Looking for a Linux distro similar to Windows 7

Self | 12/11/2019 | Self

[CatOwner]

Requesting feedback for a distribution of Linux to install on a spare PC. The PC has a 4th Gen Intel i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 1 TB hard drive, so I should be good to go. While I used UNIX a lot during my 30+ year career, I have minimal Linux experience.

[CatOwner]

I attempted to install Feren OS 64-bit, which is based off of Mint/Cinnamon. While I liked it via DVD, my attempt to install it aborts at about the 60% installation mark, so I am looking at other, similar alternatives.

[butlerweave]

Linux Mint xfce is always good place to start ,Feren is put together by a kid

[GraceG]

Fedora isn’t too bad I’ve heard

[taxcontrol]

Skip Feren and go with Linux Mint 19.1

[CatOwner]

Feren is put together by a kid

Yeah, I just read that elsewhere. Probably a good idea to start elsewhere.

[bigbob]

https://xubuntu.org/

[rightwingcrazy]

MX Linux is a popular and user friendly distribution.

http://distrowatch.org/table.php?distribution=mx

[AndyTheBear]

Centos 7 maybe.

[TomGuy]

I bought a Linux Mint 18 laptop, because I didn’t want to do the installation myself.

So far, Linux Mint has been okay. I do any serious computer work on my Windows 7 Desktop or laptop.

Initially, I was disappointed that Mint had problems with streaming videos. I wasn’t sure whether it was my ISP or Mint. FoxSportsGo would load the menu, but would not load the video. Ironically, CBS Sports and NBC Sports and ESPN Sports would run.

Lately, with recent browser upgrades, everything except my ISP’s WatchTV and NBC Sports won’t run, but FoxSportsGo does work.

==

Can you load via the Linux Mint installation?

[Viking2002]

As soon as I get off my tuckus and get a KVM switch, I'm running my spare PC with Linux Mint.

[CondorFlight]

Zorin 15 is supposed to be designed to look like Windows, and take advantage of all those who will be losing Windows 7 but don’t want to go to Windows 10.

Haven’t used it myself yet, but take a look at its pages on the Web and see if you’d like it.

[Traveler59]

I'll second the vote for Ubuntu. Loads easy, searches your devices, downloads correct drivers, and has a GUI very similar in look and feel to windows. A large library of software that you can download and it will install automatically. I ran it for many years on a 486 CPU until the ‘blue smoke’ escaped.

[The Duke]

I use the “Elenentary OS” Linux distro, which is very Mac-like. It has worked well for me the last year or so.

[TChad]

Linux Mint 19.2 Cinnamon 64 bit:

https://linuxmint.com/download.php

Perfect for a user migrating from Win 7, and it should fly on your setup.

[SpaceBar]

Once you have one of the (K,X)ubuntu flavors installed, it’s relatively easy to install a new window manager (and switch between them) with the
sudo apt-get ...
command.

[CatOwner]

I had a feeling when I made this request that I would see a lot of different suggestions. I guess that's the beauty and the frustration for some with Linux.

I am going to download Mint and Xubuntu to try out both as a start. I think once I become a bit more familiar with the Linux environment, I can decide which direction I want to go.

[The Duke]

I use the “Elenentary OS” Linux distro, which is very Mac-like. It has worked well for me the last year or so.

[mak5]

Zorin really, really looks like Windows.

Robolinux is similar, but includes the WINE Windows emulator built in, which will let you run some Windows applications.

[dhs12345]

Try Ubuntu.

[SanchoP]

I'm a unrepentant distro hopper for years and PCLOS is the best of the bunch. The developer's a good ol' boy from Texas.