I'm setting up an HP 450 laptop for my grandchild. It was passed down by another family member, and although the main battery and CMOS battery are no longer working properly, the machine still boots. I've used several Linux distributions in the past, but I'm out of date with the current options. Which distribution would be beginner-friendly and provide good tools for partitioning and system management? The laptop has an Intel Core i5 processor.
3 Answers
The CMOS battery is usually a small wired, pigtail-style battery, and the exact replacement procedure depends on the laptop generation. Replacing it is worthwhile because correct timestamps help a journaled filesystem recover cleanly after an unexpected shutdown. Replacement batteries are generally inexpensive, but check the exact model before ordering.
Mint is fine, but don’t assume Wi-Fi will work immediately. Have an Ethernet cable available so you can connect directly to the router while installing drivers and updates. Mint also includes graphical tools for partitioning and other common system tasks.
Linux Mint should be a good choice for this. It’s approachable for new users and has plenty of documentation. With an older or modestly powered laptop, I’d choose the MATE or Xfce edition rather than Cinnamon.

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