably the control name?

 

[primestar31]

lparsons21

I noticed that the cpu "Frequency Policy" in Control Panel, boots up into "ondemand" mode. Which means the processor throttles itself, around 600Mhz. I can manually switch it to "performance" mode, and as long as that session stays up, it'll STAY on 1200Mhz, full bore.

Is there a command I can run, so that in the bootup, that'll FORCE it to ONLY use "performance" mode? I can't seem to find anything in the desktop options to permanently force that.

TDE Control Module is at the top of the tab for the processor window. So, that's probably the control name?

Ok, maybe it's best to leave it in "ondemand" mode. It seems pretty aggressive in cranking it up as needed. Don't want it getting too hot for no reason.

 

[HipKat]

Is there any NEED for an antivirus program on Linux? If so, which freebie one would work best, and not also include a Firewall?

No need, unless having one just gives you piece of mind

 

[primestar31]

No need, unless having one just gives you piece of mind

Thanks!
No, I'd prefer to go without for this server. Of course, IF I was running Windows, you don't DARE go without...

 

[HipKat]

Thanks!
No, I'd prefer to go without for this server. Of course, IF I was running Windows, you don't DARE go without...

Not true. I ran Windows for years, only depending on Win Defender and never had a problem. I do have Malwarebytes Pro but it never, ever catches anything.
Now on older versions of Windows, like XP and WIn 7, oh yeah, I always had an AV running.

 

[primestar31]

Not true. I ran Windows for years, only depending on Win Defender and never had a problem. I do have Malwarebytes Pro but it never, ever catches anything.
Now on older versions of Windows, like XP and WIn 7, oh yeah, I always had an AV running.

Windows Defender IS an antivirus program. A pretty good one at that.

 

[harshness]

The Linux kernel v4.14.0 and later implement a feature called CPUFreq that allows control of the CPU parameters using an appropriate Linux driver for the architecture (Intel 940M?) along with a text file.

Depending on your distro, you may have access through a command line utility or a GUI plugin in the settings.

 

[primestar31]

The Linux kernel v4.14.0 and later implement a feature called CPUFreq that allows control of the CPU parameters using an appropriate Linux driver for the architecture (Intel 940M?) along with a text file.

Depending on your distro, you may have access through a command line utility or a GUI plugin in the settings.

I can control it via a window setting, OR via command line. Problem is, it only survives that session. IF I power down, and boot back up, it's back to the default setting. It might be best to leave it, as it goes up and down very quickly as needed. So, it might not actually be a big issue.

 

[harshness]

The Linux kernel v4.14.0 and later implement a feature called CPUFreq that allows control of the CPU parameters using an appropriate Linux driver for the architecture (Intel 940M?) along with a text file.


I can control it via a window setting, OR via command line. Problem is, it only survives that session. IF I power down, and boot back up, it's back to the default setting.

There's a text file that can be used to set the range. Another solution would be to set up a cron job to run the script. This is done with a line beginning with a reboot directive (since the forum software interprets the @ sign as a user reference) in the root crontab. Ignoring any proprietary fluff, here's an example:

Crontab Reboot: Execute a Job Automatically at Boot | phoenixNAP

The Cron daemon is a Linux utility used for scheduling tasks. Learn how to configure cron jobs to run automatically on boot.

phoenixnap.com