I used it decades ago (using the CLI installer for a Sid install I eventually fucked up beyond repair) and it was okay for a slightly tech savvy teenager, even then.

I suspect a lot of these issues are down to hardware compatibility more than anything else.

Ditto, I used it on my eepc 701 way back when. I miss that sort of computing experience!

Bunsenlabs is the successor to crunchbang.

Crunchbang was amazing, but it’s sadly no more. Development stopped on it some time in 2015 I think.

Bunsenlabs is a direct successor to it, and should be good on OP’s system.