# Repurposing an old Window 7 to Linux **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** computer-hardware\ **Created:** [March 8, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repurposing-an-old-window-7-to-linux/1015309 "2025-03-08T22:20:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 71
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repurposing-an-old-window-7-to-linux/1015309/71 "2025-04-02T18:43:23Z")
Howdy everyone! Been home with COVID this week, so I’m getting caught up on reading threads like this one, and [this one.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/138). I’m happy to report that _Reliant_ did fire up effectively the two or three times I powered her up, and the included install of LibreOffice seemed to adequately _open_ a hefty spreadsheet I often use, from a USB thumb drive. I’m contained in one bedrrom this week, in isolation, so I may try to convince my wife to move _Reliant_ out of “drydock” in the home office and here into “sickbay” so I can start doing some work with her. My first question: IIRC, reading somewhere, there was some decent antivirus software out there for Mint . . was it Avast? Norton, IIRC wasn’t available, so I could use some recommendations. Second, the screen is presenting like an early 2000s VGA-style display. Is this typical of Mint without the appropriate graphics card driver (i.e. I should download the appropriate one)? Tripler I am happily open to advice! --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repurposing-an-old-window-7-to-linux/1015309)._