What distribution/version would best suit my hardware? I specifically would like one which would give me the fastest computing that is possible for me.

Here are my specs:
AMD-K6 3D, AT-AT compatible processor
122,360 kb of RAM

I ordered a few Ubuntu CD's(the AMD one), and they will not work at all. I am currently running Win2k SP4, hoping to begin dual booting soon.

Something really light and that is not source based, in other words, you don't have to compile your stuff. Mandriva may work pretty well. Just turn off the stuff you are not using. You may want to use Gnome or Icewm for the GUI. Ice is really light and fast, Gnome is heavier but has a lot of features to go with it.

Let others advise to before you get started.

Well, Try DSL or puppylinux
Works best for older PCs

Hope that helps

Yea, I hear Puppy Linux is really light. I'm not sure about the install but it is called "Puppy Linux".

Also Feather & MEPIS Lite.

I suspect that even Gnome will slow your machine, make sure you investigate the Wonderful World of (lightweight) Window Managers.

Let us know what you settle on.

I have had Ubuntu on an AMD K6-III/450MHz with 128 MByte. It did not give me problems. When you refer to "the AMD one", I assume you refer to the 64bit version. And that will indeed not work on your box.

You don't indicate what you want to use it for (desktop/server).
Currently I'm running Slackware 10.0 on it. Gnome is a bit slow (mostly noticed when loading apps, but I can live with it). WindowMaker (a more lightweight window manager) is reasonably fast.
Occasionally I run DSL from a live disk on it for some games or so; very fast.
For both, you might want to add some additional software for desktop productivity.

I however use it mostly as a server for development in which case window managers ain't that important.

I have recently been able to try out a few distributions on a virtual machine on my newer computer and I think I will go with damn small linux. The problem now is I have failed to make a good cd to boot it on my old computer. I just copied the ISO onto the disc. Any help would be appreciated.

Depending on what you are burning it with, make sure it is burning a image not files.

http://www.linuxiso.org/viewdoc.php/howtoburn.html

That may help. Just find the one that is for what program you are using.

As said by dalek, you need to burn an image. As a result, you will have multiple files on the CD.
If you use Nero Express, select 'disc image' in the first 'menu'

I burned several ISO's successfully (at least that is what CDBurnerXP Pro 3 told me). I have tried several times to boot from the CD but every time it just loads up windows again. I am sure I have set it up correctly to do so. Are there alternatives to using a CD? Preferably one in which I do not have to run back and forth in between both computers. The computer I want DSLinux to run on is currently set up with wireless internet...

you need to go into your BIOS and make sure that CD booting is enabled...you can get into the bios usually by pressing either "del", "F1", or "F2"...you should see something about what key to press when you first boot up your computer. After you get into the BIOS, go into Advance Settings (i think, correct me if im wrong) and change the boot order of the drives, so CDROM is first.

And as for the Ubuntu CDs, the AMD CDs I think are the 64bit version...and that would be why its not working. You need to use the ISO CD for the "x86 architecture"...This will work on both AMD and Intel 32bit processors (in your case, a 32bit AMD).

And when you burn an ISO, you need to be sure to select "make disk image" instead of just burning the single ISO file to the CD. If your ISO burns properly, you will have multiple files on the CD.

Damn small linux is very good, but its called Damn Small for a reason. There isnt much that you can do with it. When you start using it every day (like I do) you will find out that its missing a whole bunch of stuff that can really be usefull. You can always add these things on later, but I think its a pain in the butt. I would just stick with Ubuntu. Or even Xubuntu since you have an older machine.

If your BIOS is set to boot from CD before trying the hard drive, then I think you are not burning the .iso correctly. (An obvious test for this, which you probably have already tried, is if the box boots any other known bootable CD.)


There are 2 kinds of success in burning an .iso image:

• finding the "burn an image" option
• making a physically correct copy

A report of success from the burning software only tells that the copy is physically correct, it does not tell you if the software did what you needed to tell it to do. I don't know if CDBurnerXP Pro 3 even has the necessary option, & if it does, where to find it.

The key to knowing you were successful in finding the correct burn option is that you have those multiple files, if there is only a copy of the .iso, then you have just burned a nice data CD, but it won't boot. Check what is on the CD before you try to use it, save that trip to the other box.

If it's any consolation, I once burned a handful of data CD's -- just the .iso file -- to hand out at a Knoppix presentation. I was new at using K3b & selected "Data CD" rather than "Tools -> CD -> Burn CD image...". Talk about egg on the face.

One trick you might try is using K3b from inside a GNU/Linux VM. Once you get to know it, it's a really fine burning application.