Please help me I need to fix my uncles super duper ancient computer. I dont know the whole thing but what i know is it has cyrix processor, 32mb ram, no usb ports and ethernet port,has one floppy and cd drive and its brand is compaq.

These are the things i want to have if possible:
1. The computer is damn slow so text based installer would be best
2. I am about to buy a 20 Gig harddisk so swap space and partitioning will be set first on other computer before i give a shot to that computer. I dont care if it eats up whole cd(no dvd) because the harddisk space is not that scarce.
3. Has support for dial up modem. and if possible a stable internet browser like firefox, seamonkey, opera. I dont care if its not the latest.
4. Hardware detection and fairly easy to use and install since my knowledge in linux is not yet extensive.
5. Gui is a must since the one who will use it does not know anything about computer. Modern looking if possible
6. Having games is a BIG PLUS because the cousins,nephew and niece wants to play games. Maybe Supertux 1 or 2. If there are none can you suggest on how to install them.
7. Kernel compiled that support my processor.
8. Abiword is a must. Multimedia codecs if possible so they can play mp3 or wma files.
9. IceWM because it is comfortable to use than fluxbox. however i may install it in the future if the best one does not contain it or bear with it.
10. Flash and youtube is out of question since it will complain about ram. :0

Note:
AFAIK there are bugs in cyrix proc. I dont know exactly what it is so that distro must work around with it automatically

The things I tried to do:
1. Antix but the installer is complaining that CPU is too old. AFAIK kernel <= 2.4 is the approriate not the latest 2.6+
2. Deli Linux but it halts on "Checking "hlt" instructions line"
3. Damn small linux complains about hard drive which i about to replace.

My list so far is Vector Linux 3.2, Deli Linux, Damn small Linux and feather linux. Can you suggest others? I also searched for slackware 11+ because it has older kernel or stx 1.0 but no luck, no hosting site have the older versions. If you suggest would you mind if you give me a link where i can download it. I am in Philippines so Ordering CD is not feasible since I am far from those who sells it(here pirated windows are more popular, however I am in linux so i dont bother). I want DSL to be the last option because they may not like the fonts included.

Thank you in advance. I really need help VERY VERY URGENT(sorry if these are all in caps. Im not yelling but begging for help. Im lost). I want their pc to work since they spend a lot of money renting computer.

-Update-
Now I know. The model of PC is Compaq Presario 2200(not the new one since compaq for some reasons decided to name their new line of products to old ones). It has Cyrix MediaGX processor that integrates video processing with it that runs maybe at 133mhz. The ram is 16 x 2 EDO SIMM ram. It has media instructions that has bugs. It runs windows 98 and you will not find any driver for modem and sound(I found a driver for Win98 for the Video). This is indeed a challenge.

Try xubuntu: http://www.xubuntu.org/get

Don't know if it'll solve all your problems tho!

The smallest, fastest, thing I have seen for this is at Puppylinux.com.

It is up to 4.1.1, but even the 2.x and 3.x versions are VERY good and very small and intentionally built to run on old small slow relics such you have described. The 32 MB of RAM is really pushing it, though. $10 worth of chips there might really ease this process. Puppy and ALL applications fit into less than 100MB and it installs in like 3 minutes even on a slow boat. Just download and burn the ISO to CD on your own box first. The DEVELOPER actually only had a modem when he built most of this, so that stuff got real attention.

I suggest you try to install Puppy 2.x first and work your up the food chain from there

Google found this: ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/Linux/distributions/slackware/

I don't think that will help his system does'nt meet the minimum system requirements

To run the Desktop CD (LiveCD + Install CD), you need 128 MB RAM to run or 192 MB RAM to install. The Alternate Install CD only requires you to have 64 MB RAM.

To install Xubuntu, you need 1.5 GB of free space on your hard disk.

Once installed, Xubuntu can run with 192 MB RAM, but it is strongly recommended to have at least 256 MB RAM.

I have the same problem with a old toshiba laptop with 24 megs of ram and windows95.

if you find a solution please let me know.

Thanks

and you all posted before me

Ok first the reason antiX complains that the cpu is too old has nothing to do with it having a 2.6 kernel. having a 2.4 kernel will limit you a lot of stuff will not work with a 2.4 kernel. this isn't windows you don't have to run an old version on an old computer. this is right off the main antiX page:

so the problem is that the kernel was compiled for a i686 compatible cpu and yours isn't (I'd bet thats what "Checking "hlt" instructions line" is getting at too.) all you need a 2.6 kernel compiled for i386 or i486.

Now this one: "Has support for dial up modem." is more complicated.

There are two types of modems real modems appear as a standard serial port and will work out of the box on any linux. winmodems/softmodems unfortunately are more common. with these most of the work is not done in hardware it's done in software and that software only exists for windows and is covered by copyright law. if you have one of these there is a chance that a linux driver exists otherwise you'll never get it to work.

I would recommend slackware. I'd go for the newest one if I could. 12.1 should run on your cpu. last I checked it had a textmode installer and you can set it up any way you'd like. If I were you and could upgrade anything on this computer it would be the ram. if you can find some old ram it will speed things up a bit.

Edit:

Damn, you need at least 64mb to install slackware. you might be able to find something but is there any way you can get more ram? does this computer use the regular old pc-100 or pc-133 or does it use those even older smaller ones? you can probably find some ram that old discarded somewhere.

the 32 mb ram occupied the two slots available of the pc. Buying a ram is not an option because the one who owns it is only a poor family(they already bought harddisk, and buying ram is too much for them because they even having a hard time budgeting money for their food). I dont know the modems you said but the modem in the pc is a hardware modem that need telephone line to work and beeps when connecting to internet. The ram is i think an EDO ram(??). It is soldered on the motherboard.

BTW I got the "Checking "hlt" Instruction on Deli Linux with kernel 2.4". Does it mean I will have hard time looking for linux that will run on the CPU since it is a cursed Cyrix processor. I dont wanna install Win98 there(Before it runs Win98 until HD went awry).

So Ill give puppy linux a try. BTW what specific version/release of Puppy Linux or slackware i would have to this machine that will make it run comfortable? Ill add them to the list soon.

So Xubuntu is out because of "hefty" requirements for this machine

Thank you for your kindness.

--Update--

I tried to install Deli Linux and vector Linux 3.2 and installed fine(i popped up the harddisk and install it to another PC). But infinite "Press A key to Reboot" is frustrating i dont know how to fix that stuff. When I returned the hard disk to the computer "Operating system not found". Does it mean I dont have the option to install the OS first to another PC and "just" transfer the HD to that computer and presto it will work??

MEPIS, perhaps? You said you want Icewm, but maybe MEPIS could use Icewm instead of KDE. I've never made a distro run a different GUI, but someone made Kubuntu, so it must be possible.

i was able to get basic linux too boot up on computer that has 32 mb of memory fits on 2 floppys and based on slack 4.0 has ppp for a modem and a text browser and a word progam

I am afraid that basic linux is too basic for their needs since they will use it as a primary computer

Puppy 2.x is known to run in as little as 32 MB of RAM and comes packaged with all necessary Web, email, and typical office applications. I don't know for certain about Cyrix CPUs or footprint for later versions, but check the user site.

What is Basic Linux? I didn't find it at Distrowatch or Wikipedia.

If you said so, then ill download Puppy Linux 2.15CE "Viz". Thank you very much. Any more feedback esp. the "Press a key to reboot thing" and "operating system not found thing" and what version of slackware will you install on this

This is so far my Shortlist:

1. Puppy Linux 2.5 CE
2. Feather Linux
3. Luit Linux
4. Vector Linux 3.2
5. Slackware 11 - OMG its 3 cds. maybe this will be the last choice
6. Damn Small Linux

If any of those succeeded I will report back for the sake of others who needs answer like me. I am still accepting feedback from you guys. thank you very much.

"Little did you know but by answering others question you touch others lives. Especially the disheartened ones."

I hope you like my own quote. I live by that quote. thank you again

basic linux isn't really around any more. it was one of the old floppy distros and since you can't fit a 2.6 kernel on a floppy most of those died out. I used it on several low end laptops it was nice for what it was but a full featured linux it is not.