looking for good distro
 

I have an old pc (1997) and im looking for a distro friendly to a new user. i have tried dsl linux but the computers BIOS wont boot it.
toshiba 225 cds
133mhz processor
1 gb hard disc
32 mb RAM

when i set the Bios to boot cd first it will spin the disc but then continue to boot windows

I understand you have an old computer but for best help you should post your system specifications such as:

Ram:
processor:
HD space:
Make/model.

What errors are you getting with DSL Linux?

I've used puppy linux its based off of slackware but I only used it as a live cd on a system running 64MB of ram and intel II processor

Most pre 2k computers require cdrom support from floppy.
Her is my google search but I couldn't pick 1 for you.
https://www.google.com/search?q=linu...ient=firefox-a

Really? I got a 96 model compaq it supported upto upto 384MB of Ram intel II processor and booted off cd with no problem. I actually had centos installed and running on it but when I issued the `shutdown -h now` they system would come to a halt but wouldn't power down. I would have to manually turn it off. It also had firewire support built into a intel motherboard. But I figured this computer was a real high end computer back in the day probably costing 1000's of dollars lol.

Anyways OP if thats the reason your bios doesn't support booting from disk then maybe this will help
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/i.../Boot_Floppies

I have 3 pre 2k computers & only 1 will boot from cd & that's my dell opt-plex, the others wouldn't even boot wins-xp wiitout the floppy setup disk, I guess I should backup my statement with a few links.
Be right back.
Btw that was a good link that you provided.

DSL is a good distro for old computers but the project is dormant, Debian is good too with old computers(minimal/custom install),
try Plop boot manager if you are having problems to boot: http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanager.html.

You also might want to take a look also on this: http://kmandla.wordpress.com/2007/09...-old-computer/

And here you can see my old Cyrix MII366 (250Mhz), 96Mb RAM, 32Mb RivaTNT video card, 20Gb/30Gb hard drive.
running Debian Squeeze 6.0.3: http://uki--uki.deviantart.com/#/d4f1z77
running Debian Leny 5.0.3: http://uki--uki.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d3faa1c

Regards

Not worth bothering with IMO...you can get computers with 4-8 times the CPU speed and 4-8 times the RAM of that system for virtually nothing.

Not really true. But the mid 90s virtually everything would boot from CD.

Its the eariler systems, like 286s/386s/some486s, and systems with CD roms controlled by sound cards, etc. that are more likely to need drivers to get the CD working.

Really? Unless you've got a time traveling Pentium II, its not a 1996....Pentium II didnt get relased until may 1997.

Wow that is indeed strange. The stickers are the computers is so warn I couldn't get all the info off of it but it did say it was manufactured in 96. But your right intel 2 came out mid 97. I tried to look up mother board number and talked to compaq and intel and they said that they hardware is so old they can't access that data no more. I kinda thinks thats a lie but yea.

If you're looking into something with a GUI you'd probably need a more powerful PC.

To be honest, if you use a gui-less OS you'll be forced to learn the OS and still have something that runs.

Just my 2 cents