How to "Make an Old Laptop Great Again!" :-)

[Cowboy T]

Just did this recently to a Dell Inspiron N5040, just a little bit older than the Latitude D830's. In this case, I used Knoppix 8.6.1, which is basically Debian 10.6. This laptop has 4GB of DRAM in it, which appears to be enough for most general user tasks. Power uses would, of course, want more DRAM, but this Inspiron is far better than it ever had been.

The SSD used this time is another $30 deal I got from the local Micro Center. The purpose for this laptop will be practicing PERL coding while on the train to and from work, once we start going into the office again.

[Bushwack44]

I made a BIG mistake a few months ago (but no regrets). I had an old HP Envy that was s-l-o-w. I bought a new Lenovo laptop (which I don't regret), knowing I was going to swap the 1 TB SSD for a 2 TB SSD.

I took the OEM 1 TB SSD, placed in the HP, and the laptop screamed! If I would have known the difference in speed a SSD makes, good chance I would have not bought the Lenovo.

I sold the HP for the cost of the 2TB drive (and a little extra) I placed in the Lenovo. I was surprised how many inquiries I received for an old laptop (it sold for $350).