I've just acquired an HP compaq cq60 laptop with a very screwed version of 32 bit vista home. The processor is an AMD sempron SI-42 griffin 65nm. and 2Gb of ram. Motherboard is a Wistron 303C socket A.
As I don't have the original os disc, I tried installing Win 7 64 pro which runs but extremely slowly due it's limited spec.
For an experiment, I tried fitting a dual core AMD rm 72 processor and flashed the bios. All I got was a blank screen. Putting the original back and it works as previously.
So it seems that I need a 32bit operating system and Unbuntu looks like it may be suitable if only I can find out which version I should use and the best place to download it from.
If anyone has any advice, it would be gratefully received

 

Look at Linux Mint here probably the Mate or Cinnamon version.
Using Mint now! My preferred OS actually.

 

I thought Ubuntu was, "a version".
It's somewhere around Ubuntu 15.06 now.
Linux comes in many flavors. I assume each is intended for a different use, which you did not describe.
Then again, it wouldn't matter to me if you did because I am a terrible amateur at using Linux.
Tell about your intent to get better answers.
There is a load of Linux sites where you can download just about any version you want.

 

Hello,

There are descriptions of a lot of linux distributions on distrowatch:
http://distrowatch.com/

Ubuntu is a pretty common used linux distribution:
https://www.ubuntu.com/

If you want a light weight linux distribution, have a look at linux lite:
https://www.linuxliteos.com/

I am using openSUSE linux the last years with great pleasure:
https://www.opensuse.org/

Bertus

 

I thought Ubuntu was, "a version".

Ubuntu is a distribution, not a version. And there are repackaged variants of Ubuntu, depending on your hardware and preferences. For instance:

Ubuntu
Kubuntu
Lubuntu
Edubuntu
Xubuntu

In addition, there are many distributions that are derived from Ubuntu (like Mint), just as Ubuntu itself is derived from Debian.

The proper question for OP to have asked was, "What distribution of Linux should I use?" Then, prepare for the flame war.

 

Asking someone to tell you what is the best distribution of Linux is like asking any of the following:

What is the best cut of beef?
What is the best wine (or beer)?
What is the best cigar?
What is the best car?

Obviously, everyone will have a different opinion. The correct answer to all of these questions is: whichever one you like.

Life is easier in the Windows world. You just accept whatever they push on you.

 

Hello,

As said there are as many distrobutions of linux as there are oppinions on them.
If you want to test some live linux distro's have a look here:
http://livecdlist.com/
Those are distro's that will run from a CD or DVD without installing.

Bertus

 

Got it. There are no versions of Linux or Ubuntu, just "distros".

 

Hello,

The wiki has some "timelines" on how the distributions have developed:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_distributions

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Linux_Distribution_Timeline.svg

Bertus

 

Well thanks for the enlightenment folks, I misunderstood the way Ubuntu was Linux, Now it's clear, I will probably be better off finding an original version of 32 bit win 7 to use.
Many thanks for all the replies

 

Actually, no you won't be better off. Windows 7 can no longer be legally bought. It will only be supported with updates for another year or so. Windows 10 will cost and it will spy on you. Windows XP is very insecure and should not be used online at all.

A Linux distribution is free and will be able to do almost anything straight "out of the box". Finding drivers for hardware will usually not be required because it will all "just work". It will be updated far quicker than Windows (especially for security). Although, just like Windows, the better your computer, the better experience you will have. I don't really subscribe to the line "if its an old and slow computer - put Linux on it". Linux needs just as much power as Windows to work well.

I can dual-boot this laptop into Windows 7 or Linux Mint KDE but the only reason I have Windows or use it is when I need to program PLCs or micro-controllers or industrial equipment that has Windows-only programming applications. Everything else is done simpler and slicker with the vast range of free software I can use on Linux. Examples I regularly use:-

Office (word-processing, spreadsheets, presentations, technical diagrams) - Libre Office (reads, edits and creates the latest MS office files).
Web - Firefox, Thunderbird, Filezilla, Ktorrent
Audio, Video and Photos - VLC, Gwenview, Gimp, Audacity, Clementine, Kdenlive, SoundConverter, avconv, youtube-dl.
Engineering - Draftsight, PuTTY, Inkscape, -the command line!
Synchronizing with other devices - Dukto, Spider Oak, Dropbox.

There are many more, these are the applications I most use. Most software is a single click away.
Be brave, try it. Before long you will wonder why anyone uses Windows at all!

 

Hello,

And for those "special windows" programs you still want to use, there is WINE to run a lot of them on linux:
https://www.winehq.org/

The application database will show you if they work well, or with some restrictions:
https://appdb.winehq.org/

Bertus

 

I don't really subscribe to the line "if its an old and slow computer - put Linux on it". Linux needs just as much power as Windows to work well.

Yes, it used to be a fairly common piece of advise but not anymore that I know.

A Linux distribution is free and will be able to do almost anything straight "out of the box".

Sincerely, that almost is a major deterrent to me; chasing ghosts while ignoring the most is like going back to square one with my first two Windows versions.

Not sure if I will finally bite the bullet.

 

Hello,

Most problems I have seen is with very new graphics cards.
The linux will work, but a generic driver is used and will be slower as a dedicated driver.
Also printers and scanners often need some fiddeling around to get them to work, if possible.
There are many forums and blogs where you can find info for those items.

Bertus

 

Hello,

Here are two pages with alternatives on linux for windows programs:
http://www.linuxalt.com/
http://linux.co.uk/2010/06/linux-alternatives-to-windows-software/

Bertus

 

Look at Linux Mint here probably the Mate or Cinnamon version.
Using Mint now! My preferred OS actually.

Same here I love mint
AIDayley

 

Got it. There are no versions of Linux or Ubuntu, just "distros".

There are "versions" of distros -- each version being a particular release (based on release date or version number/name). For instance, Ubuntu version 16.10 was just released this month.