I'm trying to breathe new life into my Asus EeeBook X205TA, which has an Intel Atom 1.33GHz processor and 2GB of RAM. Currently, it runs Windows 8.1, but it's too heavy for this laptop. I've attempted to install several lightweight Linux distributions like Linux Mint XFCE, Bodhi, AntiX, and MX, but I've encountered a "boot loader error". I'm looking for advice on how to successfully install a lightweight Linux version on this machine. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation?
3 Answers
Just a tip: Linux Mint XFCE has a 32-bit bootloader. Are you using software like Rufus to create your bootable USB? Sometimes that can cause problems. If you haven't yet, make sure you grab the correct 32-bit ISO.
I've been using Debian LXQt on a similar Atom netbook with 3GB of RAM, and it runs like a charm. I'd recommend trying MX Linux too, specifically their Fluxbox edition, as it could fit your laptop perfectly. If you're feeling adventurous, Void Linux might also be a good option. Their repositories have more up-to-date packages for 32-bit systems than Debian.
I've had a few of these Atom laptops, and trust me, Windows can be a real slog on them. Just to clarify, when do you get the boot loader error? Is it happening during the installation or when you're trying to boot from a USB? Most lightweight distros should work, but it might depend on how you're setting up the USB stick.
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