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pmsguy

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Best linux download to run on a laptop 32bit

I am looking to install linux on my 32bit laptop
I want to make this an easy install, where it will easily recognize my hardware and automatically install the wireless network scenarios.
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rockiroads
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How old is the laptop? How old is the hardware? Are you sure the CPU is 32-bit, or is it new enough to be 64-bit and you have had a 32-bit OS installed? Either way, if the hardware is new enough, you can run the latest desktop environment such as Gnome or KDE. If not so new, I would recommend a lighter environment such as LXDE. I have an ancient Dell Inspiron 1000 with a Celeron CPU, 1 MB RAM, and integrated graphics running Lubuntu easily.

I recommend Ubuntu or a derivative for ease of install and use, including wireless.
Ubuntu (as rockiroads suggested) at http://www.ubuntu.com for Gnome
Kubuntu at http://www.kubuntu.org/ for KDE
For older hardware, I recommend Lubuntu at http://lubuntu.net/

I also recommend the Ubuntu derivative family at http://linuxmint.com/ for a distro based on Ubuntu and compatible with Ubuntu's packages. However, the Mint distros are more complete out of the box with software, drivers, and plugins installed and configured for you.

You can also check http://distrowatch.com/ to see other distros available.

I highly recommend installing the distro rather than running a livecd. Once installed, it will be much faster and more responsive.

Lee
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T1750

Ubuntu has a poor track record in several areas, notably security. It's also failed to properly configure hardware on my systems that other distros have no trouble with. Lot's of talkative, supportive users though, which is a bonus.

Fedora is an excellent world-class distribution, my personal preference would be for OpenSUSE but that's just it, what you are asking is for us to give you an opinion. You wouldn't know till you tried.

And Fedora and OpenSUSE may be technically better distributions, but you will find it a lot easier to find help with Ubuntu specific problems.
T1750 - please back up the security claims you make.
I forgot to mention the help resources for Ubuntu, so I am glad T1750 did. Just type ubuntu help into Google. One of the most helpful results will be http://ubuntuforums.org/. You should be able to find just about any answer you need there.
If you choose one of the Linux Mint options, their forums are here http://forums.linuxmint.com/.
Lee
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good answers