Would an SSD speed up a slow Laptop

[Mike Watterson]

I was surprised Mike that HDD are considered more reliable in the long term than SSD.

Especially not if:
Being randomly access continuously.
Power on / off frequently (switch off sleep when idle, yes, saves battery but wears out drive).

Especially does last longer lying in drawer unused.

Hence I have a pair of USB sticks for video and slideshow photos with mp3 music for "play out" on internal home DVB-T, because that's continuous 24/7 random access and mostly read-only. Flash is really good at that. I'd use an SSD if higher capacity was needed. All that content is on the server and workstation and laptop HDDs. Laptop and workstation boot/OS, but not user files or SQL or Webserver, are SSD.

But the backup drives are all regular HDD (none are helium or shingled etc).

[Mike Watterson]

Pic of the Menu. Tried both the first two options (no info suppled on what to do!) and neither worked just bringing up error msgs and going around in a loop with the DVD drive making horrible noises.  Could read the files on the DVD, see second pic.

Tried the 3 rd option (OEM) and it booted to the same place that I left off when working from the USB Mem stick.  See third pic.  Its "superuser" again: is this the same as administrator?

Can anyone comment on these Options and why 3?  and which one should be used in different circumstances?  If this is too complex than just ignore it...  I found one that worked.

Top is the normal one.

Middle is hardly used. You try it if the boot hangs, particularly if a Nvidia graphic card or gpu ins on the PC/laptop. Clue is "Compatibility"

The bottom one (OEM) is for people that make and sell PCs. Don't go there.


I installed a 2016 Acer laptop today. It has nvidia. So I needed to also get boot menu after install (madly hit return or F8, I forget!) and select compatibility and then on the desktop use the control panel -> Drivers and select, I think Nvidia version 470, not the newer ones or the current Linux driver. Then it was perfect.

That particular Acer needs Legacy BIOS setting not UEFI (though mostly I do use UEFI) because it's some sort of mad UEFI that needs you to manually add keys. You only need UEFI if Win8 or later, or multi-boot Linux and Win8 or later.

Must be nearly 10 years since I installed linux from CD. My last computer that couldn't boot USB was a Dell Inspiron 8200 in April 2002. Dell only added USB boot to most models from about June 2002. Also that model can't boot at all if the BIOS detects ANY storage (like in media bay) more than 120G total. Even only putting a 120G partition on a secondary 160G byte HDD blocks boot. What's weird is that in 1990s we sold PCs where we put a 2nd drive bigger than BIOS could manage. Boot NT from OK drive and then NT Disk Manager could see it, because NT didn't use the BIOS except to boot. So a Dell bug. Later FW update made no difference. MS sort of broke NT (win10 is NT) with UEFI, removal of PAE after NT 4.0 and also putting licence keys in BIOS (which you can read in Linux from a console!). In reality UEFI and TPM adds very little security. Just complexity,

[ppppenguin]

If I'm giving away an old PC on Freecycle I usually do an OEM instal of Mint. It's lovely for the final user. They get a new (to them) PC as if it's fresh fromt he factory. They just need to put in a few details, same as you put in while installing Mint for yourself.

[Radio Fixer]

A new day and a new experience ...

"Top is the normal one.

Middle is hardly used. You try it if the boot hangs, particularly if a Nvidia graphic card or gpu ins on the PC/laptop. Clue is "Compatibility"

The bottom one (OEM) is for people that make and sell PCs. Don't go there."


Booted the Laptop from the USB Mem stick created with Rufus, option 1 on the menu, and it took me all the way to "Install Linux Mint" as before. Quit then as I dont want to mess with the Laptop HDD. New SSD comes Mon so will post further progress after.

Then re-tried booting the Laptop from the Linux Shop DVD, option 1 on the menu, and surprise it took me all the way to "Install Linux Mint" as the USB Mem stick did.

No way to explain why it worked today: I did wipe over the DVD with a lint free, clean cloth but cant really think that was the solution.

Gary

[Mike Watterson]

If I'm giving away an old PC on Freecycle I usually do an OEM instal of Mint. It's lovely for the final user. They get a new (to them) PC as if it's fresh fromt he factory. They just need to put in a few details, same as you put in while installing Mint for yourself.

Yes, that's a good use case. Sadly we just have recycling and they prosecute anyone scavenging. They do have a spot for giveaways, but it's outdoors in the rain.

[ppppenguin]

There are Freecycle groups worldwide. Here's one in Limerick: https://www.freecycle.org/town/limerick

[Mike Watterson]

There are Freecycle groups worldwide. Here's one in Limerick: https://www.freecycle.org/town/limerick

AFAIK only online.

[ppppenguin]

Freecycle is an online system. Is that a problem?

[Mike Watterson]

Freecycle is an online system.  Is that a problem?

I hadn't realised that. Then it's of limited value if clearing out stuff, because you have to wait for a response and it may never come.
Almost always I'm clearing out because I need the space right now.

There are other pros and cons of an online only system vs somewhere with a physical location, like the almost free council recycling centres.

We do take bric-a-brac, books, still OK clothes, etc to Vincents, who unlike Oxfam, serve the local poor and have shops that poorer people can afford to shop in. They do take some toys and electrical items.

I'll look at Freecycle in the event we have something suitable.

[Pye Man]

I have given away a good deal of computer stuff on Freecycle: old laptops and the like; some sans hard drive. A vintage gamer was really pleased with a large CRT monitor I was pleased to be rid of.

There is also a rival called Freegle.