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derrick123 04-17-2009 03:32 PM

what version of linux
 
Can anyone help me by suggesting what version of linux I should try using with an old laptop running an intel celeron(R)CPU 2.80GHz 192 MB of ram.

Thank you.
I think that I had better explain a little more clearly what I am trying to do. I wanted to make a bootable CD of Linux that I could run on the laptop, without actualy instaling to start with. I downloaded Ubantu 8.10. I carried out a check sum to make sure file was correct, then made a bootable disc using Nero. It started working, IE loading but then locked up. I then had to restart in safe mode and do a system restore to get windows to load again. I can only think I am using wrong version of linux for power of the laptop. I used the setting run without installing or changing your computer(or words to that effect)

pljvaldez 04-17-2009 03:56 PM

I personally like doing a bare debian install and building on to that with aptitude. Or you can download the lightweight install CD here (it has XFCE or LXDE as the desktop system).

There are other specialized distro's for older hardware like Xubuntu, Puppy Linux, Damn Small Linux, etc.

cloud9repo 04-17-2009 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derrick123 (Post 3512602)
Can anyone help me by suggesting what version of linux I should try using with an old laptop running an intel celeron(R)CPU 2.80GHz 192 MB of ram.

Thank you.

Around the 2.4 kernel has been optimized for older equipment.

maresmasb 04-17-2009 08:24 PM

If "version of Linux" means what kernel to use, then I would say let the installed distribution decide it. Support for outdated hardware tends to get of current kernels, but outdated in this case means i286 and i386 and i486 PC's with 16 MHZ and maybe around 4 to 8 MB of RAM. Chances are that current kernels will have quite good support for your laptop.

If "version of Linux" means what distribution to use: any distribution will do, that allows you to un-select a large amount of unneeded software packages. In your case I would actually go for Slackware, if you are brave enough to really learn everything UNIX. Make sure to install fluxbox, XFCE and WindowMaker as window manager. Gnome and KDE tend to be slow on older machines.

DragonSlayer48DX 04-18-2009 06:22 AM

Well, I have Kubuntu installed on a PIII(733MHz) and P4(1.8GHz) with no problems. Your issue is RAM- Ubuntu needs a minimum of 256Mb.

If you're wanting a distro to use from CD, I'd recommend Puppy. It's lightweight and fast, and can be run from the disc, as opposed to just testing.

PuppyLinux Home Page

Cheers

moxieman99 04-18-2009 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derrick123 (Post 3512602)
Can anyone help me by suggesting what version of linux I should try using with an old laptop running an intel celeron(R)CPU 2.80GHz 192 MB of ram.

Is there any way you can add RAM to the computer? Even getting up to 256 meg of ram will make a big difference in the number of distrobutions you could try and how they would perform, over 192 meg.

One of the other posters suggested live CDs to test out distros -- very good idea, and another suggested that when you do finally install, get a distro that allows you to de/select which applications to install (for example, you probably would want abiwork or kwrite rather than OpenOffice, and Xfce rather than Gnome or KDE). Check them out, but see if you can increase your RAM. Will make life a lot easier.

cloud9repo 04-18-2009 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maresmasb (Post 3512773)
If "version of Linux" means what kernel to use, then I would say let the installed distribution decide it. Support for outdated hardware tends to get of current kernels, but outdated in this case means i286 and i386 and i486 PC's with 16 MHZ and maybe around 4 to 8 MB of RAM. Chances are that current kernels will have quite good support for your laptop.

If "version of Linux" means what distribution to use: any distribution will do, that allows you to un-select a large amount of unneeded software packages. In your case I would actually go for Slackware, if you are brave enough to really learn everything UNIX. Make sure to install fluxbox, XFCE and WindowMaker as window manager. Gnome and KDE tend to be slow on older machines.

Yeah, OK J.T. Hooker...


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