I've been playing around with Ubuntu 16.04, but I'm stuck because none of my Wi-Fi adapters seem to work with it. I've looked into installing drivers, but everything requires an internet connection, which I can't get since I also can't access Ethernet. I'm considering switching to a newer version like 20.04 since my mini PC (an Optiplex 3050 mff) might handle it. Additionally, if I do switch, I might invest in a proper M.2 WLAN adapter. I'm trying to set this up as a media center that can access web content, video files (like MP4 and MOV), and perhaps emulators for things like SNES and NES. Does anyone have any advice on how I can resolve this or suggestions for a different Linux distribution? Thanks for all the help in the past few days!
3 Answers
Honestly, I would recommend jumping straight to Ubuntu 20.04. You'll get better driver support out of the box for your hardware, which should save you a lot of headaches. If your PC struggled with the installer before, maybe check the BIOS settings to ensure it's set up to boot from USB correctly.
It’s pretty clear that your main issue is running an outdated version of Ubuntu. If it were me, I'd search for a lightweight distro or a newer Ubuntu since 16.04 will limit your experience significantly—especially with newer software capabilities. Think about the long-term benefits!
Just a heads-up, sticking with such an old OS might not be the best idea. Many packages and repositories for 16.04 are outdated and unsupported. If you go to a newer version like 20.04 or even 22.04, you’ll have access to a lot of modern software and updates. Better performance for your media center goals too!
I did try to install it but my PC didn’t recognize the installer. It suggested I use 16.04 instead, so I figured I’d try it.