Should I convert a pc to Linux?

[Jim B (MSP)]

Thanks. I may give it a try someday. Right now the pc is just a one horse system, Firefox, that will only look at 4 financial sites. Very simple.

Very wise to have a PC dedicated to ONLY financial websites. No web browsing, email or anything else internet related.

I used to do this years ago, but with moves et al I got away from it.

However, I see the AI directed malware, scams, etc increasing in time. This just gives me another layer of protection.

And don't network that Linux computer to prevent it from picking up an infection from other computers that do email and web browsing. It needs to be a complete island onto itself.

Absolutely.

 

[Jim B (MSP)]

Thanks. I may give it a try someday. Right now the pc is just a one horse system, Firefox, that will only look at 4 financial sites. Very simple.

Very wise to have a PC dedicated to ONLY financial websites. No web browsing, email or anything else internet related.

wow. almost like using Burner phones.

thanks. anyone else do this; first i have heard of a Burner PC

I did this first at least 15 years ago. I was alerted to this by the FBI head of bank security at that time. He even said if you lived in a crowded area to hardwire your pc to the router, and not to use wireless. I converted an "old pc" I had then to Linux, isolated it, and moved on.

My current banking pc, on wireless, remains turned off >99% of the time. It just takes discipline in the household to use it as it is intended.

I certainly don't think of it as a "burner".

--
Jim
"It's all about the light"

 

[skyglider]

I ended up with installing Linux Mint, Cinnamon as a single boot on the old HP. All is good. .... snip ....

However, once I installed the Linux OS to the C drive, VLC installed easily and the CD/DVD works just fine. It is an extra added attraction. The CD reader reader still works fine so I can review photo files from all the old back up cds I created almost 25 years ago.

How did you install Linux Mint Cinnamon (LMC) to the C drive?

All of the instructions I've read so far are for installing LMC to a USB stick.

 

[Jim B (MSP)]

I ended up with installing Linux Mint, Cinnamon as a single boot on the old HP. All is good. .... snip ....

However, once I installed the Linux OS to the C drive, VLC installed easily and the CD/DVD works just fine. It is an extra added attraction. The CD reader reader still works fine so I can review photo files from all the old back up cds I created almost 25 years ago.

How did you install Linux Mint Cinnamon (LMC) to the C drive?

All of the instructions I've read so far are for installing LMC to a USB stick.

I first installed LMC to a stick, and booted from there. That was my test of capability and compatibility.

When you are running in that mode, LMC sticks an icon on the screen to Install LMC.

When you open that up, you proceed through a brief Q&A on installing the LMC to the hard drive (which I called C, Windows speak I suppose). It will wipe the HD clean for a single boot system.

 

[New Wrycuda]

I ended up with installing Linux Mint, Cinnamon as a single boot on the old HP. All is good. .... snip ....

However, once I installed the Linux OS to the C drive, VLC installed easily and the CD/DVD works just fine. It is an extra added attraction. The CD reader reader still works fine so I can review photo files from all the old back up cds I created almost 25 years ago.

How did you install Linux Mint Cinnamon (LMC) to the C drive?

All of the instructions I've read so far are for installing LMC to a USB stick.

I first installed LMC to a stick, and booted from there. That was my test of capability and compatibility.

I found the same deal with Zorin Linux...

Download the ISO (up to 6GB depending on version chosen).

There's a separate utility (BalenaEtcher) to prepare the USB stick as a bootable drive and then copy the ISO to the stick and verify.

You may need to disable UEFI and choose "Legacy Boot" or similar, selecting USB as boot.

Installation is then entirely from the USB, so the original ISO download may be trashed if you decide to have a Linux-only installation.

Restore the boot order, of course.

 

[skyglider]

I ended up with installing Linux Mint, Cinnamon as a single boot on the old HP. All is good. .... snip ....

However, once I installed the Linux OS to the C drive, VLC installed easily and the CD/DVD works just fine. It is an extra added attraction. The CD reader reader still works fine so I can review photo files from all the old back up cds I created almost 25 years ago.

How did you install Linux Mint Cinnamon (LMC) to the C drive?

All of the instructions I've read so far are for installing LMC to a USB stick.

I first installed LMC to a stick, and booted from there. That was my test of capability and compatibility.

When you are running in that mode, LMC sticks an icon on the screen to Install LMC.

When you open that up, you proceed through a brief Q&A on installing the LMC to the hard drive (which I called C, Windows speak I suppose). It will wipe the HD clean for a single boot system.

I found the following YouTube video that explained how to install Linux Mint on the C drive:

How to install Linux Mint

I used Rufus instead of the Unetbootin that the video recommended to make the ISO image bootable on the USB flash drive.

Now I need to get the Linux on the USB flash drive to recognize a USB wifi adapter that I already have, before I install Linux Mint on the C drive. (Since the computer's motherboard does not have wifi capability. I'll order an ethernet cable for permanent use later.)

Thanks!

 

[New Wrycuda]

Now I need to get the Linux on the USB flash drive to recognize a USB wifi adapter that I already have, before I install Linux Mint on the C drive. (Since the computer's motherboard does not have wifi capability. I'll order an ethernet cable for permanent use later.)

Is the USB WiFi adapter USB2 or USB3?

USB2 might be more easily recognised.

 

[skyglider]

Now I need to get the Linux on the USB flash drive to recognize a USB wifi adapter that I already have, before I install Linux Mint on the C drive. (Since the computer's motherboard does not have wifi capability. I'll order an ethernet cable for permanent use later.)

Is the USB WiFi adapter USB2 or USB3?

USB2 might be more easily recognised.

Not sure if it's USB2 or USB3. The plastic insert is white.

Since the two USB2 ports on the back of the PC are currently used for a wired mouse and wired keyboard (temporary for testing), I plugged the USB wifi adapter int a USB3 port. It was recognized by LMC right away and I was able to connect to the router's wifi.

Works perfectly so far.

Installed LMC from the flash drive on to a SATA SSD and that worked fine. Powered off, removed the USB flash drive, powered on, entered UEFI and changed the boot priority #1 to the SSD. Boots from the SSD into LMC fine.

Am up and running with LMC now ... .

 

[New Wrycuda]

Now I need to get the Linux on the USB flash drive to recognize a USB wifi adapter that I already have, before I install Linux Mint on the C drive. (Since the computer's motherboard does not have wifi capability. I'll order an ethernet cable for permanent use later.)

Is the USB WiFi adapter USB2 or USB3? USB-C ?

USB2 might be more easily recognised.

Not sure if it's USB2 or USB3. The plastic insert is white.

Sorry, I meant USB-C.

White insert usually means USB2.

 

[FujiJon]

Now I need to get the Linux on the USB flash drive to recognize a USB wifi adapter that I already have, before I install Linux Mint on the C drive. (Since the computer's motherboard does not have wifi capability. I'll order an ethernet cable for permanent use later.)

Is the USB WiFi adapter USB2 or USB3?

USB2 might be more easily recognised.

Not sure if it's USB2 or USB3. The plastic insert is white.

Since the two USB2 ports on the back of the PC are currently used for a wired mouse and wired keyboard (temporary for testing), I plugged the USB wifi adapter int a USB3 port. It was recognized by LMC right away and I was able to connect to the router's wifi.

Works perfectly so far.

Installed LMC from the flash drive on to a SATA SSD and that worked fine. Powered off, removed the USB flash drive, powered on, entered UEFI and changed the boot priority #1 to the SSD. Boots from the SSD into LMC fine.

Am up and running with LMC now ... .

Great news, well done

 

[Jim B (MSP)]

Am up and running with LMC now ... .

Great news.

Have fun.