Pressing Older-Vintage Computers Back Into Service With Linux

Many of us are, all of a sudden, tasked with getting not only ourselves properly set up to work remotely during shelter-in-place mandates, but also responsible for getting our children ready for remote, computer-based learning.

I have an active interest in preventing the disposal of older vintage PCs and Macs into the trash. Those of you who have known me over the years know that I'm not shy about asking for computer equipment at the end of intended life cycles. Do I just use these machines as-is? No, I am a huge proponent of the free-cost, open-source computer operating system called Linux. Most notably, I adore the "flavors" or distribution variations that not only replace Mac OS and Windows that simply work when you install them. Monitor drivers, peripheral drivers, sound cards, webcams. It's some sort of digital magic, really. With less bloat and system-hogging than I find with the commercial OSs.

If you are at a point where you have older machines lying around that aren't quite good enough for your kids remote learning, I suggest you look into replacing your OS with either Linux Mint or Ubuntu Linux, the two most user-friendly, familiar GUI-type flavors of Linux (back up all of the critical files, pictures, etc. before you attempt this [I accept no fault, should you brick a machine, natch]).

The Linux Mint .ISO file (a digital version of a CD/DVD , basically) can be downloaded here (64-bit for more recent-vintage machines, 32-bit if the hardware is older): https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

T?he Ubuntu .ISOs live here: https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

After downloading the .ISO of your choice, I suggest making a bootable DVD or a bootable USB thumb drive. Use your known/preferred methods, but I find the path of least resistance is via a freeware app called Balena ETCHER: https://www.balena.io/etcher/

After you work out the "how to boot USB thumbdrive" for your machine and/or OS, you should be able to erase the computer's hard drive, install the Linux flavor of choice, and be up and running within an hour or so. Both Ubuntu and Mint have a web browsers built in, and usually come with a pre-installed office productivity suite that is (somewhat and mostly) compatible with Microsoft Office files.

ZOOM install info here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/204206269-Installing-Zoom-on-Linux

Honest-to-goodness Microsoft Teams (yes, it works in Linux!) info here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/microsoft-teams-is-now-available-on-linux/ba-p/1056267

I hope this is helpful, and that some of you can benefit from getting an older machine back into the game. If you have a super-old computer, you might also be able to check the following link to somewhat resurrect it: https://fossbytes.com/best-lightweight-linux-distros/

Best of luck, my friends. Let's do what we can to help and take care of one another during these tough times. Peace.

ADDENDUM! (from an IT pro pal) you can also turn an old PC into a CHROMEBOOK https://www.neverware.com/freedownload

The Home edition is our free version of CloudReady, intended for personal use by individuals. It offers the same experience as our paid versions, but it doesn't come with access to our Support team, and Home Edition machines can't be enrolled in the Google Admin console.