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View Full Version : Need advice about a Linux distro for a very old laptop.

Robert.Zapata
October 27th, 2006, 03:27 PM
Hello there..!!

Hope everyone is doing great...!!!

Just a quick question. I have a very old laptop computer sitting in the garage and was wondering what will be the best distro to install or just put the machine in the trash can.

The machine is a COMPAQ LTE5400 (PENTIUM 150MHz)
RAM: 80 MB
HD: 2.0 GB
GRAPHIC RAM: 1 MB

I think there's no Linux GUI out there that will work on the machine but what about installing a text environment..??

Currently the machine is working with Windoze98SE

Thanks and have a nice day.!!:D
meng
October 27th, 2006, 03:36 PM
What about Damn Small Linux? That might run on your notebook, WITH a GUI!
hkgonra
October 27th, 2006, 03:44 PM
What about Damn Small Linux? That might run on your notebook, WITH a GUI!

2nd vote for DSL.
lonce
October 27th, 2006, 03:46 PM
Either damn small linux or damn small linux not. Its the same as DSL, but uses a newer kernel and upgrades.
funkyade
October 27th, 2006, 03:48 PM
Got an old Toshiba Laptop with Dual PCMCIA NICs acting as a firewall for my network (it's a 200Mhz P2).

I installed the server variant of Ubuntu (http://releases.ubuntu.com/6.10/ubuntu-6.10-server-i386.iso) and then did -

#> sudo aptitude install fluxbox fluxconf

then follow one of the many guides for setting up fluxbox how you want it, such as -

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Fluxbox

I would also take a look at -

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/LowMemorySystems

hth
Reshin
October 27th, 2006, 03:51 PM
2nd vote for DSL.

Good choice
Robert.Zapata
October 27th, 2006, 04:16 PM
Rats...!!

The problem is that no CD or USB port...!!! Just Floppy Disk drive....](*,)
MedivhX
October 27th, 2006, 04:19 PM
LOL!!! Try Minix!!! LOL but it doesn't have GUI!!! The oldest Linux!!! LOL!!!
meng
October 27th, 2006, 04:23 PM
Rats...!!
The problem is that no CD or USB port...!!! Just Floppy Disk drive....](*,)
Ah sorry, I would have advised differently had I known this. Debian Woody may still be available on floppy disk. Not sure how much processor it demands though.
funkyade
October 27th, 2006, 04:33 PM
Do you have ethernet? Another computer available?

Try any of the following -

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/Netboot

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/WithFloppies

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SmartBootManagerHowto (this will get the thing booted via a floppy at least!)

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/EdubuntuViaNetBoot?action=show&redirect=InstallationViaNetBoot
shining
October 27th, 2006, 04:35 PM
LOL!!! Try Minix!!! LOL but it doesn't have GUI!!! The oldest Linux!!! LOL!!!

What's the matter with you?
funkyade
October 27th, 2006, 04:47 PM
some more ideas -

http://chris.silmor.de/hal91/ (HAL91)
http://sunsite.auc.dk/mulinux/ (muLinux)
http://blueflops.sourceforge.net/
http://public.planetmirror.com/pub/floppix/

can't guarantee any of these but worth exploring...

I am intrigued to see if you can get this going!

Good luck