Linux and ssd

spud17

I've acquired (free) a Dell 6400 laptop with Vista Home Premium, it came from Dell with 1GB ram and T5300 dual core processor.

The laptop will only be used for surfing the web.

The hard drive is showing some bad sectors, so I was considering replacing it with a small ssd.

Along with the ssd, I was going to switch to Mint.

So can anyone offer any advice, or supply a link to a good guide for using Linux/ssd.

p.s. already added another 2GB ram, and it runs Vista pretty well.

OneADay

I got a new cheap HP laptop two years ago, it had "issues" with the fan to say the least. I replaced the standard 500Gig hard drive with a 128 Gig Sandisk SSD.

Then I tried linux on it - Ubunui/ Linux Mint and Debian (my favourite) install and work fine in this particular laptop. You should not face too many issues, linux does support SSD quite well.

SSD did improve fan issue a little (but only with Windows as it has a better power management than on the linux distros I tried). Performance, not much you can see but it does reduce the heat from hard drive a little.

Its worth checking if the linux distro you are going to put on it has any issues with SSD drives before you go ahead buying a disk / installing linux.

espresso

spud17 wrote: »

Along with the ssd, I was going to switch to Mint.

So can anyone offer any advice, or supply a link to a good guide for using Linux/ssd.

You should not have any problems with a fresh install of Linux Mint onto a new SSD. Some very informative links to read before you start here, here and here.

patman99

Linux has had support for SSDs for a lot longer than Windows. In fact, the ext file system used by Linux is well-suited to use on an SSD.

colin79666

As above, just watch that the distro you choose supports TRIM. Almost all will these days but not all have it on by default.

spud17

espresso wrote: »

You should not have any problems with a fresh install of Linux Mint onto a new SSD. Some very informative links to read before you start here, here and here.

First time with ssd in any form, just like to be fully prepared.
Yup, already seen 2 of those links, have bookmarked them all.
I'd rather rely on recommendation here, because I know the posters, and have a view of their opinions.

patman99 wrote: »

Linux has had support for SSDs for a lot longer than Windows. In fact, the ext file system used by Linux is well-suited to use on an SSD.

Needs to be Ext4, it's just that I've not seen much mention of Linux/ssd while doing a bit of research into the various ssds.

colin79666 wrote: »

As above, just watch that the distro you choose supports TRIM. Almost all will these days but not all have it on by default.

Those links in espresso's reply are pretty comprehensive, and I do have a bit of Linux experience, along with the ability to follow instructions.

esuhl

I know you aren't thinking of using Arch Linux, but this wiki page has a lot of general information about SSDs that applies to Linux in general:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Solid_State_Drives

spud17

Just popping back to update.
I was given the Dell 6400 laptop.
It came out of the factory with Vista Home Premium and 1 GB ram, (2x 512MB).
With AVG, Rapport etc, it was taking 5 mins before it could be used.

I added 1GB that I had lying around, and spent £8.50 on 2GB from ebay.

Boot time, measured with Bootracer, with 3GB and new install of Vista was around 60secs.
With ssd and new install of Vista, and optimised for ssd, it boots in 21 secs.
I've now put on Mint 16 Cinnamon, it now boots in 20secs.
Also checked out the suggested links, and made sure it was set to make the best use of ssd.

Well pleased.

debitcardmayhem

spud17 wrote: »

Just popping back to update.
I was given the Dell 6400 laptop.
It came out of the factory with Vista Home Premium and 1 GB ram, (2x 512MB).
With AVG, Rapport etc, it was taking 5 mins before it could be used.

I added 1GB that I had lying around, and spent £8.50 on 2GB from ebay.

Boot time, measured with Bootracer, with 3GB and new install of Vista was around 60secs.
With ssd and new install of Vista, and optimised for ssd, it boots in 21 secs.
I've now put on Mint 16 Cinnamon, it now boots in 20secs.
Also checked out the suggested links, and made sure it was set to make the best use of ssd.

Well pleased.

Won the lottery spud??? Free PC and he buys a £8.50 ram upgrade and an SSD and then installs mint for free all for a few seconds....:cool: Come on spud try XFCE not cinnamon and shave a millisecond or two off that boot time :rotfl::rotfl:.
Have one on me :beer: (but drink it in 1 second)

spud17

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

Won the lottery spud??? Free PC and he buys a £8.50 ram upgrade and an SSD and then installs mint for free all for a few seconds....:cool: Come on spud try XFCE not cinnamon and shave a millisecond or two off that boot time :rotfl::rotfl:.
Have one on me :beer: (but drink it in 1 second)

I'm breaking even on the lottery, i.e.better than most, never bought a ticket. :rotfl:
Laptop was allegedly only fit for skip.
I had it running in 10 mins, the battery is even good for 2+ hours.
Now it's going to be used for basic browsing and email.

spud17

Thanks Nifty for the extra info. Much appreciated.