Linux Format forums

TomB · Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:13 pm Posts: 3

I was recently given an old laptop for free. It is running Windows 2000 at the minute.

Specs:

233mhz CPU
64mb RAM
4gb hdd
CD-ROM
Some gfx card that runs at 800x600

I was wondering what are peoples views on what would be a suitable distro to run on it:

I have been looking to run a Fluxbox based distro due to the amount of ram. I have downloaded, Damn Small Linux, Featherlinux, and Julex. I was wondering if I had any other options. I welcome any views people want to give me Smile

Thanks

--TomB

ollie · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 10:32 am Post subject: RE: Distro for an Old Laptop

Grab LXF68 - the mini distro megatest should offer some more options. They reviewed DSL, Feather Linux, INSERT, muLinux, Puppy Linux and ZipSlack. The winner was ... DSL!

Also consider searching for "mini distros" at distrowatch - or just simply browse through the 386 currently on offer Laughing

RD · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 10:34 am Post subject: RE: Distro for an Old Laptop

take look here for a distro that some had made to run on your model http://tuxmobil.org/mylaptops.html
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towy71 · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 12:19 pm Post subject: RE: Distro for an Old Laptop

you could try the excellent Vector Linux which is based on slackware and will run on very low spec machines and could need only 175 MB of hardisk, 16 MB RAM

Dick
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RD · Last edited by RD on Thu Aug 25, 2005 6:26 pm; edited 2 times in total

towy71, your a genius my wife's laptop is about the same spec as the above and well ive been looking (appently not that hard lol) to get here onto linux as she likes supertux Very Happy

looks like vector could do just the job.

Thanks

BTW them sys requirements right ? 16 MB ram ? wow

towy71 · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 4:13 pm Post subject: RE: Distro for an Old Laptop

I know I'm a genius but nelz should take the credit, as he has suggested Vector every time this question is asked Wink

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still looking for that door into summer

RD · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 4:22 pm Post subject: RE: Distro for an Old Laptop

ok credit to you as well nelz
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nelz · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 4:36 pm Post subject: RE: Distro for an Old Laptop

I thought I'd give it a rest this time as it was getting repetitive Smile

I think a lightweight distro is more suited to this than a mini-distro, they are often too limited for general use.
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TomB · Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:13 pm Posts: 3

Thank you for you replies, and I'll start testing suitable ones Smile

RD · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 4:04 am Post subject: RE: Distro for an Old Laptop

A bit of advice if your going to use Vector and your laptop cannot boot from cd mount the cd in windows copy the folder called veclinux to C:\ or D:\ make your boot disks and every thing should go fine if you boot from floppys dont try loadlin as its more hassle than its worth, i speant hours trying that loadlin and just would not go, tryed the way i told you and bang every thing went as planned Very Happy

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TomB · Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:13 pm Posts: 3

My laptop can boot from CD so it's ok Smile

plus I tried VectorLinux in VMware to try it out, and I'm very impressed Smile

thank you for your advice

RD · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 2:35 am Post subject:

no probs mate

my wifes laptop is that old is dont have a cd drive or floppy for that matter lol any way ill get round to installing vector onto it for her
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Joste · Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2005 10:42 pm Posts: 22

Can't miss a chance to plug blueflops, boots from 2 floppies and gives a graphical web browser (links with svga lib) and an irc client, network and dial up. Runs sweet on a 486 with (I think) 4 megs ram (might be Cool

Joste · Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2005 10:42 pm Posts: 22

Should be (might be 8 folled by a closed bracket.

That'll teach me to over use parenthesis.