Install Linux on Samsung NP150 Plus netbook - Part 1

Installation of Linux Mint 18.3 (Sylvia) Xfce 64-bit on Samsung NP150 Plus netbook. This is how I installed a dual boot of Linux Mint 18 on existing MS Windows 10 Home (Upgraded from MS Windows 7 Starter).

This little netbook runs on  1.66-GHz Intel Atom N450 processor with 1Gb of RAM and an x64-based processor. I am giving it a shot to see if its possible to install Mint and usability as a school student's laptop. Linux Mint is a project spun off from Ubuntu with a large library of applications. Version 18.3 is based on Linux kernel 4.4 with Ubuntu package on 16.04 and will receive security updates until 2021. Xfce is an open source software to provide a light weight desktop for low processor computers. See Whats new for more details.

Linux Mint Xfce vs (Cinnamon) 

Minimum requirement:
9Gb (20Gb) Disk space
1024x767 resolution (lower resolution require press Alt drag windows with mouse to fit monitor)
512Mb (2Gb) RAM

Linux Mint 18.3 with Xfce desktop

Installation

Linux Mint can be downloaded from linuxmint.com. Download then create a bootable Linux Mint on the USB disk. I used Rufus version 2.18.1213 (See error below when using Win32diskimager version 1.0.1) to extract the ISO file into the USB disk. File system on Rufus MUST be set to FAT (Default) with cluster size 64 kilobytes (Default).

(A) This netbook comes with MS Windows 10 Home Windows 7 Starter and a small capacity hard disk. Firstly create free space by using the apps in MS Windows.

1. Open MS Windows Explorer. Right click "This PC" -> Manage.
2. Choose Storage ->Disk Management
3. Choose the unused disk partition and resize to 50Gb of free space. More would be better.

Choose "Manage" to access the Partition tools.

On some disk, it will need to "optimise disk" to reclaim more free space.

(B) Boot from USB disk

1. Shutdown netbook. Plugin the Mint on USB disk into the netbook. 
2. Boot netbook and press F2 to enter BIOS 
3. Choose to boot USB HDD before the AHCI HDD
4. Save and reboot.

Samsung N150 Plus BIOS screen to boot from USB Disk.

Note: Win32diskimager 1.0.0 to create USB Disk.
The Linux Mint boot up screen appears at first boot but ended up with following message.

32-bit relocation outside of kernel!
-- System halted

This is solved by formating the USB disk as FAT, then run Win32diskimager.

Note: Hangs after boot screen. 
Reboot then at the Linux mint boot screen, Choose first option "Linux Mint" and press TAB. Remove the text "quick splash" and press Enter. This reveals the error;

Uncompression Error
-- System halted

This is resolved by using a larger capacity USB disk. Initially it was a 2Gb USB stick then changed to a 4 Gb USB disk.

Its booting! Will continue with further post next time.

Linux Mint 18.3 Installed on N150 Plus

For now, the partition table plan as follows;

/  -  20000MB
swap  -  2
/home  -  Remainder space