I’ve got a computer at home that’s so old, most of you would probably consider it ancient history. It’s the kind of relic you’d toss out, sell for five bucks at a garage sale, or maybe just forget in a dusty corner. But honestly, I don’t need much from a computer at home. All I do is browse the web, play some retro games, and mess around with a few other things. I used to do a bit of Blender work on it, but that’s become a challenge. Sure, I could use an upgrade, but every time I think about getting a new one, I find myself hesitating with the thought, “But this one still works…”
Anyway, I’ve been using Windows 7 from the start, but lately, it’s been getting harder to keep up with the times. More and more software has been dropping support for it, and when I tried to install the latest versions of Brave and Steam, they just wouldn’t budge. That’s when I started thinking maybe it was time to bite the bullet and finally install Windows 10.
I wasn’t exactly thrilled about the idea. I’d heard a lot of not-so-great things about Windows 10, so I’d been putting it off until I had no other choice. But eventually, I had to face the reality.
The installation went smoothly enough, despite a few hiccups (probably because my computer is, well, old). After some minor tweaks, Windows 10 seemed okay, and I was good to go.
But then the updates started. Windows kept nagging me to update, and I kept pushing it off with a “nah, I’ve got stuff to do.” This went on for a while until Windows decided it was time for a forced update. It wouldn’t even let me turn on the computer until it was done. I was like, “WTF? When did I agree to this?”
The update process was a nightmare. It took forever to hit 100%, and even when it did, it seemed to freeze. After waiting way too long, I finally gave up and turned the computer off manually. Big mistake. When I turned it back on, Windows refused to start. It kept trying to repair itself and then attempted the update again. It was a frustrating loop of doom.
That wasn’t the only issue. Windows 10 kept trying to force me to use Edge and wouldn’t let me change my browser easily. I was beyond pissed. I felt like I’d lost control of my own computer, and it was all downhill from there. The performance was terrible too. Sure, the computer’s old, but it worked way better with Windows 7. I suspect all the bloatware in Windows 10 slowed it down even more, on top of the higher hardware demands.
That’s when I started seriously considering Linux. I wasn’t new to it—I’d tried it on this computer years ago. It worked well enough, but there were some rough edges that made it hard to stick with. But after the disaster with Windows 10, I needed a fresh start and a system that could keep my old machine running smoothly.
Choosing a Linux distro felt a bit like shopping for a new shirt. I needed something lightweight that wouldn’t demand too much from my ancient hardware, even if it wasn’t the prettiest option.
First up was “Linux Lite,” a distro that promised to be, well, lite. But it took forever to boot up—sometimes as long as three minutes! I checked their forums, and others had the same complaint. Their response? “Not our fault.” Not exactly helpful.
I wanted to try some lesser-known distros before moving on to the big names. Big distros are usually “one size fits all” systems, while smaller distros are often tailored for specific purposes, like running on low-end machines, which was exactly what I needed.
Next, I gave “Bodhi Linux” a shot. I’d tried it years ago, but it was a tough nut to crack back then. The software choices were a bit odd, and I never really got used to their desktop environment, “Moksha.” It’s a modern fork of “Enlightenment,” with an old-school look and a different way of doing things that took some getting used to.
Despite my past experience, I decided to try Bodhi again since they’d recently released an updated version, and they promised (like that time), that it was light enough to even run on an old P4 computer. This time, it was easier to use, and they’d swapped out some of the weird software for more familiar options. Best of all, my computer’s performance was back to what I remembered—much better than with Windows 10.
That was a year ago, and I’m still using Bodhi Linux. I did switch out Moksha for XFCE, though. Moksha’s old-fashioned look wasn’t my thing, and some of its themes were so retro they were practically ugly. XFCE is just as lightweight but way more customizable and easy on the eyes.
In the end, switching to Bodhi Linux was the best decision I could have made for my old computer. It’s been running smoothly, and I’m satisfied with how well it handles everything I need at home. Of course, I still have to use Windows at work because some software just isn’t available for Linux, but that’s a different story.
If you’re tired of feeling like you’ve lost control of your computer with all the forced updates and bloated software, I’d definitely recommend giving Linux a try. It’s a great way to break free from the constraints of Windows and regain control over your machine. That said, I get that it’s not for everyone. There’s a learning curve, and some things are done differently on Linux. Plus, not all software is compatible, which might be a deal-breaker for some.
But if you’re up for the challenge and want a system that’s more streamlined and respectful of your choices, Linux could be what you are looking for.. It’s worth exploring, especially if you’re looking to breathe new life into an old computer like mine.
Hit me up on Twitter if you want some help with Linux, Tough i'm not an expert by any means, i will be glad to help.