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Old 12-26-2010, 02:17 PM   #1
thebeach
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Best Linux distribution for late '90's HP laptop?


Greetings!

I got an old HP900 Omnibook x86 based laptop at the thrift store with:
3.82 gb HD
Pentium II 300 mhz
160 mb ram
Originally windows 98/NT, it was upgraded to windows me 4.90.3000.

I don't want to save the windows and wondered what you think the best distribution would be?

The only tool I have to do the job is my Asus eee pc 1000 (xandros), so unless someone knows a better method all I've thought of is to download the program to my asus computer and then install with the usb through a usb creator.

Thanks!!!

Hazel

Last edited by thebeach; 12-26-2010 at 08:40 PM.
 
Old 12-26-2010, 04:45 PM   #2
AsusDave
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With those specs, you will be looking at something like the following:
Slax
Slackware
Debian (base install with a light DE, i.e. xfce, fluxbox, openbox, etc.)
One of the "mini" distros (DSL, Puppy, Slitaz, or the like)

You should try to upgrade the RAM if possible.

HTH
Dave
 
Old 12-26-2010, 05:19 PM   #3
DavidMcCann
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The distros I have listed as running in 160MB in their normal form are Puppy and Vector Light. You could customise Debian or Slackware, but with the other two the customisation has been worked out for you. DSL is dead and Slitaz recommends 194MB.
 
Old 12-26-2010, 06:36 PM   #4
TobiSGD
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I would go for Slackware, Debian or Arch Linux. But I don't think that a laptop from late 90s is able to boot from USB, you have to look at that.
 
Old 12-26-2010, 07:36 PM   #5
John VV
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i am not even sure that a laptop from `90's even has a usb port ???
i would guess it has some "proprietary" and "odd" plug that the manufacture has the patent on
from a pdf of the specs it dose have 1 usb 1 port
google
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...2O_vTlbRWpKSqg


the big question is why . Is it even possible to get that thing online ? will firefox even run?
 
Old 12-26-2010, 07:45 PM   #6
wpeckham
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old hardware

DSL is not dead, just stable and in dead slow development. Having met it goals, it only needs development when something new or improved comes along that fits its mission.

DSL or TinyLinux are definite options.
I have LOADS of experience, and would go with Debian (loaded thin and using a very conservative desktop ala:fluxbox ) for myself. If you have less experience I would go with something that is designed to make life easy for you and provide a nice, stable desktop that is well supported on the older hardware. I have used puppy and dsl for users I run into in the course of business.

It is possible to load via PXE boot from the network, but that is a somewhat involved process that depends upon having a machine available to turn into a TFTP and install server. I have made that work, but if there is an easier way....
 
Old 12-26-2010, 08:17 PM   #7
thebeach
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Yes, this has a usb port and it works just fine. It has 6 ports that I don't even know what are for and came with a bunch of strange looking cords I've never seen. I used it online up to 2 years ago, with the Firefox I added. Some sites freaked it out, but it mostly worked really well and wasn't slow. I only got the Asus as the wireless card had quit working.

When I bought it it was full of malware/virus so I cleaned it up and kept tweaking it and it was working amazingly well. Correction: original os was windows 98/NT. There's something about it that makes me want to save it. Seems well built/solid.

There is an option to boot with removable device.

I saw it mentioned elsewhere that Peppermint Ice and Mint LXDE were good for old computers. It said the Peppermint Ice didn't have some of the trouble others do with internet connections.

Have fixed troubled computers for people I know for a long time but have never installed an os. I'm not sure if I need to delete windows or if it will just write over it. And yes, I'm looking for the simplest way to go about it. I've been adding programs with the shell in xandros and they're all working.

Thanks!

Last edited by thebeach; 12-26-2010 at 08:37 PM.
 
Old 12-26-2010, 10:25 PM   #8
TobiSGD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John VV View Post
the big question is why . Is it even possible to get that thing online ? will firefox even run?
Not long ago I have given away a somewhat similar laptop (Celeron 550 MHz, 256MB RAM) to a friend with no money for a computer.
I installed Debian with LXDE on it, and it runs just fine as a jukebox, Iceweasel is working, and with Minitube you can even watch Youtube videos.
Only because it is old doesn't mean that it is useless.

By the way, there are other browsers than Firefox out there, if you have a low spec machine than try a tinier one, like Seamonkey/Iceape or Epiphany.
 
Old 12-27-2010, 03:18 AM   #9
SuperTico
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I had something similar I was running Storm and Progeny on back in the day.Celeron 400/128 .They both ran well. You might be able to find a DL for Progeny....? somewhere,or go to Ian Murdocks facebook page and ask him for an FTP.
 
  


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