Can I just get rid of XP and install Linux instead?

Yep. From what you said, you chose to use the second set of instructions on that Asus page.....where it will always boot from USB if you have one plugged in.

 

As Brian said, that's exactly what it's doing. It's doing just what you've told it to do!

 

We all make little cock-ups like that, mate. None of us are any different, believe me...   You'll soon get the hang of things. The one thing that takes the most getting used to is the funny names for some of the Linux applications.....but the marvellous thing about 'em is that they're all completely free. 

 

 

Mike. 

Hi cooljay

 

First thing I need to do is customize the desk top.

 

Nope, lol.

 

1st thing you need to do is to make the acquaintance of Terminal, to enable your Firewall.

 

Type in and enter

Ctrl-Alt-t

This will open a session of Terminal. This is called LXTerminal under Lubuntu, and you can find it other times, under Menu - System Tools. Doesn't matter.

 

Once you are in Terminal, type and enter

sudo ufw enable

You will be prompted to enter your password. Entering it will show no movement of the insertion point, security.

 

Enter.

 

You will be advised that your Firewall is now enabled, and will be run every time you start or restart the computer.

 

Cheers all

 

Wizard

Unbelievable. You ARE a wizard!

 

I was standing in my kitchen thinking this: "The weird thing is - nobody has said anything about security. What about a firewall?" Then I heard the ping that I had an email. It was a notification that someone had posted in my thread. And you gave those instructions about the firewall. Wow.

 

And not only that - I was just about to comment that LXTerminal doesn't let me type anything. I already went round and round with this earlier today. And luckily you cleared this up for me too. Wow again.

 

Many thanks, wizard.

Hi, cooljay.

 

That's the thing about forums like this. (Especially when you have a decent bunch of members.)

 

When you show determination to use, and gradually master Linux, people will help.

 

The main thing to remember, with all Linux distros (as with any OS, really), is to get the house-keeping stuff out of the way first. And that includes the firewall. In Linux, that's really the only thing you need. No AV here.

 

When you do start to 'customize' things, you'll be astounded at the possibilities. Take a look at some of the stuff in the 'Show us your Linux desktop' thread, if you want some inspiration.

 

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/592994/show-us-your-linux-desktop/

 

Those of my own desktops that you see, it's all my own work. I've had an interest in graphic design for a very long while.....every one of mine is built, by me, from the ground up. About the only things I Google for are the background images, and the PNG icons. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.....

 

Ask some of the others about Compiz, and 'the Cube'. And remember one thing; Linux has had all this for far longer than Windows has.

 

Get the chores out of the way first, then we'll help out with anything you care to ask. Have you had a chance to look through that Lubuntu 'check-list' yet?

 

 

Mike. 

What check list?

I think Mike is referring to 10 things to do first in Lubuntu 16.04.x.

The guide says reducing swappiness is "important," but I have a laptop with 1GB of RAM (and used to use one that had only 768MB of RAM) and have tried changing swappiness before, and the only actual difference I can tell is that the desktop can start to freeze if I reduce swappiness too much. So nowadays I leave swappiness at its default setting on all Linux operating systems on all computers.

In my opinion, the only item on the list that is necessary to do right away is to update your system, and it's also advisable to turn on the firewall.

You won't need to bother with most of the items on the list, and anything else you do need can always be installed when you find out that you need it.

Edited by Al1000, 23 February 2017 - 03:30 PM.

When you get time, fill us in on how it is going, how you like it etc.  Lubuntu is super, but it is definitely a stripped down little Distro.  On that computer it should be the ticket though.  The reason I suggested it, as would others here, it is based on Ubuntu and is the lightest on resources for all the Ubuntu Flavors!  As you may know Ubuntu is one of the top Distro's out there.  You can always move to something else later if you like, that's the nice thing about Linux.  You can run and test out what you want, and it don't take all that long to install, unlike Windows.  Later, you can also play with Puppy, because it will install inside of Lubuntu, or onto another Partition along side of Lubuntu.  I do suggest putting that off for a while until you get things figured out in Lubuntu.  Reason being, is you can easily Break what you have now trying to install Puppy. 

 

pc

@cooljay:

 

Many thanks, wizard.

 

Why thanks, cooljay, but someone would have picked up on it sooner or later.

 

I have to remember, myself, about the Firewall - I run about 50 Distros and am usually putting on about 1 - 2 a week.

 

I, too, would be interested to hear of your journey with Lubuntu. LXDE, which is based on Lubuntu, is on my wife's computer, but I have not used Lubuntu myself, yet.

 

If you are enjoying it after a few days or a week or two, just PM me and I can put it on, so I can refer to your environment if you need help.

 

We don't talk technical in PMs, that is reserved for in-Forum, but just sing out and I'll add it to the stable. Just remind me if it is 32-bit or 64-bit version.

 

Cheers all and

 

Avagudweegend

 

Wizard

 

Edited - fixed typo

Edited by wizardfromoz, 23 February 2017 - 11:18 PM.