Linux Mint Forums

My wi-fi was not terrible but had trouble with over-buffering on demanding video streams like Bloomberg TV. This helps: http://www.ubuntu-unleashed.com/2008/05/howto-tweak-your-internet-connection.html Also, with Atheros wi-fi adapters, be very sure the "power saving" or "power manage...

Since you're still running XP, just create a "Persistent" Live USB on a 4 to 8GB thumb drive for any version you are interested in. I like XFCE because it's lighter on older equipment than Cinnamon or Mate - different desktop environments have hardware compatibility differences with hardwa...

You probably should add specific details about the version and desktop you are running to get more informed advice. I'm only familiar with the Raring version of XFCE. One thing I'll suggest, never figured out why it isn't done by default, is to be sure "NTP" the internet sync service is in...

Can't say I've read all the other replies, but my two cents: you are right to be concerned about the biggest disappointment for an XP user who can live without Windows software, which will be the short support cycle for the Linux OS. Linux users seem to think nothing of reinstalling the OS and recon...

It's an interesting little thread you've got going here. My thought is you've got a few choices: 1. Learn to run Mint from a fully encrypted HDD, which I've never done but may be complicated as you say 2. Take the suggestion to run Mint from a "non-persistent" Live media install which will...

I had good success with this tool, after fouling up my W7/Lubuntu dual boot about a year ago:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1769482

May be what you've already tried, but the "recommended repair" button fixed mine. (Can't recall the problem, but it was my fault.)

I'd suggest you experiment a bit with Persistent Live USB. "Persistent" allows you to install and remove and save settings between boots, getting a really good feel for what it can do, without committing to it. You pull out the thumb drive and boot Windows when you want it. You can run any...

I've missed this in Mint, much prefer using Synaptic. I'm posting this to remind myself, but others might be interested. Just tried using the terminal commands (not the file editing method) and it works: tuxtweaks.com/2013/07/restore-synaptic-mark-all-upgrades-linux-mint/ In case the URL is changed,...

You seem to me to be having much too much trouble. I've been running Mint 15 XFCE RC on a little netbook with half your specs for a month, on a thumb drive via Persistent Live USB, and it's quite snappy even that way. (I won't install a 9 month supported version on my hard drive.) I'd suggest trying...

Glad it worked. I've been using it right along instead of the fancy stuff. If the Mint Developers are monitoring, maybe they'll have a look at why the other methods didn't work.

I've never liked the software manager, slow and dicey. Not sure why the terminal command didn't work, but I recommend using Synaptic Package Manager to search for and install packages. I'm using Mint 15 XFCE but believe Synaptic PM is pre-installed on other desktops, if not install it via software m...

I've been testing various Mint and Ubuntu installs against the day next year that XP support is terminated, using persistent live USB . I'd suggest, first, do that: without the trouble or risk of a hard drive install, it's a configurable system that will feel out hardware and peripheral compatibilit...

If you installed Mint Cinnamon a year ago your repositories are out of date and you're bottom feeding for fancy terminal commands to do what Long Term Support, LTS not El BS, ought to supply. XP is a 13 year old OS, but every uipdate and third party application is right there - can't say the same fo...

Hi I'm thinking of trying Mint for the first time, and have no experience of using any Linux distros. What are your top tips for me BEFORE my DVD arrives? Possible topics: Installation Connecting to the Internet Problem Solving Please note that technical instructions will need to be pretty basic. T...

So as a side-note, Gimp 2.8 was included in the Mint repos and installs default with all dists of Mint 14. Works great. Thanks guys. Sorry, but Mint 13 is an "LTS" meaning "Long Term Support" iteration and users who have it installed need to twist themselves into pretzels to get...

Agree that Alacarte is worth a try.

Is there any older linux version I could use that would be better? All I need it to do is fricking connect to the internet and download a couple programs haha. Im only looking to linux as it a free alternative to purchasing XP or Win7 (which I highly doubt will work on it anyways) and it is more ea...

You only have 500MB of RAM? I think you're likely to have trouble with any recent version of Mint. Try a PERSISTENT LIVE USB install as an experiment, with a 4GB USB drive set 2GB of "Persistence" - here is an installer you can run from XP: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-instal...

I've decided to stick with Lubuntu 10.10 on my Acer netbook because the resource demands of all the later Ubuntu versions are essentially the same as Windows 7 and that's not what I want Linux for on this weakling machine. As you say, system updates ended a year ago. My experience with software is t...

I've been dual booting Windows 7 with something similar to Mint 11 XFCE (namely Lubuntu 10.10) on an Acer netbook with same specs for about two years. I use Linux mainly for secure internet browsing away from home, and enjoy it. I'm not willing to "move up" to later versions on the netbook...