this post was submitted on 28 Oct 2025
31 points (100.0% liked)

Linux

66669 readers
285 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 7 years ago
MODERATORS
AgreeableLandscape@lemmy.ml
nooter692@lemmy.ml
MarcellusDrum@lemmy.ml
cypherpunks@lemmy.ml
cyclohexane@lemmy.ml
d3Xt3r
31
Backup unique files on old windows computer and recommend me a linux distro (lemmy.ml)
submitted 9 months ago by PearOfJudes@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml
14 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hi, I have an old HP Notebook - 14-an018au, which has 4gb ddr3 ram and runs windows 10 on a 10 ish year old 1tb harddrive. This is a secondary computer, but it has a lot of old files from when I was like 13 years old that I want to backup, but I also have like 300gb of space taken up on the harddrive. So things like my chrome history, app settings, and unique files I would want to keep, but the large apps themselves I don't want to keep. Also this computer is impossible to work on with its current operating system, so something which is a quick solution please.

And also, what distributions would you recommend that would a) work on this old computer and b) might be kind of fun to mess around with, as a secondary device

Anyway thanks

top 14 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Tenderizer78@lemmy.ml 5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

You can backup your important files to the cloud or a USB.

It'd be pretty hard to backup app settings when transitioning to a different operating system. You can access the files from a live USB (i.e. booting into the install media) since Windows 10 files are unencrypted normally (unless you have bitlocker active), so you can access all your files that way. Getting your Chrome history can be done at C:\Users<username>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default according to some quick googling.

Overall it's hard to give you advice on how to transfer data from a computer because I don't know what exactly you're stuck on.

[–] vandsjov@feddit.dk 1 points 9 months ago

This. Also, the requirement to get all unique files (guesses OP means personal files) can be hard. In theory, OP should just copy out C:\Users<username> but this also includes a lot of junk from apps. And often, it makes no sense to copy everything, like Chrome, where you’re only interested in a small part of the data and not all the cached objects. Chromium based browser profiles are huge, often with hundreds of thousands of files. You would be better off exporting the data you need and importing them into your new OS/Browser. This also makes sure you can get saved passwords as these are not something you just copy out using raw file copy.

And finally, som uses (and apps) have a habit of saving files to other places like C:\Photos and C:\Movies but also dim things like C:\IntelDriverUpdate (made up name), that also makes it hard for a tool to find the personal files.

[–] Tenderizer78@lemmy.ml 5 points 9 months ago

Mint.

[–] 3h5Hne7t1K@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

Mint.

[–] lattrommi@lemmy.ml 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Set up a flash drive with puppy linux. It's relatively easy to do (depending on how much you already know about Linux) and is mostly risk-free (but you can still do damage so always use caution) because it runs entirely in RAM and shouldn't mess with the internal storage drive unless you tell it to. You can use it to copy any desired files without booting Windows and it will probably run on that machine better than Windows ever did. I think that has a 64 bit CPU but there are 32 bit versions floating around the internet if it doesn't. I've seen Puppy Linux versions advertised as being 'so easy your grandma can do it. One project of mine that was fun was creating a Puppy Arcade, a usb flash drive filled with emulators and ROMS but I had issues with some emulators.

[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Puppy Linux is fun and cute but nothing really ever worked for me the way a normal distro works. But I haven't spent much time on it.

[–] lattrommi@lemmy.ml 2 points 9 months ago

True, it can be tricky for certain things. I suggested it because it fits the OP's a) and b) points better than anything else I could think of. The different versions of it can vary a lot too. Bionicpup worked great on my old eeepc, a netbook with a single core 32 bit cpu, but didn't do well on anything newer. Focal Fossa has worked without issue on everything I tried it on. I wouldn't use either as my main OS, but it can be fun on a secondary system. I kept mine in the bathroom until the humidity from showering likely wrecked it.

[–] why0y@lemmy.ml 2 points 9 months ago

AFAIK xfce desktop environment on top of Ubuntu (xubuntu), or any Linux distribution, is considered the best resource utilization option for old hardware.

[–] PracticalFail@feddit.org 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Use Linux Mint Xfce or Xubuntu.

Regular Linux Mint might run OK, but you'll get more performance with a more resource cautious Desktop Environment like XFCE.

Both can be booted in live mode too to do the file backup first, and then you can proceed with the installation.

I have a similar Notebook, which I've setup with Xubuntu as my DIY Chromebook. It's not a Chromebook of any kind, but I put Vivaldi Browser on Autostart and mostly use it for browsing, works great and still runs apps fine if really needed.

[–] lookie@lemmy.ml 2 points 9 months ago

I’m gonna suggest what no one else still has but that is the obvious, optimal choice:

Mint.

[–] bizzle@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

If it's your daily, sure, use Mint. But you will learn a lot more about Linux if you install Arch the hard way, especially if it's your "fuckin' around PC".

[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

How familiar are you with Linux? I recommend lubuntu over xubuntu as it is much more lightweight, at the cost of being more barebones. Also look for guides to make a zram drive for your swap.

The biggest drain on resources tends to be web browsing and writes to disk, so try to minimize these.

I am in a similar position with a 32bit hp laptop, but I think I will try to experiments with a cli-only machine, and go with Debian.

[–] PearOfJudes@lemmy.ml 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I am largely a beginner, I run mint on my desktop, and have just figured out wine/lutris. But I'm pretty good at following instructions, and researching issues to find a way to fix it.