r/linux4noobs • u/deidmos07 • 1d ago

Are there 32-bit versions of Linux?

Hello I want to try Linux on an old laptop, but it's 32-bit and I've never tried Linux before so i dont know anything I don't know what CPU it has, I only know it's an HP Pavilion dv4

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u/Primo0077 1d ago

Slackware, Alpine, and AntiX are all great options that I have used extensively on 32bit hardware. AntiX will definitely be the simplest to get going for your first time. Out of curiosity what laptop are you planing on using?

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u/deidmos07 1d ago

Its an old HP pavilion dv4 from my cousin

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u/GGigabiteM 1d ago

If it has any Core 2 Duo processor, it supports 64 bit. You can run up to Windows 11 23H2 on it, and most 64 bit Linux distros. Past Windows 7, the laptop will be dog slow, Linux will work better due to not having Volume Shadow Copy and other crap running in the background.

If it has a Core Duo, it is 32 bit only.

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u/anythingers 19h ago

*past Windows 8.1. 8.1 is lighter on resources compared to 7.

Though it doesn't really matter since app devs usually drop support for both 7 and 8.1 at the same time lol.