Linux Running Slow?

icecold960 · August 28, 2019

I just decided to try to install linux on a second PC. I tried Ubuntu, and now Manjaro. Both take a LONG time to boot up. What's weird is, this PC can run windows just fine, so why not linux? I never got it to boot into the "try usb" for Ubuntu, but it booted up into "try mode" for Manjaro, it's just really...really... slow. the mouse takes a long time to move around the screen and i can't click anything. Any thoughts? PC specs below:

CPU: Pentium Dual-Core E5300

RAM: 2x4gb DDR3 Patriot 1600mhz ram (PSD34G160081)

GPU: Nvidia GeForce GT 730 2gb

HDD: Seagate 500GB HDD

PSU: 280w dell psu

Sauron · August 28, 2019

That's because "try mode" boots directly from the usb drive, which is probably significantly slower than your internal drive even though it's not an ssd. USB 2.0 (which I assume you're using given your specs) is much slower than even sata 2 and usb pendrives aren't very fast in general.

icecold960 · August 28, 2019

So would using a linux cd work? or would i have to install linux on the drive in another pc? Because my main pc doesn't have this issue

APasz · August 28, 2019

Using Linux off a cd/dvd would be even slower than a USB drive.

USB2 isn't really fast enough at all for most modern distros.

USB3 is fast enough but it's highly dependant on the drive itself. Some are good, others not so much.

The point of the the "Try/Live mode" is to make sure the distro can run but more importantly to see if you as the user like it and can work with it.

icecold960 · August 28, 2019

How would i install linux without the "try/live mode"

APasz · August 29, 2019

Depends on distro.

For Manjaro. After you boot it and land on the desktop. The Welcome screen should be the first thing to show up, at the bottom there'll be an option to launch the installer.

Then it's simply a case of reading and clicking ok.

Note that by default it will completely replace all data on the first disk it finds. So ensure only one disk is connected and there is no important data on said disk.

It is possible to install it along side Windows on the same disk.

Once install is complete remove the USB drive when prompted and it'll boot into the OS.

If at this point the performances issues persist. A different and lighter distro might be more desirable, as Manjaro is on the heavier side.

seagate_surfer · August 29, 2019

You can also boot from a Manjaro Live CD so you can look Manjaro over. The performance will be poor because of the throughput bottleneck from the CD-ROM drive, though. Live USB is also an option, but again, the performance depends on the USB drive. You won’t have the same experience with either of these options that you would if you installed it on your hardware.

There are tools that can help you to split the partition in case you have only one and in that new partition you can complete the installation without data loss. I use EaseUS for stuff like that: