Installing Linux for the first time on an obsolete tablet pc

Colmenduser · 03-13-2011, 02:36 PM

I have a Toshiba TC1000 which is about 8 years old.
256 ram, 1.66 ghz processor, 30 gb hdd, running Win XP sp3.
I bought this as an emergency purchase and have had nothing but problems with it and other than throwing it at the wall I thought I might try one last solution - to install Linux.

This device has no optical drive but it does have power ISO installed but I don't know where to start with all the choice of Linux, Ubuntu etc. Plus other than the OS will I need any other software?

I am a newbie and don't know much about computers so I won't be insulted if you think this is idiotic.

Thank you in advance for any help.

yancek · 03-13-2011, 03:09 PM

Your major problem will be the low amount of RAM (256MB) since many of the major distributions require 512MB and recommend more. You could try googling for minimal Linux distros. Some that come to mind are Puppy Linux, Slitaz, anti-x. You could also go to the distrowatch site and do some research. What you plan to use the computer for will make a difference.

corp769 · 03-13-2011, 03:11 PM

DSL also comes to mind.

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

hilyard · 03-13-2011, 07:24 PM

unetbootin --
A) download System Rescue CD and wipe your hard drive with zeros using either dban (included, I think; if not, go to sourceforge and download an older version like 1.3.4 and use Unetbootin to make the bootable USB stick) or dd command
B) download antiX and use it with Unetbootin to install on hdd

Or, max out your RAM (if you can find it) and install ubuntu, as you wish

jefro · 03-14-2011, 05:05 PM

If you can get usb to boot then you have a great number of choices. More ram would help.

You won't be able to get ubuntu or any of the newer major distro's to work on it. Lubuntu may work fine but other choices are debian even and versions of puppy, vector, and a few others. You need a distro that has two parts. One is for older stuff and two is some way to input either via mouse (serial/ps2/usb) or get the touch screen to work.

There is a thing called colinux that may work.

austinium · 03-15-2011, 01:53 AM

You could try installing Ubuntu using Wubi. Have a look here http://seogadget.co.uk/the-ubuntu-in...tall-with-Wubi

this will let you retain windows just in case you need it. you'll need some free space for Ubuntu on the hard disk though.the best part is you can uninstall ubuntu like a regular windows application if you don't need it anymore.

you'll have to mount Ubuntu's iso image using Power ISO, it should bring up the wubi installer automatically.

floppy_stuttgart · 03-18-2011, 02:52 PM

Take a light distro.
My preferences would go to
- AntiX (MEPIS/Debian)
- TinyCoreLinux
I have Ubuntu, too, on a new quick machine. But the stardard Ubuntu is too fat (forget GNOME and KDE as Desktop for your machine). I never tried Xubuntu, but I heard good things of it.
I am with TinyCoreLinux and dont expect (till now) to change. See my blog.