And everything works out of the box.

So I want to install any distro on a laptop but the CD drive is broken. I've removed the HD and have put it into an external portable case. Is there anyway to essentially copy and paste an install ...

Can an unused machine really work as a lightweight Linux desktop?

Partitioning your hard drive is part of the process and could affect your current data. Make sure to back up your system completely before you begin. Depending on the arrangement, you may need to ...