HP Compaq 6715b

[Mopar512]

I have an HP Compaq 6715b I would like to run some version of Linux on it. It was originally an AMD 64 bit Vista machine. I have tried Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa on it but it runs very slow and hangs up frequently. I don't think Mint is compatible with it. Is there other versions of Linux that would run well on it?

Thanks,
Roger

[JoeFootball]

I have tried Linux Mint 19.1 on it but it runs very slow and hangs up frequently.

Which desktop version of LM 19.1 did you try? I would recommend trying LM 19.1 Xfce. Or LM 18.3 Xfce (still supported until April 2021).

Afterwards, see the Easy Linux Tips Project for articles on how to best tweak your system for better performance.

Joe

[Mopar512]

Tessa is the version I tried. Edited the first post with that information.

[JoeFootball]

Tessa is the version I tried. Edited the first post with that information.

Thanks! "Tessa" is the codename for the 19.1 version. Of that version, there are three desktop environments that you can choose from: Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce.

I'm suspecting that you installed the Cinnamon desktop, which I would think might be fairly "heavy" for a 2007-era laptop, which is why I suggested the Xfce desktop, as it's more accommodating for older hardware. The 19.1 version is the latest, but you may have even better luck with the 18.3 version (still supported until April 2021). You can certainly try and see if one works better than the other for you. The two links that I provided have more information.

Also, if you open a Terminal window and post the output to this command, it could assist others in assessing your system, and providing other suggestions.

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz

Back to your original question, if you'd like to forego Linux Mint Xfce, I've heard that AntiX, Linux Lite, and MX Linux are good options for older hardware, but I don't have any personal experience with them.

Joe

[mediclaser]

Try any of the following:
- Linux Mint 18.3 Xfce
- MX Linux 18
- AntiX 17.3

Also make sure you use the 64-bit versions of these (not the 32-bit).

[Mopar512]

The cinnamon desktop is what I tried. And I believe that is what was causing the trouble. I think the xfce is the one I will try next.

[Proxima]

I concur you should try 18.3 Xfce, as that's what I've been running on a slightly older relative of your laptop, nc6400 (until it gave its last breath recently). My main issue on it was extremely weak graphics - intel's GMA950 doesn't cover even basic web browsing nowadays. You should be secured on that front as I believe your has a Radeon X1250.
Second concern of mine was RAM, once it ran out of it - quite easily - the swapping was unbearable on an spinny and fairly old HDD. Once I maxed it out with 4GB DDR2 (actually around 3.3GiB usable despite having a 64bit CPU and OS due to intel's fail of a chipset 945GM was) it was quite nice.
So I expect RAM to also be your main concern, especially if you have 2 gigs or less of it.

[Mopar512]

Ok guys, it took me awhile but I am now posting from the 6715b. I have 19.1 xfce loaded. I am going to do the inxi Fxz thing and I hope I can get to work.

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roger@HP:~$ inxi -Fxz
System:
  Host: HP Kernel: 4.15.0-45-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 7.3.0 
  Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 Distro: Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa 
  base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Hewlett-Packard 
  product: HP Compaq 6715b (RM240UT#ABA) v: F.05 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 30C2 v: KBC Version 71.27 serial: <filter> 
  BIOS: Hewlett-Packard v: 68YTT Ver. F.05 date: 04/26/2007 
Battery:
  ID-1: C1ED charge: 35.1 Wh condition: 44.0/44.0 Wh (100%) 
  model: Hewlett-Packard Primary status: Discharging 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile TL-52 bits: 64 
  type: MCP arch: K8 rev.F+ rev: 2 L2 cache: 1024 KiB 
  flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 svm bogomips: 6384 
  Speed: 1600 MHz min/max: 800/1600 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1600 2: 1600 
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD RS690M [Radeon Xpress 1200/1250/1270] 
  vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: radeon v: kernel bus ID: 01:05.0 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: ati,radeon 
  unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1280x800~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: ATI RS690 v: 2.1 Mesa 18.2.2 direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD SBx00 Azalia vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: snd_hda_intel 
  v: kernel bus ID: 00:14.2 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.15.0-45-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Broadcom Limited NetLink BCM5787M Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express 
  vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: tg3 v: 3.137 port: 4000 bus ID: 10:00.0 
  IF: enp16s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: Broadcom Limited BCM4311 802.11a/b/g vendor: Hewlett-Packard 
  driver: b43-pci-bridge v: N/A port: 4000 bus ID: 30:00.0 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 232.89 GiB used: 14.68 GiB (6.3%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Toshiba model: MK2555GSXF size: 232.89 GiB 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 228.23 GiB used: 14.68 GiB (6.4%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 38.0 C mobo: N/A 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Info:
  Processes: 163 Uptime: 18m Memory: 1.82 GiB used: 907.6 MiB (48.6%) 
  Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 7.3.0 Shell: bash v: 4.4.19 
  inxi: 3.0.27 
roger@HP:~$ 

Hope this worked.
Roger

It looks like I have 2 gb memory on this machine. That's probably not enough is it?

[Mopar512]

Another problem is that it will suspend ok but I cannot find any way to make it resume. The power switch will not wake it up.

[poncho524]

I have a Dell laptop that wouldn't wake from suspend with LM19. I went with 18.3 and it worked fine. Try 18.3?

[Mopar512]

I am going to try 18.3 and see what it does.