Linux distro for very old PC with 30MB Ram?

[Rytron]

Hi.
I have got an old PC that has 30MB of Ram. It has Windows 98 on it. What would be the most straight forward Linux distro to install on it? I presume I would have to opt for a command line only Linux distro? I was thinking DeLi Linux, grml or Debian but I have never used these yet.

[mixmaster]

You are pushing it a bit here.

A version of linux contempary with the machine would work. I used to run slackware on a significantly less well endowed system once. I even had a window manager - tvm if I recall correctly.

However, I don't know where you would source such a distro nowadays and I suspect you would not enjoy the experience.

[Grenage]

What about Damn Small Linux (DSL)?

[hansdown]

Hi Rytron.

Puppy linux my be a good bet.

http://ultimate-war3z.com/operating-...uirements.html

Download here.

http://www.puppylinux.org/

[sigurnjak]

http://www.delilinux.de/

Try this . Good luck .

[prshah]

Hi:

I have deli-linux installed on a (ex-windows98 ) Pentium MMX / 16MB RAM / 550MB HDD (or is it 200MB?) / 1MB PCI VGA . It's GUI-able.

I'd done it just for kicks, it was... usable... but not enjoyable. Command line mode is just fine. I still have the machine lying around, somewhere.

If you use this with 30MB I guess you have nothing to worry about, but I wouldn't call it my primary PC.

My other options were:
a) Ubuntu minimal - Needs 48 MB to even boot
b) Minicore linux (10 MB) - Needs 32 MB minimum to boot, but then works very well (comparatively).
c) Microcore linux - Command line only. 7.5MB for the entire disto.
d) Puppy - 64MB min, otherwise takes too long (over 7 mins!!) to start
e) DSL - On 64MB, installs and works fine, but takes too long to start

[wpshooter]

Hi.
I have got an old PC that has 30MB of Ram. It has Windows 98 on it. What would be the most straight forward Linux distro to install on it? I presume I would have to opt for a command line only Linux distro? I was thinking DeLi Linux, grml or Debian but I have never used these yet.

If your time is worth anything to you, then get yourself a new computer !!!

[decoherence]

If your time is worth anything to you, then get yourself a new computer !!!

lol! well, we all have our hobbies, right?

I'd suggest NetBSD, actually. I used to run it on a 68040 with 24MB of RAM. I even got a 4-bit greyscale X session working.

Also, I suspect it's the only system you'll find that has solid package management, at least for a computer of that spec.

[UncleMonty]

Damn small linux requires only 16 MB of RAM.

[K.Mandla]

If your time is worth anything to you, then get yourself a new computer !!!

The problem isn't the computer. If the old one works, keep using it.

I usually run Crux on a 100Mhz Pentium with 16Mb of memory, and it works quite fast. In my humble opinion, the key to keeping something working is picking applications that fit its ability level. Aside from a distro's minimum requirements, it's really just an issue of adjusting your own expectations to match what the machine can do.

By the way: http://kmandla.wordpress.com/2008/11...at-100mhz16mb/
http://kmandla.wordpress.com/2009/05...and-an-update/