I would recommend installing Linux Mint LXDE, Cinnamon or KDE, which is a free OS available for free download from
http://linuxmint.com Cinnamon and KDE are full featured, XFCE is streamlined and slightly faster and a better choice for older computers with less memory and/or storage space. All versions come with Firefox and LibreOffice full Office Suite, capable of saving and reading files in the popular MS Office formats like .doc, .docX, .ppt and xls.
Linux comes with almost everything necessary to begin using the computer immediately after installing the OS.
To install it on a netbook or notebook computer, I'm assuming you don't have a DVD optical drive so you have to install it from a USB thumb drive. If you have a DVD optical drive, I would still recommend installing it from the USB thumb drive, ... it's more reliable and less prone to failures from trying to burn a DVD on old, dirty or out-of tolerance equipment.
First download the .iso file on another computer. If you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit, you can use the 32-bit for both, or try the 64-bit - if that doesn't work, use the 32-bit.
Use a free program to create a bootable USB using the .iso file. (You can't just copy the file to the USB drive) ... I'd recommend using Active ISO Burner from NTFS.com ... here's the download link ...
http://www.ntfs.com/iso-burning.htm (You should be using at least an 8 GB size thumb drive).
Once you've created the bootable USB drive from the .iso file, you should be able to insert it and start the computer and see the Linux Mint startup screen. It will come up in LIVE mode, without installing itself, so you can try it out.
If you want to install it, make sure you are connected to the Internet and have your AC power adapter plugged in.
If the computer doesn't come up with the Linux screen, you probably just need to reset your BIOS boot order so it boots from the USB driver first. Plug in the USB drive and start the computer. Look of instructions for set up or boot order, usually pressing F2 while the computer is starting. Follow the directions to move the USB to the top of the boot devices, i.e. about the hard drive. Save changes and restart the computer. It should now boot from the USB. If you have trouble doing this or burning the bootable USB, you might have a geek friend or relative that can help or do it for you.
When the LIVE mode comes up, it displays the Linux desktop with an Install icon. If you double click the Install Icon you will begin the installation process and just follow the simple prompts and create a password when prompted.
Linux never requires anti-virus and does not become infected. You can visit the main
http://linuxmint.com website and download the .PDF manual if you are interested.
Your computer is probably 64-bit, but if not, there is also a 32-bit version available for download.
The image shown below is from my Acer and is Linux Mint KDE, which is also available from the same website and similar to LXDE, but more full-featured. All Google programs I know of are available for Linux, since Google uses 100% Linux. Android is Linux also.
Once you install your Linux, you'll want to run the Update Manager to get the latest updates.
On my Acer netbook I have 3 Linux OS's installed. Linux Mint Cinnamon 64-bit, Linux Mint KDE Cinnamon 64-bit and Linux Mint XFCE 64-bit. I select the OS I want at startup when the computer starts.
Hope this helps.
