Need to find a new laptop to install Linux Mint on

Skymist

50Twuncle, you're not throwing any spanners in the works....dual booting when I had Vista was when I first learnt how to use a Linux distro; I was using Ubuntu!

But I don't want windows 10....EVER... and people, we all have our own reasons whether to use it or not, like it or not....so please don't post your opinions about it, thanks. It's not for me....too intrusive, too much MS control etc. etc.!

At the moment my Windows 7 is fully functional on the 5741, as is my Linux Mint 18.1 (bar Skype) on the 5535....so, I'm one very contented old lady!

Again, thanks for all your help, suggestions and shared knowledge.
S

WAYT

Skymist wrote: »

50Twuncle, you're not throwing any spanners in the works....dual booting when I had Vista was when I first learnt how to use a Linux distro; I was using Ubuntu!

But I don't want windows 10....EVER... and people, we all have our own reasons whether to use it or not, like it or not....so please don't post your opinions about it, thanks. It's not for me....too intrusive, too much MS control etc. etc.!

At the moment my Windows 7 is fully functional on the 5741, as is my Linux Mint 18.1 (bar Skype) on the 5535....so, I'm one very contented old lady!

Again, thanks for all your help, suggestions and shared knowledge.
S

So you didn't get around to updating the 5535? Then perhaps you could dual boot Windows 7 and Linux Mint and have Skype working there too.

Skymist

On the 5535 with Linux Mint 18.1, I installed Skype for Linux Beta 5.4.0.1, but it doesn't work....I tried it with my next door neighbour as we spoke on the phone, but no luck in connecting...she couldn't connect to me or see me as online, and vice versa! I haven't had Vista on it for years...had wiped it and had installed an earlier version of Mint, but then the backlight problem happened, so I bought the 5741 Windows 7, which was a few years ago now! . The backlight problem seems to have stopped...for the time being..... but I'm back to using the Windows 7 machine for now, as it serves my purposes!

My 5741 Windows 7 machine has Skype for Windows on it, and that works fine.

S

psychic_teabag

Skymist wrote: »

On the 5535 with Linux Mint 18.1, I installed Skype for Linux Beta 5.4.0.1, but it doesn't work....I tried it with my next door neighbour as we spoke on the phone, but no luck in connecting...she couldn't connect to me or see me as online, and vice versa!

That sounds like the problems we've with skype when trying to mix old and new versions. The old design was peer-to-peer - the connection would establish by bouncing off other copies of skype it found on the network, but the new model is "cloud" (central-server) based.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype_protocol

I had heard that the old network would be switched off in July this year, but it doesn't seem to have happened, since my old skype client (4.3.0.37) is still working.

So if your neighbour is using an old client, and you are using a new client, it's possible that they can't see each other.

My distributed team at work use skype for weekly calls, and I think I mentioned that I now use the web-based skype on chromium in order to participate. You could give that a try.

Skymist

Thanks for that information psychic teabag.I also read that the old network would be switched off in July this year, which is why I installed the one on the Skype download page, i.e. the newer version! But, computer says NO!!!

Anyway, as I've said, I'm using my newly cleaned Win 7 machine at the moment, so there is no problem.

When that machine no longer functions and I have to permanently switch to the Linux machine, I'll either download the older version, or by that time everyone may have been switched to the newer client. Either way, I will hopefully be able to have a functioning Skype, or use Viber, as suggested by HonourlessWeasel....or I'll be back on here asking you all for help again!:rotfl::A

S

WAYT

Skymist wrote: »

Thanks for that information psychic teabag.I also read that the old network would be switched off in July this year, which is why I installed the one on the Skype download page, i.e. the newer version! But, computer says NO!!!

Anyway, as I've said, I'm using my newly cleaned Win 7 machine at the moment, so there is no problem.

When that machine no longer functions and I have to permanently switch to the Linux machine, I'll either download the older version, or by that time everyone may have been switched to the newer client. Either way, I will hopefully be able to have a functioning Skype, or use Viber, as suggested by HonourlessWeasel....or I'll be back on here asking you all for help again!:rotfl::A

S

....or simply update the machine and dual boot Windows 7 and Linux so that you are ready in the case of the other machine failing.

Skymist

As I've already said WAYT, I HAVE Linux installed on the 5535 machine and Windows 7 on the 5741 machine, therefore I have no need for dual booting on either laptop!!!

I'm hoping that now the overheating problem has been sorted on the 5741 Win 7 laptop, that that will continue to function for a reasonably long time to come, as that was the only problem with it!

S

WAYT

Skymist wrote: »

As I've already said WAYT, I HAVE Linux installed on the 5535 machine and Windows 7 on the 5741 machine, therefore I have no need for dual booting on either laptop!!!

I'm hoping that now the overheating problem has been sorted on the 5741 Win 7 laptop, that that will continue to function for a reasonably long time to come, as that was the only problem with it!

S

It seems that I am talking to the wall.

You wrote;

When that machine no longer functions and I have to permanently switch to the Linux machine, I'll either download the older version, or by that time everyone may have been switched to the newer client. Either way, I will hopefully be able to have a functioning Skype, or use Viber,

The point being that the other machine would be ready, rather than you having to look for a solution at the point of failure. Seeing as it costs you nothing, why would you not do it?

You don't need to repeat the same things to me, I understood fully in the first instance. I'm just not sure that you understand.
The Aspire 5535 can have both Windows 7 and Linux installed to it, at no cost to you. So if and when the Aspire 5741 fails, you will still have the best of both worlds.
You don't have to wait until the Aspire 5741 fails before acting.
Of course there is no obligation to do so. It's just that you appear to think that your only option wehn the machine fails is to utilise Linux alone.

Skymist

Ah WAYT...please excuse the senior moments...I see what you mean now.:T:)

Not sure of the exact timeline, 'cos it was quite a few years ago, but at some point I decided to install Linux Mint, instead of keeping the dual boot of Ubuntu and Vista, but, at that time, knowing even less than I know now, I didn't realize that I had overwritten the Vista restore partition when I installed Mint, even though I had made the prerequisite restore DVDs, which didn't work on their own! I searched high and low on Google to try and correct the mistake, but kept reading that once overwritten, they were gone! Then the backlight problem occurred...which, at the moment seems to have stopped occurring.....so I bought the Win 7 machine.

Also the Aspire 5535 only has a Vista licence on it.

S

WAYT

Skymist wrote: »

Ah WAYT...please excuse the senior moments...I see what you mean now.:T:)

Not sure of the exact timeline, 'cos it was quite a few years ago, but at some point I decided to install Linux Mint, instead of keeping the dual boot of Ubuntu and Vista, but, at that time, knowing even less than I know now, I didn't realize that I had overwritten the Vista restore partition when I installed Mint, even though I had made the prerequisite restore DVDs, which didn't work on their own! I searched high and low on Google to try and correct the mistake, but kept reading that once overwritten, they were gone! Then the backlight problem occurred...which, at the moment seems to have stopped occurring.....so I bought the Win 7 machine.

Also the Aspire 5535 only has a Vista licence on it.

S

The guide in post #32 updates the licence to Windows 7. Though I'm concerned about you being able to follow it. Gulp!