Our Gateway Solo 3450 lost a file in Windows XP, making it unable to load it. This turned out to be the perfect chance to try Linux. So, I resourcefully started using Knoppix. Now, I want a Linux distribution to run the computer, from the hard drive. I need to know which is distribution is not overly complicated, and doesn't take up a lot of RAM. I used Windows, then switched to Mac OS X. I am very happy with Macintosh. Anyway, I'm pretty adaptable. The processor is a Pentium III, which runs at like 733 MHz or whatever, and it has 256 MB of RAM. Not much, but it'll do. I'm not totally familiar with all computer terms, but I'll try to take some classes when I get into high school 2007.

I guess I don't see what you mean by complicated. If Windows is hosed and you don't ever want you use it, you're already setup because you can just delete the thing.

First, if you haven't already formatted the hard disk, use knoppix and network the machine to another box and then copy all the files you'd like to keep.

2nd, take the two quizes in my signature and they'll help point you to a linux to try.

3rd, when you install your linux, set swap to 512MB size and put your /home on a separate partition. That way if you don't like the linux you picked, you can just install a new one and keep your /home directory.

Also, I believe if you like knoppix you can just install it to the hard drive. Google for "install knoppix hard disk".

And last, I'll make a shameless plug for Debian (which KNoppix is based on). It runs great on my old Celeron 400MHz with 256MB ram. Do a netinstall and only install a base system (just cursor). The install the parts like X and a window manager. This will make it fairly low overhead. lastly, when you're ready, try to recompile the kernel and cut out all the stuff you don't need. That will increase your speed on a low end machine also.

Since you're using Knoppix already, why not just install that to your hard drive?

Otherwise, take some time to try out a bunch of different Distros. The best one for you and your system is purely a matter of taste and preference.

I think I'll use Knoppix permentally. but. all the guides seem out-of-date. I am running the latest (4.0.2) and It doesn't ask for my language, or answer to knx-hdinstall command.

http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Hd_Install_HowTo

They tell you how, but don't recommend a hard disk install because they must have tweaked enough of the programs to make it not really compatible with Debian repositories anymore. They actually recommend if you want to do a hard drive install to install Debian Sarge...

I have read the wiki, and decided on Mandrake (I know it has a new name, but I can't remember it off the top of my head) or SUSE. Like I said, Windows doesn't work any more, so I have to install straight from the CD/DVD without any help from Windows or Knoppix (I have one CD drive). I do have a floppy drive in addition to the CD drive. How many floppies would it take to install SUSE?

Do you have network access? If so, probably one or two because then you would point it to the internet for most of the packages.

If not, and you had the CD, probably the same (load from floppy then get files from CD). If not that, then I'm not sure you can do it. After all, 750MB is a lot of floppies...

Thanks. BTW, is DSL a liveCD?

Damn Small? I think so. But you can also get different flavors of it to run on top of windows. And I think it has an option for hard drive install and/or usb pen drive install.

I also believe some distros like Mepis and PCLinuxOS allow hard drive install from within the live CD.

Thanks. I somehow accidentally screwed it up. Now it won't even make it to the BIOS screen. It just stays after the "Gateway" screen. Oh well. Better get a new one off of eBay.

*The computer

Before you scrap the machine, at the gateway screen there should be a button to get into the bios, something like F2 or Esc. Just push a bunch until you get into the bios. Then it might tell you what's wrong (then again, it might not...)

Well, I do that to get into the setup, but it never makes it. It says "Entering Setup..." Until it like shuts off. I'm gonna get a real tech person on it. It'll cost like $500 to get a new one, so I'm trying desperatley to repair it.