Posted: 10/15/2025 2:14:50 PM EDT
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I guess I am going to answer my own question here. Old Windows 10 rig- well, you know. Have a new Windows 11 AMD based pre-build I bought this year knowing ahead I needed to transition- love it. Just updated the old rig with the very last updates. I would like to have a back-up computer in case my primary fails to give me time to troubleshoot or purchase a new one. I only browse ARF and pay bills- pretty simple. I would only use it connected to the internet to buy a new pre-build, pay bills, and surf ARF. I will keep it going forward either way for offline use with TurboTax. Old rig OK as a back-up, or should I spring for a dirt cheap laptop or desktop say on Black Friday for a temp crash plan? Guessing I should do this. |
To err is human, to forgive was not SAC policy.
NorCal call sign "Dystopia"
NorCal call sign "Dystopia"
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Originally Posted By Imzadi: When Windows 10 becomes EOL it becomes more at risk of being attacked since it isn't patched anymore. What I would do is rebuild it with Linux. There are a number of distros that are easy to use and for just doing web based stuff you'd be fine. OP, you are fine with your plan. Just update the browser you use (Brave, Chrome, Firefox, etc.) right away before doing any of the planned backup tasks. The idea the gremlins are going to jump over to Google.com, dive into the computer and blow up the water heater is goofy. Don't expose yourself when you use the internet and chances are nothing will happen. Porn, free software, free music/movies <--- how you get infected. Don't do that shit and mostly it'll be OK. Note, you can use a USB stick with Linux on any computer (even one that lost it's hard drive) so that's an option too. Having an old computer sitting around is a bit hoarder-ish.  You can even set it up to carry around and have your own little customized install.If you have tons of time, and interest, and the spare hardware (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.) then maybe learn to use linux on it. (Using Mint to post this.) Linux is easy, IF all you want to do is get a browser running. Oh, but if you have an extra mouse button to use, well then you are digging into installing a package to find out their names, then installing another package to set them up. It QUICKLY becomes a PITA to do anything that's not basic browsing. Getting a paper route to earn extra money for a new Windows computer is more effective use of time for a lot of people. You gotta LIKE messing around with computers to make Linux worthwhile. |
Mercy on the criminal is cruelty to the innocent.
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Originally Posted By Imzadi: When Windows 10 becomes EOL it becomes more at risk of being attacked since it isn't patched anymore. What I would do is rebuild it with Linux. There are a number of distros that are easy to use and for just doing web based stuff you'd be fine. Lol. Linux sucks. Click To View Spoiler It's fine if you like Linux, but don't pretend it's a good solution for the average person who just wants ease of use and compatibility. |
Atypical Millennial
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Install Linux on your old computer. https://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/2819179_In-this-thread-we-help-each-other-switch-to-Linux.html Originally Posted By djkest: It's fine if you like Linux, but don't pretend it's a good solution for the average person who just wants ease of use and compatibility. It's perfectly fine for the average person who just needs a web browser. You're talking about RedHat and business software and all kinds of stuff, 99.999% of basic home users could just install Linux Mint, have no issues, and be fine for years. |
This is...a clue - Pat_Rogers
I'm not adequately aluminumized for this thread. - gonzo_beyondo
CO, MI, OR - Please lobby your legislators to end discrimination against non-resident CCW permit holders
I'm not adequately aluminumized for this thread. - gonzo_beyondo
CO, MI, OR - Please lobby your legislators to end discrimination against non-resident CCW permit holders
| In all honesty, I had two desktops- very old that I had been running Unbuntu on. They worked fine for me when they worked. I tried for a few years to keep them going, they would go for about 6 months and then an update would brick them. Threw them out this spring when the new Win 11 rig arrived. I Guess I attribute it to the old hardware. Not hating on Linux, if I had something spare and not too old to play with I would try again, however, if I purchase something low key it would be a Win 11 machine as opposed to continue to try Linux. Friend uses Mint and loves it. |
To err is human, to forgive was not SAC policy.
NorCal call sign "Dystopia"
NorCal call sign "Dystopia"
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Originally Posted By RR_Broccoli: It's going to sit on the shelf. Note, you can use a USB stick with Linux on any computer (even one that lost it's hard drive) so that's an option too. Love the entire post, but this really caught my attention. I already have a couple mem sticks to do this because of having to re-install so many times- maybe I need a latest, greatest one which would give me another option. @RR_Broccoli Appreciate all of the responses gentlemen. |
To err is human, to forgive was not SAC policy.
NorCal call sign "Dystopia"
NorCal call sign "Dystopia"
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Originally Posted By djkest: Lol. Linux sucks. Click To View Spoiler It's fine if you like Linux, but don't pretend it's a good solution for the average person who just wants ease of use and compatibility. Don't judge Linux by Red Hat. Red Hat's business model is to intentionally break things on updates so you have to hire Red Hat consultants to fix things.  Linux Mint is probably the easiest operating system to use these days. They're doing almost everything right. |
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Originally Posted By GoGo: In all honesty, I had two desktops- very old that I had been running Unbuntu on. They worked fine for me when they worked. I tried for a few years to keep them going, they would go for about 6 months and then an update would brick them. Threw them out this spring when the new Win 11 rig arrived. I Guess I attribute it to the old hardware. Not hating on Linux, if I had something spare and not too old to play with I would try again, however, if I purchase something low key it would be a Win 11 machine as opposed to continue to try Linux. Friend uses Mint and loves it. For machines I want to run without futzing with them I use LTS (long term service) editions of Ubuntu. I have a few hand-me-down laptops dating back to 2010, and they're either running Mint or Ubuntu. |
Joined:
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AL, USA
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Originally Posted By RR_Broccoli: It's going to sit on the shelf. OP, you are fine with your plan. Just update the browser you use (Brave, Chrome, Firefox, etc.) right away before doing any of the planned backup tasks. The idea the gremlins are going to jump over to Google.com, dive into the computer and blow up the water heater is goofy. Don't expose yourself when you use the internet and chances are nothing will happen. Porn, free software, free music/movies <--- how you get infected. Don't do that shit and mostly it'll be OK. Note, you can use a USB stick with Linux on any computer (even one that lost it's hard drive) so that's an option too. Having an old computer sitting around is a bit hoarder-ish. You can even set it up to carry around and have your own little customized install.If you have tons of time, and interest, and the spare hardware (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.) then maybe learn to use linux on it. (Using Mint to post this.) Linux is easy, IF all you want to do is get a browser running. Oh, but if you have an extra mouse button to use, well then you are digging into installing a package to find out their names, then installing another package to set them up. It QUICKLY becomes a PITA to do anything that's not basic browsing. Getting a paper route to earn extra money for a new Windows computer is more effective use of time for a lot of people. You gotta LIKE messing around with computers to make Linux worthwhile. I second this, Linux will give you nothing but trouble, in this scenario. Great operating system for niche cases. A back-up computer in the event your WINDOWS desktop fails. Should not be a completely different operating system providing a difficult user experience lol. Keep your shit updated and don't browse nefarious things. Everything will be just fine. |
| Can you run Windows off a flash drive? Looks like yes. You can run through the install process and then you can just insert that flash drive into the computer and boot off it if your windows install is dead. This is assuming that your hardware is still good. |
Atypical Millennial
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Originally Posted By Quaratined: I second this, Linux will give you nothing but trouble, in this scenario. Great operating system for niche cases. A back-up computer in the event your WINDOWS desktop fails. Should not be a completely different operating system providing a difficult user experience lol. Keep your shit updated and don't browse nefarious things. Everything will be just fine. Thank you, and welcome to ARFCOM. Great user name. @Quaratined |
To err is human, to forgive was not SAC policy.
NorCal call sign "Dystopia"
NorCal call sign "Dystopia"