Switching to Linux

[queer_scribbling]

My attempt at Linux Minut XFCE basically went exactly the same as trying to install Linux Mint Cinnamon did, and I still need zero point one more GB of space to install Linux Mint XFCE on my laptop. Kinda my bad for not seeing that coming; apparently, if I can't handle the general amount for a Linux Mint install, I can't handle either Cinnamon or XFCE versions.

*pulls out ☕ to mull this over*

Not gonna lie, I don't really get how my available GB is being determined here. Is the installer trying to fit the Linux OS alongside my Windows OS? I'm supposedly using 48 GB out of 58 GB. I guess I don't really have to understand how I only have 16 GB for this install, but it does make it feel like I'm just guessing about finding a different distro.

An expansion from the comments of the PF post:

I wasn't at the point in the Linux Mint installer where I was given the chance to delete Windows when I was getting the lack of space message -- I chose my language, got the screen for connecting to a wifi network, and then I just get a screen informing me that I only have 16 GB when I need 16.1 GB. I haven't actually gotten a screen where I should tell the installer to replace Windows.

Instead of constantly checking the about section for my device, I'm just copying some info over here:

• Processor: Intel Celeron N4000 CPU @ 1.10 GHz
• Installed RAM: 3.81 usable GB out of 4 GB (_{1 out of 1 slots})
• Graphics Card: Intel UHD Graphics 600 (512 MB)
• Storage: 58 GB SSD
• System Type: 64-bit operating system

So... If I should err on the side of caution and stick to 16 GB of storage, what Linux distros can I install?

Bodhi Linux

I can meet the recommended system requirements for Bodhi Linux - 64-bit, 1.0 GHz processor, 768 MB of RAM, 10 GB of drive space. I think the Standard Release of 7 would probably be the one I'd consider, though I'm not sure if it's close enough to the release of 8 that I should wait a bit for that.

Lubuntu

I've run into a lot of mentions of Lubuntu, but it feels less than helpful to run into "we will no longer provide minimum system requirements" ('Taking a new direction'). I would probably expect less than the amounts listed for Ubuntu 24 on Ask Ubuntu, but all I'm seeing for specifically Lubuntu 24 is - 64-bit processor, at least 4 GB of RAM. If I look into this more, I should keep in mind Long Term Support (LTS releases) and consider LTS 24 - Noble Numbat instead of the Quokka one.

[Post-installation update: My guesstimate in the comments that is the current LTS version of Lubuntu is probably using a smidge under 10 GB, which isn't half bad. I just wish I wouldn't have had to go through the installation process itself in order to find that out. Part of the reason that I chose Lubuntu is that it does clearly state in its documentation that you can easily upgrade to the next current LTS release, not unlike updating with Windows, instead of having to do a new series install as with Linux Lite.]

Linux Lite

I do keep running into Linux Lite in compilations of lighter Linux distros to try, but the minimum SSD requirement is 40 GB. Without really understanding why I've been told by the Linux Minut installer that I only have 16 GB to work with, I don't know if I would be able to access more of my listed SSD amount above. Upgrade note: I have an old laptop with a version of Linux Lite on it, and I stopped using it when I hit the end of the current series and needed to face a new install for the next series. You can call it Windows induced laziness, but I definitely prefer the ability to easily hit an update button and just move on with the next release.

_{(Update-slash-Note: I'm a little fascinated trying to piece together what's going on with the one developer based on forum posts, but I think the idea of trying to have A.I. Support has been abandoned on the website in favor of a wiki. I'm not currently seeing any further updates about offering A.I. Services in the Shop in order to help fund Linux Lite in the forum, but the shop link is generating a 404 page, as of January 2026.)}

Zorin Lite

I've seen the Lite version of Zorin OS mentioned as well, but I'm just not feeling very enthusiastic about that when the Lite version will be sunset in the reasonably near future. Support until June 2029 isn't nothing, but like, I'd just be prolonging getting the Core version, which I'm on the cusp of not meeting the system requirements for in 2026 (15 GB for Core). Waiting until 2028 or 2029 to opt for the Core version probably won't help me out here.

Originally posted on Pillowfort on 23 January 2026 and cross-posted to Dreamwidth on 25 January 2026.

Comments

[queer_scribbling]

I ran out of programs to try to delete [at ~PC's suggestion in the comments linked above], and when I tried to install Linux Mint XFCE again, I still hit the post-wifi point in the installer where I was notified that I needed 16.1 GB and only had 16 GB.

I'm pretty confident that I can still put Linux Mint XFCE on my family's desktop, but I've switched to trying out Lubuntu on my laptop. (The desktop has something like 800 GB of storage and we're only using 100 GB, so it better be fine.)

Lubuntu > Downloads > LTS (Noble Numbat) > Magnet emblem next to 64-bit > Scroll down to lubuntu-24.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso. I clicked on the SHA256SUM that was two above the ISO to open a new window with the hash [actual name for the string of numbers and letters].

I feel like I've been staring at installation instructions a little too much in the past 48 hours, so I didn't want to have to do all the cmd and 256 stuff myself again. I saw that Rufus had a way to check the sha256sum in the Install From USB instructions, so I downloaded Rufus, clicked that blue checkmark, and checked that hash in the window matched the one in the box. I just left the default stuff alone in Rufus while following Create a bootable USB stick instructions.

Now, onto booting the ISO and installing.

Success!

Thankfully, installation was just a matter of following what's on the screen. As a matter of personal curiosity, I've got 56.7 GB available and I currently have 47.1 GB free, so I'm using 9.6 GB or so. That's not really bad, I guess.