I need a distribution that can install on a really old laptop (with only 4MB of RAM!)
 

I got an old Toshiba Portege T3400T (486) laptop with a 400MB HD, 4MB of Ram, a floppy drive, and no cdrom. I'd like to get it to run a version of linux (not even asking for a GUI) that is able to create and compile C++ files and that uses the bash shell.

I've been trying to get Slackware installed on it, but it's been nothing but one failure after another (and 3 weeks wasted on it is enough for me).

The 4MB of ram has been what holds me back... but i have more than enough space for swap... (i wish i could create a swap that works for the install...)

Something that could simply let me install the basic kernel and let me add extras would be fine.

I a :newbie: when it comes to installing linux successfully, so if it is something that requires serious linux/unix experience, then i'd just put it to the side... (but it wouldnt mind hearing suggestions anyway).

Thanks.


Oh...btw... i can install SmallLinux without any problem so if this makes it easier to install another distribution, that's great. OR if it's possible to add to the SL distribution (so that it could create and compile C++ files) that would be nice to know too.

I don't know. In my experience most Linux distros these days require just as much power as Windows. You can't use MDK because it's compiled for Pentium+ architectures. Monte Vista is an embedded Linux distro that only needs a few megs of memory for an entire install, so you might check them out for more info. If you want a UNIX-based OS without the Linux goodies, you could try Minix which should work fine (if all you want to do is compile).

have a look here

http://www.linux.com/howtos/4mb-Laptops.shtml

good luck.

Yah Slack is used in the HOWTO,

On top of that there is a lowmem readme included with slackware.

Start off with ZipSlack (small version of slack in a zip file) it will included installation instructions if you are installing with a really low amount of memory. Don't bother with the install from windows section...

Get creative. . .

i've been down the slackware route
 

I've tried the whole slackware thing... (i'm still trying it, but i'm on the verge of quitting). I was wondering if any other distributions support 4MB of ram?

Well how are you going about installing slackware?

I might be able to help.

have a look at this, it's an effort by one of lq's own members

http://www.amigolinux.org/index.htm

it may give some insight to any problems you've had in the past.
good luck.

I did manage to install Zipslack 7.1 to a Compaq with 4MB RAM quite some time age.
Since it was my early Linux days I had not created any swap, it ran slow, and I was not sure what to do with it.
I transfered the Zipslack file by temporally installing the hard drive as a slave on another computer. Zipslack is just unzipped onto a FAT partition.
A swap file can be added if a swap partition was not set up before hand.
I am pretty sure compiling on such a computer is not a sane thing to do.
Good Luck.

what's sanity got to do with fun? :D

Just so long as the OP realizes compiling will take a long time, nothing...

my 'progress': http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...5&pagenumber=2