which linux distro should i use????

DEi · 10-09-2009, 12:32 PM

hi

I have an old machine that i don't use anymore and want to start learning on it. It's 400 Mhz amdk6-2, 96 mb ram.

My question is: which linux distro should i use?????

I noticed that there are a few out there and the one that cought my eye is Puppy Linux. Is there a better choice?

please help

Thank you

smeezekitty · 10-09-2009, 12:34 PM

fast : Puppy, Damn small linux
slow : Fedora, Ubuntu (shutter)

Widgeteye · 10-09-2009, 12:40 PM

Slax is another real good one. Fast and bootable from the cd drive. You can try it out without actually installing it.

kapilbajpai88 · 10-09-2009, 02:10 PM

Hi DEI,

Did you say: 96 mb ram ?
It is quite low if you want to go for linux. You can manage with puppy linux or Slax , as suggested by others here. But if you really wanna go for linux in a proper way, it will be good idea to increase the configuration a bit , and then go ahead with Ubuntu initially.

Cheers,
Kapil.

moxieman99 · 10-09-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEi

hi

I have an old machine that i don't use anymore and want to start learning on it. It's 400 Mhz amdk6-2, 96 mb ram.

My question is: which linux distro should i use?????

I noticed that there are a few out there and the one that cought my eye is Puppy Linux. Is there a better choice?

please help

Thank you

How much RAM can you put in? The more RAM available the more options you have. Even going from 96 to 128 meg of RAM would help, and getting up to 256 meg would allow you to run all but the most modern of distros (maybe not well, but they'd install. You still want something light)

onebuck · 10-09-2009, 03:10 PM

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEi

hi

I have an old machine that i don't use anymore and want to start learning on it. It's 400 Mhz amdk6-2, 96 mb ram.

My question is: which linux distro should i use?????

I noticed that there are a few out there and the one that cought my eye is Puppy Linux. Is there a better choice?

please help

Thank you

If you can increase the RAM then do it.

You can look at 'The LiveCD List' to choose a LiveCD to test drive and see what feels right. You should try to use the lightest environment if you intend to use 'X'.

If just to 'cli' then try 'Slackware'. With legacy hardware I would try a early version like 8.1.

These links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

smeezekitty · 10-09-2009, 04:24 PM

since thats a strange number i bet its at motherboard max

moxieman99 · 10-09-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeezekitty

since thats a strange number i bet its at motherboard max

I doubt it. Motherboard max is probably 128 or 256 and someone had a 64meg stick and 32 meg stick and tossed them in. I have dollars to doughnuts that the motherboard handles at least 128 meg.

smeezekitty · 10-09-2009, 05:56 PM

whhats the machine model?

DEi · 10-09-2009, 06:28 PM

a friend helped me out with some SD RAM and i have 256 mb now

so i guess i'll install Ubuntu

thank you all for your help
this is an awsome comunity!

jefro · 10-09-2009, 07:30 PM

Try Xpud.

Just for laughs try netboot.me and network boot tinycore.

Could just try tinycore.

jstephens84 · 10-10-2009, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEi

hi

I have an old machine that i don't use anymore and want to start learning on it. It's 400 Mhz amdk6-2, 96 mb ram.

My question is: which linux distro should i use?????

I noticed that there are a few out there and the one that cought my eye is Puppy Linux. Is there a better choice?

please help

Thank you

Well I have an IBM with as close to spec as what you have. Actually I think it has 64 mb of ram. I used vector and was able to get a full boot in about 45 seconds. But I did strip alot of stuff out. But that did include a full graphical desktop.

So in short my 2 cents would be to try vector. It is based off of slackware.

dv502 · 10-10-2009, 12:17 AM

@ DEi

I would try tinycore linux as mentioned above, its Just 10 MB to load and you can use flash, java, mplayer and many other popular programs.

Visit http://tinycorelinux.com/welcome.html and read the FAQ and wiki to get a quick start.

PS:
Here is a list of distros for old computers from distrowatch.com
http://distrowatch.com/search.php?ca...&status=Active

~sHyLoCk~ · 10-10-2009, 01:14 AM

Debian should work fine.

Wim Sturkenboom · 10-10-2009, 01:31 AM

Having 256MB (as you indicated) will help. However I would still stay with the lighter distro's and stay away from Ubuntu (because of your processor). If it has to be a ?buntu, try XUbuntu (Ubuntu with Xfce window manager) might be a better choice or Crunchbang (based on Ubuntu but with openbox window manager).

I did run XUbuntu 6.06 on a K6-III/450MHz with 128 MB memory and it was doable but not the fastest.