[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

[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.

[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.

[Carriage Hill]

Any help here is probably a good idea.

[BuffaloJack]

If you want it to look like Windows 7 you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade. Go to the Microsoft website, search for download windows 10. Start the install and tell it you want to upgrade an existing system. You then download it and launch it. It’s free if you are upgrading an existing windows installation (even Windows XP). If you want a clean install then you need to buy a license, otherwise it just works for free.
There is the 5 or 6 hours of cycling through every update from 2016 to now, but when it’s done it’s done and free and it self activates.

[Openurmind]

After installing with your preferences go to the update manager in the bottom right and run an update three times. The first time will be an update for the update manager it’s self. the second will update all the packages, applications, and needed stuff for your particular machine. In the third update green check just the “kernel update”. Should be good to go.

https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=246

[ThunderSleeps]

I’ll second the suggestions of Mint or MX Linux. I’d also toss KDE Neon into the mix. I have personally used all 3, and have 2 of them on systems now.