MX Linux Revives Old Computer

I have an eleven year old Samsung Laptop that used to run Windows 7, but would not upgrade. About three years ago, I put Linux Mint on it and gave it away. A few weeks ago I got it back. I thought I would install the latest version of Linux Mint and give it away again, but things were not quite that straight forward and obvious.

To begin with the battery will not charge, and the laptop was running ‘very’ slow. The dead battery was not unexpected, but the slowness was excruciating. It ran like my very first computer with cassette tape boot and storage. I would start it up, go make a sandwich, and come back, and it would be ready to use.

I did a web check for Linux distributions for old computers and Lubuntu Linux was in all of the articles, so I thought it was a good place to start. I downloaded the latest Lubuntu, put it on a USB stick, and nothing. I tried a different port and nothing. I went back to the bios, played with the boot settings and, nothing.

An interesting side note, I had to tell the bios each boot up where to boot from. The settings defaulted to the hard drive after each boot sequence. This Samsung Laptop has a CD-Rom built in, so I put Lubuntu on a DVD. It loaded to the desktop screen after about six minutes. I blamed this on the painfully slow CPU speed for which I had not discovered the bios setting for. Lubuntu installed, but that was about it. It was painful. Screens could not be resized for starters. Nor could they be relocated on the screen. Lubuntu was painful to use.

After pulling the laptop apart only to find nothing loose, I looked at the bios. The bios it turns out has a setting to slow the CPU speed when the battery falls below below twenty percent. A brilliant idea back in the day, but not practical having a dead battery. I turned the option off. It ran like the champ it is after that, well almost.

I thought I would try Xubuntu, it would not load Firefox web browser when running from the DVD. I did not try to install it. Linux Mint happily installed. Upon reboot however, all I got was a two tone flashing display, like a gray train crossing signal light. I checked around and found it is a sometime issue when a computer has two video cards. This Laptop has built in Intel graphics and a Radeon video Card. Even though I knew the problem, it would not boot so I could disable one of the video cards.

Next up was my daily driver, MX Linux. MX Linux bills itself as a middle weight Linux, so I did not hold out a lot of hope for it. Fortunately, the MX Linux Crew knows about issues with dual video cards. Pressing F4 on the Splash Screen and setting the video menu to on, let me disable a video card.

For the first attempt, I disabled the Intel Video, letting the system use the Radeon Graphics Card. I found the Radeon Graphics card had gone the was of the battery, so I reinstalled disabling the Radeon Video card. Installation went on without a hitch. The needed updates were almost 250 megabytes, and there was some auto building for a few items being installed. But everything was smooth and painless.

Upon reboot, this eleven year old Samsung laptop now can hold its own. It’s not blazingly fast,  but it’s not annoying slow either – coming from someone who has a eleventh generation i7 in his desktop. So all turned out well.

My end point is this, don’t throw away ‘old’ computers, they have a lot of life left. Check the bios before installing Linux, in case there are any surprises, like cpu throttling. Try a few different distributions, some work better on different hardware than others. Finally, enjoy the process, there is nothing expensive to ruin, and lots of potential for someone who can’t afford a computer.

Linux Simple Overview, Desktop, Menus, Memory Usage

This post is now a little outdated, but should be good for a general guide and overall picture of these Linux Distributions. It is about seven Linux Distributions, memory used when first booted, number of applications in the default menu, startup and shutdown, and Snap packages too. Also mentioned are a few snags you may have when using KDE, or installing a second Ubuntu distribution.

Contrary to popular thought, the memory used between several distributions with different Desktop configurations is relatively minor for newer computers. The biggest differences are really the number of menu entries in each of the distributions.

I mention Snap packages, because they are either loved or hated by users. Loved because everything is configured and dependencies are included. Hated because Snap Packages can not be modified by the user. You get what the maker of the Snap Package deemed proper, nothing more, nothing less.

I tried an Ubuntu Child which did not install Snap packages until, surprise - a later general upgrade. I was not a happy camper. One of the packages was my web browser, which I sync with a few other computers both Linux and Windows. The Windows Firefox looked horrible after sync, so I changed the settings to improve its looks. When I used my other devices the web browser looked horrible on them. Snap packages are not my cup of tea.

In that regard, everything Ubuntu or created from Ubuntu, with the exception of Linux Mint (as far as I am aware) installs snap packages at some point. If you are okay with Snap, Ubuntu is great. If Snap Packaging interferes with your settings and usage, you may want to rethink your choice of Linux Distribution, or spend your time removing Snap Packages and installing from the web sites.

If you wish to add a second distribution on your computer, and your first Distribution is a flavor of Ubuntu or derived from Ubuntu, Grub is not going to be happy. All the Ubuntu derivatives I have tried are identified as “Ubuntu” in Grub.

Grub, in my experience, will not create two Ubuntu entries. What I have experienced is one of the Ubuntu Installs loses it's Grub entry, therefore seems to lose its ability to be booted using Grub.

My main go to Linux is MX Linux which is based on Debian 11 Bullseye. I use the XFCE Desktop which makes a slight difference on memory used as it requires a little less memory.

Ditto for Endeavor OS. Linux Mint Distribution uses Cinnamon Desktop, KDE anything of course uses KDE Desktop. I prefer XFCE for the right click menu option anywhere on the screen.

KDE if you are not aware of it, is a little different in some important respects than XFCE or Cinnamon Desktops. KDE Desktop is KDE centered, and may not run some non KDE programs.

While XFCE and Cinnamon Desktops will run KDE applications. I have never experienced problems with KDE apps, or apps from other Desktops in XFCE or Cinnamon Desktop. Take that comment for what it is worth.

This may have changed since I last time I used KDE, but in general. If your data is stored in KDE applications, they may not export to a format you want to export your data to. It does not feel like an issue in the beginning, but rears its ugly head down the road when you have a lot of information to export and it wants to export to a clunky to use format.

It is important to me that any app I use does not hoard my data or export to a format that is difficult to use, like xml. KDE apps in the past did not easily export so data could be used in other applications. If I wanted to change applications, I would end up doing unending CTRL + C and CTRL + V to copy and paste my data into another program.

A great example of a well behaved application is ZIM Wiki. All the information I put into ZIM is of course displayed in Zim itself. However the information is stored in a folder in individual text files on the hard drive. If I ever wish to replace Zim, I can delete it, and all my information is safe and readable.

In general, if you like to tinker with your Desktop making big and small changes, KDE is the go-to Desktop. XFCE is one the most limited along with Mate, and can be boring. On to what I started this post for:

Distribution causes for concern:

Memory usage at Boot up, Menu Entries, Startup and Shutdown,  Snap

Debian 11.x:                     522588 MB         ~ 43 Menu Entries            Fast    No Snap by default

MX Linux 21.3:                522588 MB         ~ 123 Menu Entries!        Fast      No Snap by default

Endeavor OS 2021.04.1    525452 MB            ~ 47 Menu Entries       Fast     No Snap by default

Feren, Kubuntu, KDE Neon  660236 MB  ~ 55 Menu Entries  Both Pause during boot    Will add Snap

Kubuntu, Feren OS and KDE NEON are based on Ubuntu Linux, so memory usage, menu entries, Startup and Shutdown and Include Snap. Information should be about the same across the distro's. Very nice desktops though!

I listed the menu entries, but my counting skills are not the sharpest, so I may be off a few numbers either way. MX Linux as noted has more menu entries than any other two Distributions combined. I am not privy to details, but I think this comes from the Anti X side of MX Linux. Anti X has so many menu entries, even a seasoned user may get lost in the menu.

I am not sure why a distribution goes out of its way to stuff the menu with apps and options, but it happens. I am more in line with elementary OS and Zorin OS Linux, less is better. I would rather add fifteen packages than remove thirty or more packages and menu entries.

A few points to remember are:

Memory usage is not really an issue for newer computers unless you are a very heavy graphics applications user. Even memory starved computers (64 bit) can run (almost) any distribution, though the user may be happy with the outcome. (At least a few distributions these days check available memory and will not install on low memory machines.)

KDE is a tinkerers dream, and options seem endless. Cinnamon has enough desktop options to keep most users happy. XFCE is the most limited modifiable Desktop environment.

If you are trying out KDE, ensure your KDE applications have a usable export options - to .txt or some such. Ubuntu based distributions are all similar, so expect the same results from different flavors. KDE also favors the use of Snap packages from what I (unofficially) read.

Finally, without modifying Grub Menu, Grub does not know what to do with two Ubuntu Distributions, one of them may lose its Grub entry. Ubuntu does have a Grub entry modify app and there are other apps that replace grub.

Xubuntu Linux - Still Refreshingly Boring

Xubuntu Screenshot

Xubuntu is an easy Linux Distribution to like, if you prefer the XFCE desktop. The yeh-sayers of XFCE promote its lighter demands on the system. I like XFCE because it fits what I want in a desktop, especially XFCE Version 4.16. I am always willing to trade bling for functionality.

Xubuntu or Ubuntu in general is created out of the Debian Testing Repository which places Xubuntu high on the list for those wanting to be closer to the bleeding edge. If you want to get a little closer, skip the LTS and go for the interim releases that have a shorter lifespan.

Detractors of Xubuntu at a user level, exclaim Xubuntu is boring, boring, boring. I tend to agree with this claim. Xubuntu in the moment or Xubuntu of ten years ago looks and acts as the same distribution. Personally I find this boring-ness refreshing. To each his/her own. I am okay with boring.

Xubuntu may be Ubuntu's most popular flavor out there, so many people are okay with sameness. Because in the moment, my computer is months rather than years old, everything works as expected. The numbers of Linux distributions I can use are fairly limited and Xubuntu is one of them.

If you are on the other end with an older computer, Xubuntu will work just as well for you because it's requirements are not as CPU intensive as some other desktop environments. If your needs are that of a general user, you may find that you do not need to add any additional applications as Xubuntu comes well stocked.

I do not care for Snap packages. I removed them shortly after I added the additional applications I use. This resulted in extra steps for removing Snap packages as some of the software I added arrived in the form of Snap packages. It was only an extra thirty minutes in removal and adding PPA's or adding .deb packages from the websites.

The arguments for and against Snap packages go on forever. They start with memory and end somewhere after losing control of your system, as the Snap package dictates the settings. I am at this end of the arguments. I use Firefox web browser across a number of computers. I have Firefox synced on all of them.

The first time I used Firefox as a Snap package, it didn't look right. I made adjustments so it looked as I thought it should. As I used the other computers which did not support Snap packaging, the settings made a mess out of Firefox. Adjusting the settings on a non Snap Firefox brought me back to square one with the Snap version.

Xubuntu and Ubuntu in general have two releases. LTS or Long Term Support for five years from release and interim releases, released every six months. Needless to say as in the case of XFCE, if you want to try out and use XFCE 4.16 in the moment, you need to use the interim release. Eventually what works well in the interim release filters down to LTS releases, and the rest is left at the roadside.

Ubuntu in general carries a lot of baggage. It has been accused of spying on its users, ignoring its user in promotion of its paid support options, and not sharing system improvements with Debian as much as they take from Debian for their own use.

There are a few other commercial Linux Companies out there and I am sure they all carry their own baggage. Xubuntu and its kin are user supported and in some ways not as directly influenced by Ubuntu's owners. The murky details of these relationships is another matter however.

Sex. Lies, and Politics adorn most conversation these days. Ubuntu and it's siblings are no exception. You can read about Ubuntu on Wikipedia as a reference point and make up your own mind on what is acceptable for your Linux Distribution. That is your own decision and choice.

For information, I added these packages to my install of Xubuntu. You may want more or less or none at all. Zim, FeatherPad, Pan, Brave Browser, Audacity, Celluloid, Cheese, Chrome, Gparted, Gnome Weather App.

Important -- Synaptic Package Manner is on the menu. Synaptic is the go to for me for non Snap packages and for other distributions. Do not use Synaptic to update or upgrade your system. Wait for Software (on the menu) to tell when you have updates. 

I forgot this interim Xubuntu is using packages from Debian Testing. I downloaded almost 500 mg of updates via Synaptic, and ended up reinstalling Xubuntu because the updates where not stable and borked my install. Do not do what I did. Use, "Software" for any needed system updates.

In closing, if you want to be close to the leading edge, want a stable Linux distribution, don't mind being bored with well oiled sameness, you can do a lot worse than an interim  Xubuntu release as your distribution of choice. If you want better stability with install and forget it, use the Xubuntu LTS release.

MX-21.3 “Wildflower” and LMDE 5 High Level Overview

 I have been a Debian fan for about three decades now. Needless to say I really enjoy using Debian. Debian has a problem though. Debian is a great source but  a poor Distribution. Debian distribution is sparsely populated and every time I wanted to do something more, I had to install, tinker and tweak. You do not get spoiled using straight Debian.

Debian Linux does produce some awesome children. MX Linux and Linux Mint Debian Edition are two of the finest. Both distributions are similar with a few minor differences.

Linux Mint Debian Edition does an excellent job at being a Debian version of the original Linux Mint. Everything you find in Linux Mint, you find in LMDE. MX Linux on the other hand is built for users with user input on where the distribution goes and how it gets there.

I have used both until recently when my eight year old desktop decided it was not going to work any more. My new computer is about as new gets and some Linux Distributions do not work well with new computers. Others do not suit my preferences. LMDE and MX Linux however do both.

I first installed LMDE 5 and was happy except for the fact it is a back-up of sorts to Linux Mint. I installed MX Linux a month later and have also been very happy with it, with a few exceptions.

My issues with MX Linux are probably due to my hardware being so new. In the past, when I purchased a new computer, I was limited to the one distribution it would happily run for the near future. Being a Debian fan, this time I have at least these two distributions to use.

LMDE performs flawlessly, while MX Linux suffers from maintaining a few of my important configuration settings. Generally this would not be an issue, except it is for my online meetings. Printing is not so pressing.

My camera is not found when plugged into the USB Port. Neither is my USB microphone. Google Chrome - Meet - finds and turns on my webcam, but sound is not found. I also experience an after upgrade issue of no network printer. Not sure why this is either.

After a system upgrade I have to go into the Audio Mixer and reset my settings. Not sure why this is happening, and it probably will not happen six months from now. Other than these issues, I prefer MX Linux.

Both distributions have most of the software an everyday user will want. MX Linux feels like it offers more tweaks and setting adjustments, but without counting out settings and adjustments on each distro, that is a perspective matter. Kudos to MX Linux for the tool assortment contained in MX Tools.

I use a mix of software, including some KDE software and never had an issue with either distribution. I install applications not in the software store and they work as advertised, never skipping a beat.

MX Linux and Linux Mint Debian Edition are built from Debian which means they are rock solid and tested ad nauseam. Between them they differ on what type of packages used in their respective distribution.

I recommend taking either or both for a test drive on a USB stick. They are both not resource hogs and are quite fast. You will not be disappointed, and you may be pleasantly surprised.

As for me, I am using a modified Xubuntu in the moment. Xubuntu seems to work well for me when I have a new computer. More to follow in another post on Xubuntu.