Looking for Lightweight Linux Distro Options for My Old Chromebook

Have you considered Linux Lite? It’s designed for newbies transitioning from Windows and is XFCE based. A fresh install tends to be about 7-8GB, so it leaves a bit of space. Another one is Peppermint OS, aimed at low-storage laptops and Chromebooks, which can also provide a lightweight experience.

If you're looking for super lightweight options, how about trying antiX or Lubuntu? antiX is ultra-light and generally sits around 3-4GB, while Lubuntu can fit in around 5-6GB. Both are user-friendly and should give you some breathing room for your files and applications. Plus, for managing space, remember to clean your package cache after installation!

Arch-based distros are generally not recommended for limited storage, but if you want something small, Arch can be quite minimal. You just need to be cautious with the packages. Alpine Linux is another lean option if you're feeling adventurous.

Tiny Core Linux is another option—it's very minimalistic. However, keep in mind that it's quite different from the mainstream distros. If you really want to keep it small, that might be worth looking into.

You might want to consider trying MX Linux. It has a unique way of installing called a frugal install, which means you can copy the ISO directly to your drive. This is how I set it up on an 8GB device, and it only takes about 4GB, leaving room for persistence. Just boot from a live USB, and you can set everything up in about 10 minutes. It's definitely manageable, and the cool part is you can even clone your setup back to a USB if you want to keep things backed up.