Distro for Old Windows 7 Tablet?

Bones · Dec 21, 2023

AnotherReader said:
Given the experience with Windows 10, LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) might be your best bet as it's one of the more user friendly distros out there. Firefox still supports 32 bit processors, but I'm not sure how fast your tablet will be at browsing the modern, bloated internet.

Either that or Peppermint 10 which is a very friendly verison of it based on Ubuntu.
Peppermint 11 sadly has TPM in it during install and between my setup not having that hardware-wise and the fact I refuse TPM anyway, I'm sticking with 10.

dgianstefani · Dec 21, 2023

Clear Linux.

ThrashZone · Dec 22, 2023

Hi,
Couple others good for x86
Absolute linux
Linux lite or light, sounds like a beer :laugh:

Athlonite · Dec 22, 2023

Defo go with LMDE there's not that much in difference in the GUI to windows and apps are easy just use flatpacks so there's nothing to install

stinger608 · Dec 25, 2023

Okay, downloaded LMDE and used Rufus to make a bootable USB flash drive with LMDE iso installed.

Cannot get the Transformer T-100 to boot to that dang USB drive at all.

Rufus shows that it's fine, but it won't boot from it. I've gone into the bios and set the flash drive as first boot drive........Nope.

Hit the Esc key to bring up the boot menu, set to the flash drive..........Nope.

What would everyone suggest for making the USB drive bootable with LMDE ISO installed?

dgianstefani · Dec 25, 2023

stinger608 said:
Okay, downloaded LMDE and used Rufus to make a bootable USB flash drive with LMDE iso installed.

Cannot get the Transformer T-100 to boot to that dang USB drive at all.

Rufus shows that it's fine, but it won't boot from it. I've gone into the bios and set the flash drive as first boot drive........Nope.

Hit the Esc key to bring up the boot menu, set to the flash drive..........Nope.

What would everyone suggest for making the USB drive bootable with LMDE ISO installed?

Ventoy.

silentbogo · Dec 25, 2023

Did you check the following:
1) GPT parition scheme (for proper UEFI boot)
2) ISO mode (not DD)
3) Secure boot disabled in BIOS
4) Valid image? It seems that 64-bit should work with a 32-bit bootloader, but just in case try a 32-bit distro. In my case a 32-bit debian worked right away.

EDIT:
Just looked up an old thread on XDA.

[FAQ] Asus T100: Installing custom OS (android/ubuntu/*nix/Windows 7/Windows 8 x64)

[4 April 2014]I haven't had time to play with my device or update fully the info in this post Jhong2 has an updated post on how to get ubuntu working on the Asus T100 http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=51291244&postcount=181...

xdaforums.com

ThrashZone · Dec 25, 2023

stinger608 said:
Okay, downloaded LMDE and used Rufus to make a bootable USB flash drive with LMDE iso installed.

Cannot get the Transformer T-100 to boot to that dang USB drive at all.

Rufus shows that it's fine, but it won't boot from it. I've gone into the bios and set the flash drive as first boot drive........Nope.

Hit the Esc key to bring up the boot menu, set to the flash drive..........Nope.

What would everyone suggest for making the USB drive bootable with LMDE ISO installed?

Hi,
Use this

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
Interesting I would usually just use this easy to use app

Universal USB Installer: Bootable USB Software - UUI

Universal USB Installer (UUI) Bootable USB Software: Boot from USB Windows installers, Live Linux ISOs, and system repair tools. USB boot easily

pendrivelinux.com

Pop os dude

2gb memory

stinger608 · Dec 26, 2023

Man, I've tried all of the above solutions and nothing seems to be working.

I'm just going to burn the damn Linux distro on a DVD and use an external DVD drive I guess.

ThrashZone · Dec 26, 2023

Hi,
So can't get to the boot menu ?

stinger608 · Dec 26, 2023

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
So can't get to the boot menu ?

Yeah, I can get to the boot menu without a problem.
However, when I set the USB flash drive to be the first boot after using Rufus, it just boots back to windows.
If I use any other method to make the USB bootable and burn the ISO to the flash drive, it gives me an error upon booting to the flash drive.

ThrashZone · Dec 26, 2023

Hi,
Try a different flash drive ?
If no joy after bios setting will have to be altered
If you have another ssd remove the current os ssd and install it maybe that will shack secure boot up a bit.

Icon Charlie · Dec 26, 2023

Heh. It seems you went the Linux way and that is not bad,...

However If that was my tablet and it ran Win 7 I get a Stripped down version of Win 7. Like Win7 lite.

It also depends on your experience with Linux as well. So IMHO I would try Zorin Linux, Pop's Os. and Mint.
I use Zorin a little bit as I slowly transition to Linux.

On my back up computer I'm using stripped down version of Win7.

Timbaloo · Dec 29, 2023

silentbogo said:
But in order to install it you'll need at least a USB hub, kb/mouse and a USB Ethernet adapter(WiFi won't do).

Out of curiousity: What was/is the problem with the Wifi during the installation? Driver so exotic that it did not make it to the install media kernel modules but can be apt installed later?

silentbogo · Dec 29, 2023

Timbaloo said:
Out of curiousity: What was/is the problem with the Wifi during the installation? Driver so exotic that it did not make it to the install media kernel modules but can be apt installed later?

Not "exotic". Just an old Broadcom chipset with its usual set of quirks.

stinger608 · Jan 6, 2024

Well, burnt a LMDE disk, booted to it, installed it.

Took about a half hour for the install.......reboot, and now it doesn't show any disk in the system?

It's like it made the main drive disappear?

Wondering if I did something stupid during the install. Jeez, didn't realize this was going to be such a PITA. :eek:

silentbogo · Jan 6, 2024

stinger608 said:
Jeez, didn't realize this was going to be such a PITA.

That's why in my very first post I recommended to drop this idea and just get a "proper" more modern windows tablet/convertible.

ThrashZone · Jan 6, 2024

Hi,
Linux installed in legacy mode and you're using uefi boot only ?
So disable uefi and or enable csm.

stinger608 · Jan 6, 2024

silentbogo said:
That's why in my very first post I recommended to drop this idea and just get a "proper" more modern windows tablet/convertible.

Yeah, that would be an option......Other than I can't really afford something new.

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
Linux installed in legacy mode and you're using uefi boot only ?
So disable uefi and or enable csm.

No, that tablet doesn't have UEFI BIOS. Pretty sure it's all legacy type BIOS and booting.

silentbogo · Jan 7, 2024

stinger608 said:
No, that tablet doesn't have UEFI BIOS. Pretty sure it's all legacy type BIOS and booting.

I'm pretty sure it does have UEFI, just like my tablet.

stinger608 said:
Yeah, that would be an option......Other than I can't really afford something new.

I'm not talking "new". Earlier I mentioned a few models, and the most prominent is something like HP Elite X2 tablet. An older Core M3 version runs around $100-150 used nowadays depending on condition and what's included(keyboard, stylus etc). Updated KabyLake version has also fallen in price, and it's just a tad more expensive. Even in Ukraine I can get one locally for $150 or so.
Just digged a bit on our fleebay-equivalent and started drooling over 1013 G4. Slightly cracked glass in a corner, but it's $125 for a friggin' i5-8365U/16GB DDR4/256GB SSD variant. I think I'm getting that one for my workshop.
Older MS Surface or surface pro is also a good candidate. Gen4 and older is cheap enough, but definitely harder to repair than HP X2.

ThrashZone · Jan 7, 2024

stinger608 said:
Yeah, that would be an option......Other than I can't really afford something new.

No, that tablet doesn't have UEFI BIOS. Pretty sure it's all legacy type BIOS and booting.

Hi,
Pretty sure ?
It should clearly say one way or another in bios boot section legacy or uefi boot :/

Nice avatar by the way I've had the wall paper for a long time :cool:

Processor	Ryzen 2600
Motherboard	X470 Tachi Ultimate
Cooling	AM3+ Wraith CPU cooler
Memory	C.R.S.
Video Card(s)	GTX 970
Software	Linux Peppermint 10
Benchmark Scores	Never high enough

System Name	Silent
Processor	Ryzen 7800X3D @ 5.15ghz BCLK OC, TG AM5 High Performance Heatspreader
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Software	Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 24H2
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System Name	Ghetto Rigs z490\|x99\|Acer 17 Nitro 7840hs/ 5600c40-2x16/ 4060/ 1tb acer stock m.2/ 4tb sn850x
Processor	10900k w/Optimus Foundation \| 5930k w/Black Noctua D15
Motherboard	z490 Maximus XII Apex \| x99 Sabertooth
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Memory	Trident-Z Royal 4000c16 2x16gb \| Trident-Z 3200c14 4x8gb
Video Card(s)	Titan Xp-water \| evga 980ti gaming-w/ air
Storage	970evo+500gb & sn850x 4tb \| 860 pro 256gb \| Acer m.2 1tb/ sn850x 4tb\| Many2.5" sata's ssd 3.5hdd's
Display(s)	1-AOC G2460PG 24"G-Sync 144Hz/ 2nd 1-ASUS VG248QE 24"/ 3rd LG 43" series
Case	D450 \| Cherry Entertainment center on Test bench
Audio Device(s)	Built in Realtek x2 with 2-Insignia 2.0 sound bars & 1-LG sound bar
Power Supply	EVGA 1000P2 with APC AX1500 \| 850P2 with CyberPower-GX1325U
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Benchmark Scores	Are in the benchmark section

System Name	Cumquat 2021
Processor	AMD RyZen R7 7800X3D
Motherboard	Asus Strix X670E - E Gaming WIFI
Cooling	Deep Cool LT720 + CM MasterGel Pro TP + Lian Li Uni Fan V2
Memory	32GB GSkill Trident Z5 Neo 6000
Video Card(s)	PowerColor HellHound RX7800XT 2550cclk/2450mclk
Storage	1x Adata SX8200PRO NVMe 1TB gen3 x4 1X Samsung 980 Pro NVMe Gen 4 x4 1TB, 12TB of HDD Storage
Display(s)	AOC 24G2 IPS 144Hz FreeSync Premium 1920x1080p
Case	Lian Li O11D XL ROG edition
Audio Device(s)	RX7800XT via HDMI + Pioneer VSX-531 amp Technics 100W 5.1 Speaker set
Power Supply	EVGA 1000W G5 Gold
Mouse	Logitech G502 Proteus Core Wired
Keyboard	Logitech G915 Wireless
Software	Windows 11 X64 PRO (build 24H2)
Benchmark Scores	it sucks even more less now ;)

System Name	Dean Machine/2020 Ryzenfall
Processor	Intel 4790K/AMD Ryzen 5800X
Motherboard	MSI 1150 Gaming mATX/Asus ROG STRIX B550-F Gaming Wifi
Cooling	Cooler Master Hyper 212 LED/SilverStone AH240 AIO
Memory	16 gigs Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer/32 gigs G.Skill TridentZ NEO DDR4
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte 1660 Super/EVGA GTX 1080 FTW Hybrid Gaming
Storage	Crucial SSD 256 and 2TB spinner/Dual Samsung 980 Pro M2 NVME 4.0
Display(s)	Overlord 27" 2560 x 1440
Case	Corsair Air 540
Audio Device(s)	On board
Power Supply	Seasonic modular 850 watt Platinum/EVGA T2-850 Titanium
Software	Windows 10 Pro/Windows 10 Pro

Distro for Old Windows 7 Tablet?

Bones

dgianstefani

TPU Proofreader

ThrashZone

Athlonite

stinger608

Dedicated TPU Cruncher & Folder

dgianstefani

TPU Proofreader

silentbogo

Moderator

[FAQ] Asus T100: Installing custom OS (android/ubuntu/*nix/Windows 7/Windows 8 x64)

ThrashZone

Universal USB Installer: Bootable USB Software - UUI

stinger608

Dedicated TPU Cruncher & Folder

ThrashZone

stinger608

Dedicated TPU Cruncher & Folder

ThrashZone

Icon Charlie

Timbaloo

silentbogo

Moderator

stinger608

Dedicated TPU Cruncher & Folder

silentbogo

Moderator

ThrashZone

stinger608

Dedicated TPU Cruncher & Folder

silentbogo

Moderator

ThrashZone

System Name	WS#1337
Processor	Ryzen 7 5700X3D
Motherboard	ASUS X570-PLUS TUF Gaming
Cooling	Xigmatek Scylla 240mm AIO
Memory	64GB DDR4-3600(4x16)
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Storage	ADATA Legend 2TB
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Mouse	Logitech G603
Keyboard	Modecom Volcano Blade (Kailh choc LP)
VR HMD	Google dreamview headset(aka fancy cardboard)
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