Lightweight Distro based on Debian/Ubuntu

tizak · 08-07-2010, 09:13 AM

I have an old Dell cpt500 laptop with a 4 gig hard drive, I am looking to install a lightweight distro based on Debian/Ubuntu, any suggestions?

amani · 08-07-2010, 09:16 AM

Xubuntu, Lubuntu,

VectorLinux,

Dream Linux

or Debian minimal with light weight desktops ...Lxde, xfce, icewm,

Mr. Alex · 08-07-2010, 09:19 AM

Lubuntu. It's Ubuntu based on LXDE.

Sumguy · 08-07-2010, 12:14 PM

Lubuntu.......

Puppy Linux would probably be even better for that machine...but it is an "independent" disto- i.e. not based on Debian or any other flavor.

Much as I like Lubuntu, I'd go with Puppy on that machine, as it woulod take up much less space/resources.

Mr. Alex · 08-07-2010, 12:41 PM

Celeron 400-700 MHz?
Ram 64 MB? 128 MB?

Very old machine. I agree with Sumguy - you better try Linux Puppy or TinyMe/TinyCore. Or Arch which doesn't install a thing unless you do it manually.

http://www.puppylinux.com/
http://tinymelinux.com/doku.php
http://www.tinycorelinux.com/
http://www.archlinux.org/

Debian and Ubuntu are too heavy for your laptop.

rokytnji · 08-07-2010, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tizak

I have an old Dell cpt500 laptop with a 4 gig hard drive, I am looking to install a lightweight distro based on Debian/Ubuntu, any suggestions?

Debian Squeeze based. 2.6.32.1 Kernel. For Lowram system I would choose from the following

Quote:

# antiX-M8.5-base-486-update.iso
# antiX-M8.5-base-486-update.iso.md5sum
# antiX-M8.5-base-686-update.iso
# antiX-M8.5-base-686-update.iso.md5sum
# antiX-core-486-b1.iso
# antiX-core-486-b1.iso.md5sum
# antiX-core-686-b1.iso
# antiX-core-686-b1.iso.md5sum

http://www.mepisimo.com/antix/Testing/

But nothing is stopping from trying

Quote:

# antiX-M8.5-686-update.iso
# antiX-M8.5-686-update.iso.md5sum

Though I would have a pre-made swap Partition of 512mb before trying to boot the above quote on a lowram system.

dixiedancer · 08-07-2010, 06:16 PM

Actually, Puppy has a version that is based on Ubuntu Lucid! Even uses the huge, gynormous Ubuntu repositories. The only bothersome thing about Puppy is that - like Slax and some other ultralights - you're logged on as root all the time. So you just have to be sensible in what you do, especially when it comes to installing software and that kinda stuff.

-Robin

craigevil · 08-07-2010, 08:16 PM

Use antiX or Debian with lxde or a window manager.

Debian on my eee 701 4g only takes up 1.4gb using lxde and uses 49mb of ram at boot.

pr_deltoid · 08-07-2010, 08:19 PM

I haven't tried it and don't know too much about it, but I've seen a distribution called "Peppermint" mentioned on distrowatch.com before, that is a light distribution based on Ubuntu.
Here:
http://peppermintos.com/

Quote:

Peppermint OS was designed to be easy on your processor and system resources so you can get going and get things done...

Quote:

Peppermint OS is under 512MB and easy to run as a Live CD or USB. Loads and Shuts down in Seconds...

Looks like a good distribution.

Sumguy · 08-07-2010, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prdeltoid

I haven't tried it and don't know too much about it, but I've seen a distribution called "Peppermint" mentioned on distrowatch.com before, that is a light distribution based on Ubuntu.
Here:
http://peppermintos.com/

Looks like a good distribution.

I've heard good things about Peppermint as well. (Just wish they would have named it something else...I'd hate to have to admit to using it...such a fruity name!)

tizak · 08-08-2010, 05:13 AM

Hi folks, choices, choices, choices, I'll just get my lab coat on, think I will have some fun installing a couple, I have already installed Debian Lenny on the laptop and although not as peppy as I would like it works reasonably fast, (I have 128mb of ram installed), of course the hard drive space is the issue, it's actually a good machine so I am thinking of putting in a larger drive. Puppy-Linux looks interesting as you get access to the Ubuntu repository.

tizak · 08-09-2010, 06:25 AM

So, I have tried to install Puppy-Linux and everything seemed to go well, I had originally installed debian and grub, I used gparted to revert the drive to an empty ext2. The problem I am having is that after rebooting grub throws an error

GRUB loading stage 1.5

GRUB loading, please wait
Error 15

I have tried to install puppy using it's universal installer trying both a fresh install of grub and updating grub.

Any thoughts, can I go into a terminal of a cd booted Puppy-Linux and reset the MBR?

pr_deltoid · 08-09-2010, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Peppermint OS [One and Ice] is based upon, and is compatible with, Ubuntu 10.04 and it’s repositories. Specifically, Peppermint OS is a fork of Lubuntu. Please check the release notes for both Ubuntu and Lubuntu.

Peppermint also uses the Ubuntu repositories.