Diy Hands On Projects

[Sonoran Sam]

After many failures, I am finally posting on this forum from my old 2004 Athlon 2800 machine running Antix Linux.

It was a fun project and I learned a lot. When I did the initial install of Linux, I failed to make a swap partition. Because this old system kicked, screamed and complained the whole time I force fed Linux down its throat, I wasn't looking forward to wiping the hard drive and starting over from scratch.

Luckily, I found some software called "gparted". I was able to burn that software to a CD, boot from it, create a new partition, make it "swap" partition, then "swapon".

My ultimate goal is to take my Windows 10 machine and run Linux on it when support for Windows 10 ends. I figured I would make my mistakes on this machine and learn what not to do.

Mission accomplished.... Bye-bye Microsoft.

Now I want to learn more terminal commands and how to use LibreOffice.

 

[Hog]

gparted is a good program, I use it alot when setting up new drives as backups. I find using 2 1/2" ssd's is perfect for backing up the laptop using an external drive cable. No swap partitions on ssds! Libre office is good, pretty much a clone of MS office, with extra benefits, as it can read old MS publisher files and make pdfs on the fly. Switching a file back and forth from Libre to MS Excel has caused me minor formatting issues, nothing I couldnt correct. The menus in Libre are not very intuitive like MS is, just have to learn where they all are.

 

[Hog]

So far, the only thing I cannot get to run on Linux is my CD copy of Autocad 2002. Even Photoshop runs well (even faster than on MS).

 

[Sonoran Sam]

@Hog Thank you...

Yes, my computer usage is pretty mundane. Home budgeting, a few letters (here and there), on-line banking and some light surfing the web (with the occasional purchase).

The brief time I have spent using Libre Office and I'm getting the hang of it. Like you said, just trying to find where each task I need is in which menu.

I really couldn't justify the money for a new Windows 11 machine with that light usage. So when October comes, I'll swap out the hard drive, just to keep my original Windows 10 hard drive intact, install a new one and load Linux. Now that I've been exposed to "gparted" and "swap partitions", etc.; the installation process should be smooth.

Thanks again for your input, I do appreciate any and all advice.

 

[Sonoran Sam]

My girlfriend had been asking for a laptop for her desk, so I picked up an old broken one. I put in a new SSD hard drive and 16GB of RAM. Then I loaded Linux Mint Cinnamon. Everything worked GREAT!!

Her computer use is very basic -- looking things up on the internet, a few emails and the occasion letter (which she can do on LibreOffice). I thought this project was done until she started complaining about the appearance of the laptop.

Being cheap -- I dug out the paint I had leftover from painting her car, lightly sanded and painted the exterior cover. I didn't load my paint gun and just brushed it on. I didn't think it was worth mixing, loading and cleaning the paint gun.

At the end of the day, it looks fine -- and she has a "new to her" laptop that will do everything she needs it to.

Before:


After:

 

[Sonoran Sam]

I was just getting ready to put the red leftover paint away from painting my girlfriend's laptop, when she came home with a crumbled fender.

I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd be doing more bodywork on her car. Yes, she had a very small & minor accident. (everyone is OK - just very minor fender damage - both cars).

I thought about replacing the fender, but wanted to try to hammer & dolly it back into shape and that worked. I do need to pick up some Bondo (body filler) and skim a light coat over the area, then sand, primer and load my paint gun with some leftover paint.

For the record, it's been almost two years since I painted the whole car and the paint has faded slightly. I told her after I finish we'll park it in the sun for about two weeks and it will look "good enough".

I'm so glad I purchased a gallon of paint -- very happy to have some leftover color.

 

[Sonoran Sam]

Repairs are underway... This morning my girlfriend disclosed to me more damage from the accident, she had knocked the passenger door mirror off as well, and just pushed it back on. Well, all of the plastic hardware that holds it in place is destroyed. Initially, I though about taking the door apart and replacing all of the plastic and the mirror housing, then I reminded myself this is a $700 car.

Time for construction adhesive!! I glued the mirror back on. (The duct tape is just to hold it in place until the adhesive dries). My girlfriend has some old artist brushes (decommissioned from painting artwork) that she is going to use to "camouflage" the glue lines.


I've got to go to Walmart to get some Bondo (for the fender). My local auto parts store only has this really expensive body filler and this is just a $700 car, so its getting cheap Bondo (body filler) and cheap primer.

 

[LillyMayPatterson #1685 & #5648]

I want a boyfriend.

 

[Jambe]

Is your husband okay with that!

 

[Sonoran Sam]

First two coats of Bondo applied, after sanding I think I'll need just one more thin coat, then it will be ready for primer.


Upon further review, I might just run a bead of black caulk around the mirror housing to hide the glue line. And yes the construction adhesive has the mirror more than secure, that thing ain't coming off!!