Linux distro for Pentium III 500 Mhz 196 ram ???
 

Hi there

I am new to linux, because I have an old PC and I don't have Win xp CD I would like to try LINUX.
I need a linux distro which will run nicely on my PC (I don't need beryl or compiz)
But I would like to have a Linux distro with nice interface (not as plain as Win 98) Preferably live CD.
I need it for browsing net, skype, word, excel, pictures, music, (home user)
Which Linux distro would you recommend???

I use this with your specs. http://nimblex.net/

Here is a comparison that might help you....

http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT8654567451.html

Well i think any distro can work if you use light weight desktop environments like Xfce or something.....

You could even try Puppy Linux or Damn Small linux...

Puppy, Puppy, Puppy!

Zenwalk, Vector, Xubuntu. Anything with either XFCE or Fluxbox instead of Gnome or KDE.

Hi,

I suggest that you look at 'The LiveCD List'. This way you can select a few LiveCD to download to burn then run to see what fits you.

This link and others are available from 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

That list is pretty cool but it needs to be updated. For example Puppy is listed at 60MB which it hasn't been in some time. The current Puppy size is ~95MB.

Kubuntu is listed at between 572 to 619MB while the current live CD is closer to 700MB.

My choices would be:-

Puppy, basic but can be expanded would be a good start.

Xbuntu should work reasonably

Mepis 3.3 and Xandros 3.0 oce (if still available.

PCLinuxOS 2007 might just work maybe not to fast. PCLinux MiniMe would prbably be O.K. but I haven't used it yet.

All have LiveCD and are installable, you don't say how much Hard disk space available. Puppy will instal into Windows partion.

Let us know how you get on with what you choose.

Hi,

I don't maintain the 'The LiveCD List'. I will attempt to contact the maintainer. Thanks for the heads up.

i use redhat enterprise 4, windows, redhad linux 9 on my old pc - 531 Mhz, 256M RAM. it can play DVD with mplayer.






iasof.tuyen@yahoo.com

Slax or Zenwalk
 

If you want to run a live CD, try Slax, http://www.slax.org/. It uses modules that let you customize it. I ran it off a USB stick on an office laptop for about a year. It was very speedy for a live system and it was so small I partitioned the USB stick and kept my files on the second (vfat) partition.

To install, however, I'd go with Zenwalk, http://www.zenwalk.org/, or Vector, http://vectorlinux.com/ . Basically, I'm a Slackware user and both of these are a way to get a nice Slackware setup relatively easily.

If you want to try an interesting alternative that has more user-friendly tools, try AntiX, http://antix.mepis.org/. It's basically Mepis with lighter software choices. It comes with an excellent set of Mepis tools and uses Apt to install software. It's also designed specifically for older machines. IIRC, however, the main desktop is Fluxbox and the second one is ICEwm. Both can be set up to be very nice looking, but might not be what you want. Zenwalk has a beautiful XFCE desktop and Vector gives you choices.

Damn Small Linux is a well supported small linux implementation. antiX Linux is customized for supporting older equipment and processors. SliTaz Linuxis works in a little as 128 meg of memory.

have a pentium II with 196 mb. for a live cd, puppy would be my choice. for a hard drive install any distro with xfce or a lighter window manager will work.

Which Linux on Pentium 3 computers
 

Hi. Indeed this reply may be outdated, but still, judge by yourself.
I use regularly Pentium 3 machines with Linux. First of all, if you
really have only 196Mb ram, Puppy Linux version 5.2.5 would be my choice;
it's actually called LUPU 5.2.5, which is the most up to date version
even able to run FireFox 5.

Now, if you manage to update your ram to 512Mb, you can try Debian version 5 or 6.
Version 6 is the best choice if you know some tricks like using first the Gnome
live cd. Debian, as far as I know works on nearly all Pentium 3 computers.

Another choice might be PCLinuxOS, KDE versions 2007 and 2009, or Gnome 2008,
but these Linux systems, although the ones I love most, don't work on all
Pentium 3 machines; which means you'll have to try on your own.

Sure there are probably many more excellent distributions, but I tried these three
myself with real success. You'll find more information with google ("Debian", "PCLinuxOS",
"Lupu", "Puppy"). With the hope this answer helps, Best Wishes, Paul

Debian runs fine on Computers with 192MB RAM, if you use a lightweight DE or "only" a WM. The same is true for antix, Vector, Slackware, Xubuntu and Lubuntu, ConnochaetOS and many many more.

As far as I know these versions are outdated and not supported anymore, so they get no bugfixes or security updates. I wouldn't recommend to run unsupported versions.