Translation note: This English version was translated by Codex (GPT-5) on 2026-04-20 18:01:46 CST. The source text is the corresponding Chinese post in this repository.
Background
OpenClaw had just gone viral, and I had experimented with it on a MacBook. But given the security concerns, token cost, and limited production readiness, I stopped there.
When I later cleaned up my room, I found an old laptop from my undergraduate days collecting dust. During a conversation with Gemini, I started thinking about turning it into a lightweight engineering machine or server.
This machine is only meant for lightweight or experimental AI tasks. If you need heavy development, you will need better hardware.
The goal was simple: keep no private files, install the lightest practical system, and dedicate the machine to AI coding execution.
Why not buy a server?
- Save money
- Reuse old hardware
- Keep it fully private
- Learn by rebuilding
Preparation
- A stable internet connection
- An 8GB+ USB drive
- A large backup disk
Useful software:
- Gemini / Doubao / Qwen web apps
- Snipaste
- Antigravity or VS Code + Cline
- Motrix
- Rufus
- Clash Verge
- LocalSend
- Chrome
The Process
Cleaning up files
I first cleaned up the machine’s files. Using Gemini, I exported a Markdown-style hardware profile and checked how long it had been since the last reboot: 248 days. The machine was full of fragments and leftover software, which helped explain why it felt sluggish.
I then used Task Manager and the installed-apps list, took screenshots with Snipaste, and asked Gemini to explain each process and app, and to generate an uninstall list. This uncovered a lot of vendor software, leftover packages, and resource-hungry preinstalls.
Downloading the system image
After discussing my requirements with Gemini, I chose Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 over Ubuntu 24.04 because of software compatibility and ecosystem support.
I downloaded the ISO via BT from next.itellyou.cn and used Motrix for P2P transfer.
Making a bootable USB
I opened Rufus, selected the ISO, verified its hash, and then wrote it to a USB drive.
Reinstalling the system
After one final backup check, I asked AI to generate a Markdown SOP for the reinstall process and carried it to another device for reference.
I used the BIOS settings to boot from USB and then installed Windows LTSC. SSDs did not need partitioning, while mechanical drives were partitioned normally.
After installation, I let Windows Update patch the system, which took about 30–60 minutes.
Installing the base tools
I installed:
- 7-Zip
- Windows Update Blocker
- Defender Control
- Clash Verge
- ToDesk
Then it was time to configure OpenClaw / Claude Code / other AI tools.
Epilogue
As of 2026-03-23, I checked memory prices from two years earlier and found that they had surged from 900 RMB to 2,400 RMB. That is a good reminder of how much AI is changing hardware demand.
More and more document-heavy and decision-heavy jobs are being reshaped by agents. Whether AI is a bubble or a real transformation, the safe answer is still the same: keep up with the wave, or get left behind.