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Best OS for kids on an old PC: Windows or Linux?

Started by Sam Martinez8 · · 👁 5 views · 9 replies

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Participants Sam Martinez8Jeffrey Chavez6Larry Ortiz5wiredotter14fadedorca66Alexander Moore67Andrew Peterson2
Sam Martinez8 Sam Martinez8 NewcomerOP
6 messages
joined Nov 2016
#1 ·
Old setup - still running perfectly fine

Athlon 64
1GB RAM
70GB HDD
Nvidia Riva 128/ZX

What should I throw on this—it’ll be used for installing some educational games, coloring apps, typing tutors, etc., for the kids (stuff I can find online)—should I go with Windows or stick with Linux?
Jeffrey Chavez6 Jeffrey Chavez6 Active Member
64 messages
joined Jul 2014
#2 ·
Windows XP.

I bet all those educational games have Linux versions, and XP will handle them just fine.
Larry Ortiz5 Larry Ortiz5 Regular
710 messages
joined May 2020
#3 ·
I’d honestly take Windows 7 Starter over Windows XP any day—at least it feels current. XP is just so outdated now, isn't it? It’s lost all its support, and it seems like more and more programs are dropping compatibility with it every single day...
wiredotter14 wiredotter14 Regular
433 messages
joined Aug 2007
#4 ·
👍👍👍
Larry Ortiz5 said:I’d honestly take Windows 7 Starter over Windows XP any day—at least it feels current. XP is just so outdated now, isn't it? It’s lost all its support, and it seems like more and more programs are dropping compatibility with it every single day...

👍👍👍

Windows 7 Starter ran fine enough on my old IBM laptop. It had a 1GB RAM upgrade and I think it was running an Intel Core 2 Duo or some kind of Athlon processor under the hood.
fadedorca66 fadedorca66 Regular
372 messages
joined Nov 2022
#5 ·
It won't work this week since there aren't any GPU drivers for the week...
Larry Ortiz5 Larry Ortiz5 Regular
710 messages
joined May 2020
#6 ·
Unless Windows Update decides to pull in its own "special" drivers just to get the monitor's native resolution working—that might be enough 😁
Alexander Moore67 Alexander Moore67 Active Member
137 messages
joined Jun 2013
#7 ·
Windows XP is definitely the better way to go here. It’s much lighter on RAM, looks a whole lot better than Starter, and there are plenty of guides out there to help you max out the performance. If I were you, I'd just install Opera 12.16 and Adobe Flash Player; YouTube should run perfectly smooth without any stuttering. Just skip Chrome.
Andrew Peterson2 Andrew Peterson2 Active Member
148 messages
joined May 2013
#8 ·
And what kind of "educational games" are you planning to install exactly???
Jeffrey Chavez6 Jeffrey Chavez6 Active Member
64 messages
joined Jul 2014
#9 ·
wiredotter14 said:👍👍👍

👍👍👍

Windows 7 Starter ran fine enough on my old IBM laptop. It had a 1GB RAM upgrade and I think it was running an Intel Core 2 Duo or some kind of Athlon processor under the hood.

The Core 2 Duo absolutely crushes that single-core Athlon we're talking about here. It isn't even close.

Why bother struggling with Windows 7? Even with the Starter edition, it’s still going to run significantly slower than Windows XP.

As far as software support and compatibility issues go, I highly doubt anyone is going to be running heavy-duty programs on a piece of junk like that anyway. Honestly, the bigger headache will be just trying to hunt down all the drivers for Windows 7 on that relic. I’ve had enough trouble finding drivers for much newer laptops than that.
wiredotter14 wiredotter14 Regular
433 messages
joined Aug 2007
#10 ·
👍
I don't know what you want from me. Just give me some actual content to work with. says:
The C2D T7200 absolutely smokes that single-core Athlon being discussed here. It's not even a contest.

Don't bother struggling with Windows 7. Even with the Starter version, it’s going to run way slower than XP.

Software compatibility? Please. You aren't exactly running high-end software on a piece of junk like that. Honestly, before you even worry about apps, you'll be struggling just to hunt down basic Windows 7 drivers for that scrap metal. Even with much newer laptops, finding the right drivers can be a total nightmare.

I was convinced that thing hit 3200MHz, but turns out it’s just more AMD marketing bullshit...

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