Recent comments in /f/just_post

Dogmantra OP wrote

Reply to comment by twovests in Computer touchers: what's a good easy to install linux for a low power streaming box? by Dogmantra

oh good news is that I have had this machine open before and I know exactly where the ribbon cable is - it's the fact it's not properly connecting that makes it broken in the first place, so best case scenario it's already disconnected (and worst case is that I just need to take out the very easily accessible cable!)

thank you once more :)

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twovests wrote

Reply to comment by Dogmantra in Computer touchers: what's a good easy to install linux for a low power streaming box? by Dogmantra

Looking at those specs, I think I ought to recant my Pop recommendation and look for a more light-weight Linux, specifically the Xfce Linux Mint: https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

As a bonus, Linux Mint XFCE is very "Windows" shaped, still based on Debian, and even more lightweight than Pop! OS.

(I would also recommend using USB and not MicroSD. I don't know why, but I've had problems with using SD cards instead of USB drives on laptops.)

Doing some searching, it seems like people installing Linux on a laptop with a broken screen are usually able to do so by disconnecting the monitor. I can't find the repair manual for this, so this might be difficult... (I would try connecting a monitor at least, to see if you can access BIOS without )

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Dogmantra OP wrote

Reply to comment by twovests in Computer touchers: what's a good easy to install linux for a low power streaming box? by Dogmantra

it is a very generic piece of garbage by Thomson which is a company I did not know made computers before I got it, and the model number is UK-NEO10A-2BK32. It has an Intel Atom x5-Z8350 (1.44GHz) and a whopping 2GB of RAM. I can't imagine it has anything but integrated graphics.

Has a micro SD slot if that is in some way more useful than installing via USB.

Thank you much! I shall look at Pop! and any future recommendations and see if they can mount the main hurdle of a busted display.

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twovests wrote

Reply to Computer touchers: what's a good easy to install linux for a low power streaming box? by Dogmantra

Pop! OS: https://pop.system76.com/ is the Linux distro I recommend for basically everybody.

It's based on Ubuntu, which is based on Debian, so it has most of the community knowledge around support. It's the "happy path". Pop! OS is nice because it removes the bad part of Ubuntu, called "snaps", but keeps the rest.

The only thing I'm not certain about is using the external display. That's something you will probably need to figure out from googling ;(

As a side note: Befriending the command line is daunting, but pays dividends. A lot of the help online will recommend the command line. You can't avoid it entirely, and it's a superpower.

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