How to Save an Old PC

I’ve been having a rough time with my laptop.

My laptop is probably one of the most important tools I have in my life. I use it for work. I use it to get my creative juices out with my writing. I use it to pay my bills and to schedule my family events like doctor appointments. I use it to communicate with loved ones. I use it to help navigate through life. I lovingly call it my “cauldron” because it is where the magic happens.

Unfortunately, my laptop has never quite worked. The webcam software has always insisted that there was not a physical camera installed in the unit, and I never bothered to open it up to confirm that there was nothing behind the shiny lens. Countless attempts to get the Bluetooth capabilities working have been frpopuitless. I finally just assumed that my laptop was delivered to me with those pieces missing, and I never bothered to open it up and check the hardware. I trusted the software.

At the time, I was using a popular operating system. The one that came installed with the PC when I purchased it. The OS was out-dated, and every attempt to upgrade the OS to the newest version was met with insistence that the hardware couldn’t handle the advancement. I resigned to lower security, the fact that my laptop couldn’t do what I thought it should, and that I was just stuck with an old clunker that grew slower and slower with each passing day.

I decided to start researching ways to upgrade my laptop without having to spend a whole bunch of money. I looked into getting a webcam, and I got an aux cord so that I can still use my headphones. I figured I’d save my fancy earpods for when I’m on my phone. This was a decent fix, I suppose. But my beloved cauldron was still getting slower and slower.

Then, I stumbled upon something called Linux.

Linux is an operating system that is open source. That means that anybody can contribute to the making of it, and anybody can download and install it on their devices for free. Some people think that because it is available to everybody, it is less secure. In fact, it is actually MORE secure because there have been so many more variety of sources to update, evaluate, and resolve issues within the systems.

The version I chose is Linux Mint, because it is supposed to be the most user-friendly for those of us who are NOT tech savvy. A simple google search taught me how to install it on my laptop. I did have to erase my laptop, but luckily, I keep all of my important documents backed up in Google Drive. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it a million more times: Google does a wonderful job.

I digress. The only thing I needed to purchase in order to install Linux Mint was a flash-drive. I got one at the dollar store for $4. I downloaded the OS and put it on the flash-drive. I backed up my content, and then followed the steps that the internet gave me. The whole process took maybe an hour and a half, if you include the drive to the dollar store.

Linux Mint is shockingly easy to use. Every single application and clickable thing is SO self-explanatory. For example, in the menu, your options for browsing the internet are under “Internet” instead of confusing words like “browser” or “safari”.

Upon going through my menus, I discovered a camera option, and decided to click on it for S’s and G’s. The shocked image of my own face reflected back at me on my computer screen.

MY LAPTOP HAS HAD A CAMERA THIS ENTIRE TIME, AND THE STUPID MAINSTREAM OPERATING SYSTEM I HAD WANTED ME TO PAY TO USE IT!!!!

I also have bluetooth!!! This laptop is a decade old. I haven’t been able to use the “premium” features I paid for when I purchased the laptop due to the constraints put on it within the operating system that costed money. I will NEVER go back to mainstream operating systems again.

Linux, you’ve won me over. Thank you for being free, and thank you for being ACTUALLY user-friendly!!!