Hi!

I was wondering if there was a lightweight Linux distro for old computers (lower system requirements = better) that I could easily make a custom live cd / installer cd that only installed a selected applications and not others. I know I could just uninstall applications I did not need, but I will be installing this on many computers so that would just take a ton of extra time. Also, it needs to be fairly easy to use, so no command-line only distros. I know Fedora has something like this, but Fedora is not a small distro. :-)

Thanks!

P.S.
I have looked at LFS, but it looks like it would take a long time, plus being complicated.

Try the Ubuntu LiveCD.

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

I haven't personally tried using it on oldish hardware, but I can't imagine it would be a problem.

Sorry if I was not clear. I am looking for a small, lightweight linux distro that is designed for older hardware. (could be less then 128mb ram, few GB hd, <1Ghz processor, etc.) Ubuntu is fairly big (although there is Xubuntu), but mostly what I am looking for is a way that I can make a cd that installs the OS and only the applications that I pick.

Look at Knoppix remastering. You can start with a lightweight Knoppix variant so you start off with fewer applications.

Thanks. That does not look TOO hard. I also found this: http://www.ing-buero-unger.de/prj/knx/index.html
Would this do the same thing?

It looks like that could work, but it seems the last update was in early 2003. I'd try remastering a more recent version of Knoppix. Note that most Knoppix variants haven't been updated in a long time (most Knoppix variants date back to when Knoppix was all the rage a couple years ago).

You'll want to start with something pretty recent, to maximize hardware support. Maybe you should start with full Knoppix, and just live with first stripping it down before adding the specific things you want.

Oh. My understanding was that it took whatever version of Knoppix you had and let you make changes to it. If it is not that I think I will try the thing you linked to before.

I think that's what the scripts will try to do--but since they haven't been updated since early 2003 what are the chances it will work properly with a Knoppix variant from 2006? Maybe it'll work just fine...maybe not. I'm not familiar enough with the inner workings of Knoppix to know what relevant things may have changed or not changed in the last four years.

Ok. Thanks. I am not sure which way I will try, but I have one more question. Is there something like this for a distro aimed at older computers and/or for a distro that has gnome. I will look some now that I know what it is called, but if you know of anything that would be great.

Thanks!

Edit:
Found some good looking stuff already. Looks like there are lots of options for puppy linux. http://www.puppylinux.org/wikka/remaster

I am going to try this. I will come back if I have more problems. Thanks for all the help!

you could try DSL or SLAX, both run super fast

SLAX isn't meant for hard drive installation, and DSL is so stripped down and customized that installing extra Debian software can be unpleasant.

NimbleX has a web-based customisation but if you're talking very old, Puppy or a puplet is the best way to go.