Want to convert to *nix! where to start?

RockDoctor · 04-30-2011, 02:05 PM

As mentioned above, do try out live CDs of one or more distros until you find one you like. Xubuntu would be a very reasonable choice for your system (as would any other distro running XFCE or LXDE); GNOME and KDE might be a bit too heavy. As for installing, I recommend not removing Windows, but dual booting. I've found that there are a few websites that only work in Windows.

tommcd · 05-01-2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TobiSGD

I think you have misread his post. As far as I understand it his video card has 128MB RAM.

I wasn't sure if the 128MB was for the video card or for the RAM. Perhaps red3ulose could clarify this. If he means only 128MB memory, then this will be a limiting factor for using many distros.

lupusarcanus · 05-01-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rediflex

Since you say that it's an older computer, with a 1.6 processor, I'm going to suggest antiX. Make sure you get the full i686 version of the download, unless you want to basically build from scratch. (I don't recommend this if you're new). The current version is M8.5 but I've had more success running the M11 release candidate. It's light on resources but still looks pretty nice. You can find out more at http://antix.freeforums.org. It's basically given me the ability to keep my laptop around a little longer (this thing was a new model in '06), and not a high-end one even then. I've used Ubuntu and Mint on it, but those distros are getting a little too bloated for this old thing to handle. Here's the output of inxi -F so you can see what I'm working with here (I suspect its somewhat comparable to your setup) :

System: Host antiX1 Kernel 2.6.32-1-mepis-smp i686 (32 bit) Distro antiX-M11-686 Jayaben Desai 12 April 2011
CPU: Single core Intel Celeron M 420 (-UP-) cache 1024 KB flags (nx sse sse2 sse3) bmips 3193.1 clocked at 1596.051 MHz
Graphics: Card Intel Mobile 945GM/GMS 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller X.org 1.9.5 Res: 125x39 Gfx Data: N/A for root
Audio: Card Intel N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio Controller driver HDA Intel BusID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Version 1.0.21
Network: Card-1 Broadcom BCM4311 802.11b/g WLAN driver b43-pci-bridge BusID: 03:00.0
Card-2 Realtek RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ driver 8139too v: 0.9.28 at port 2000 BusID: 05:01.0
Disks: HDD Total Size: 40.0GB (10.2% used) 1: /dev/sda HTS541040G9SA00 40.0GB
Partition: ID:/ size: 25G used: 3.8G (17%) fs: ext3 ID:swap-1 size: 2.18GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap
Info: Processes 89 Uptime 45 min Memory 296.9/492.2MB Runlevel 5 Client Shell inxi 1.4.23

Good luck finding something that works for you!

I've used Arch on my lower-end lappy from 2004, using XFCE i686 on ext4, with no problems.

rediflex · 05-01-2011, 05:56 PM

lupus: Arch would probably be a very good candidate as well. Personally I've not used it so I'm not qualified to expound upon it's finer points.

MTK358 · 05-01-2011, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rediflex

lupus: Arch would probably be a very good candidate as well. Personally I've not used it so I'm not qualified to expound upon it's finer points.

It would be a good choice, as long as te OP wants to learn the command line and inner workings of a Linux system (otherwise you probably won't even be able to install it).

rediflex · 05-01-2011, 06:17 PM

I'm still pretty novice when it comes to command line operations. I'd probably have to tackle such an install with my laptop setup next to my desktop so I could google my way through it.

MTK358 · 05-01-2011, 07:02 PM

Are you the OP under a different account?

rediflex · 05-01-2011, 07:05 PM

not last time I checked, why?

MTK358 · 05-01-2011, 08:01 PM

Because your response really looked like a follow-up from the OP.

rediflex · 05-01-2011, 08:17 PM

I see what you mean. My apologies for throwing you off track!

chrism01 · 05-02-2011, 09:02 PM

Try this tutorial http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz

red3ulose · 05-06-2011, 02:00 PM

Wow Thanks for all the replys I have been quite busy this last week and havent had much time on the comp. Yes it is a 128 Mb video card Nvidea GeForce Ti4200, Cool, I looking forward to upgrading to linux and keeping the dual display, or figuring it out. I already dl'd Ubuntu,and had a brief look at it. I do have 1gb of Ram which makes the live cd run smooth.Once I figure out the basics I am going to install it so it will run faster. I found myself wanting to verify my hardware, sound, wireless card, etc. and was lost. although I eventually managed to get on the internet, where do i check my hardware, drivers etc. I guess I just need more exploring time,so I can come back with more direct questions. Again thanks for all the info, I feel I am off to a good start.