Installing Linux in an Old System
 

Yo, after a few weeks of not asking any questions... I'm back.

Here is the deal this time:
I want to put Linux as the Main Operating System in an old Computer System.

It is an E-machines E-Tower 400^1, it has 32MB of RAM, and 4GB of HD space. I dont know the speeds of the RAM, or the CPU, but it is an Intel Celeron Processor.

Is there any version of Linux that I can install on that piece of junk?
I have tried Linux Puppy, but it gets stuck on:

I would appreciate any help with this, thanks.


MexDeath.

If possible, add more RAM
Try DSL
http://damnsmalllinux.org/index.html

Minmimalistic Debian install
 

There are dozens of Linux 'mini-distributions' that might work:
http://www.linuxlinks.com/Distributi...Distributions/

You could also try a minimalistic Debian install. You would have to use the net-install disk and install /without/ a Windows manager. Then strip out all the unnecessary services and install the fluxbox windows manager plus gdm or a more lightweight login manager. Lots of command-line work involved, though. I use that setup on a laptop with 4GB hard drive space and 128 MB RAM. 32 MB is pushing it a bit, but I imagine it might work for you if you stick to very lightweight programs.

Before you get into this, though, you should be asking yourself: What do I want this computer to do for me? Even with Linux installed, even common graphical activities like web-browsing are going to be pretty slow.

On the other hand, if you want to be a true minimalist, you can learn how to live without a GUI and do all the important stuff, like e-mail and text-editing, inside the console. For those kind of programs, 32 MB is plenty of RAM.

Yep... meh, I dont think I NEED to go in that Direction. I was going to do it as an Experimental kind of thing, but seeing that I may have to do a lot of Command work... Meh! I'll skip... for the moment. However, when I think I have learned enough so that I wont get that ticked off at a Computer because of MY mistakes, then I'll go ahead and try something like that. However, for the moment, I really dont think I will have the time, or need, to do something like that. I thought it was going to be easier.

However, I thank you all for your help, and I have bookmarded the sites you have provided in case I need them in the future.


Thank you all,




MexDeath.

try slitaz, i have used it with pIII 550 mhz with 64 MB ram, and it was very good.

I've tried several "small" distros for an old laptop (266Mhz, 64MB, 4GB). I finally tried Debian and haven't changed since. Ironically, I also use Debian on my really fast computer.

Anyway, like CoderMan said, use the netinstall. When you install at first, install only the base system (no window manager yet). Then follow the guide here to install LXDE and SLIM.

LXDE won't be "fast" with that amount of ram, but it should be tolerable. I prefer it to fluxbox based on simplicity, and it seems at least as fast in my experience. Fluxbox is great too though if it fits your style.

Keep in mind anything you install should be as lightweight as possible.

One point in that discussion is "what to do with this box", besides the experimental interest of it; I am on the look myself for such an old machine with low power requirements, to act as a home server- "always on but don't kill the planet please" for the other machines here - kid's PC, missus laptop - a central point where to put the admin junk, the old pictures, hook the router to... well, with an external usb drive you can actually get a (slow) server for anyone to put stuff on. I too achieved it on an old laptop with 64megs but never tried 32 I must say. It was Fedora at the time, without X of course. Once up and running, you don't ever touch it, that's all cool and worth the extra effort to setup in the first place.

Cheers

Jean-Philippe

Well, givig life to this thread again... yes, thats the problem I have 32MB which will make it even slower. I thought of upgrading ram, and a few other things, but decided not to bother for it anymore. However, that plan of turning that clunker into a server does not sound as a bad idea... hmmm... I'll look more into it, and see what I can do now.

Not enough ram is my guess with puppy.

DSL ought to run fine.

Other choices might be BeOS or QNX or BSD's.

I've read all throughout this thread again, and found tons of useful information. However, it all seems to point that, unless I want ABSOLUTELY no GUI, 32MB of RAM is pushing it a bit too far. I may, however, upgrade the ram on this thing, either that, or donate this clunker to my University for a "Museum" type project they're starting up with. I'll do further research, many thanks to those who have replied.

A DSL hd install will run ok
However, you have no way of upgrading or anything

You could also run dsl in text mode and learn the command line:)

Yea, I'm tempted to do that, however, where do I download the DSL stuff, there's all kinds of links when I go to their page... then again, it has been a while since I last went... maybe they've upgraded it. I'm checking now.

Actually, DSL is quite dead now...sad

Tinycore is new DSL, but requires 48mb ram to boot even microcore...

A DSL hd install will run OK,
How do you wanna install it?
From CD?

get the one labeled "current.iso" here
that's newest
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/...small/current/

Yea, CD would be great, I'm looking at the link you provided.

Ok, I got the download ready, now I'll burn the ".ISO" and try and install it on that PC, that, however, has to wait until tomorrow. I have to set the thing up and so on and so on... its in a closet somewhere. Thanks for your help.