@ChristopherB OK, the idea that you can still install modern Linux distros on any old POS is untrue also.
Believe it or not, Mint uses more resources than Windows 7, it also boots slower, given the same system.
I tried installing Mint on a literal relic, (Intel E-6300 Pentium, G-41 board. 4 GB RAM). Granted, Mint is 64 bit only, and could use double that RAM capacity, but 4 GB RAM modules aren't available for Intel of that vintage, and we're dealing with a 2 slot board.
So, M$ has killed the Win 7 activation servers, replacing them with an arduous "CU, (computer user), phone home" bullsh!t nightmare.
I tried to install Mint with a VGA in place, which it mistook for the IGP. Oops, try again without the card..
I got the system up and running, but found as soon as I tried to do just a little too much with it, I'd get a lockup. Which of course, required a hard shutdown. That was fine for a few times, but eventually, Mint self destructed, blowing up lines of meaningless, (to me at least), repetitive. code.
So, I reinstalled the 32 bit Win 7. It locked up when overburdened the same as Mint. However, after a hard kill, all W 7 did, was blowup a black screen asking how I wanted it to restart. "Start Windows normally" worked just fine. In fact if you just ignore the system at that point, 30 seconds later, it will do that on its own and not self destruct .
I liked Mint just fine. In fact, it reminded me of my beloved Windows 7. However , it's system requirements are such that anyone who believes today's more advanced Linux distros are these lightweight OSes that will run on any old rattletrap laying around the house, are sadly mistaken.
Epilog: Due to M$ shunting down the Win 7 servers, you can't even reinstall it in the same machine it came out of, using the original product code. I couldn't get the SP-1 updater package. M$ forced it's "final security update" on me, and after that, I couldn't even navigate to Walmart.com, without any Chromium based browser blowing up security warnings.
And that boyz und Gurlz, is how bad $ wants to get rid of we pesky Win 7 users.