please recommend linux version for old IBM Thinkpad
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please recommend linux version for old IBM Thinkpad
Hi All,
I have an old IBM Thinkpad with the following:
Intel Pentium 4 processor
CPU Speed 1.60 ghz
Installed Memory 512 MB
This is my first time exploring linux options, so I'm looking for a version that will run on this laptop.
Currently, there is no OS on the laptop, so I will also need some instructions on the best way to download the OS and then load it. I can use a disk (my preferred) or USB (if required). If you can supply links to the suggested OS, I'd appreciate it.
I've read a bit about mint and puppy, but since I have no frame of reference, I figured I'd ask for some advice first.
If you need any further info about the laptop, let me know.
I'd be a bit suprised if you can use a usb to boot. Maybe a usb cd drive but I'd rather think a usb flash won't do.
You will have to have some working machine to create a cdrom or possibly a floppy disk. It gets way more complex to try it from a floppy.
Anyway I suspect you need some minimal distro made for older hardware. As above, antix. Might look at slitaz too. Might be able to run a BSD based distro on it.
Normally folks download an iso file. They use a program to "burn" that iso image to a cd drive. Use best quality cd and don't use a cd-rw. Burn at slowest speed.
Might be able to buy a cd rather cheaply. Some place in walnut creek ca used to sell disc's. Maybe purplus still has them. Distrowatch has sites that sell discs if you can't burn one.
I have a Thinkpad X31: that's much older than yours. The limitation in your case is not the CPU, but the RAM. There's also the question of booting: USB is doubtful and you may (like me) only have a CD drive.
If you can boot from USB or DVD, then Salix or MX Linux should be fine. If you can only use a CD, then it's going to be AntiX, which is actually just a cunningly-designed installer for Debian stable.
I will explore the suggestions and get back to the thread with what I finally choose.
This is my first try at anything like this, so I appreciate the help. If I get stuck, I'll do my best to work through it before coming back with questions. Been busy with the holidays, so haven't had a chance to explore this as much as I wanted until now.
I will explore the suggestions and get back to the thread with what I finally choose.
This is my first try at anything like this, so I appreciate the help. If I get stuck, I'll do my best to work through it before coming back with questions. Been busy with the holidays, so haven't had a chance to explore this as much as I wanted until now.
I couldn't get Lubuntu to even boot 75% of the time on my netbook, and it wasn't as lightweight as Debian with LXDE when it did, though if you're a complete newbie I wouldn't recommend straight away going to Debian, but I quite like it over other distros and have a below average knowledge (compared to a lot of the regulars here) of how Linux works.
Plus isn't Lubuntu supposed to be switching to LXQT whenever it's ready; and how does performance compare to LXDE or XFCE?
My netbook has 1GB of RAM and an Atom N270 (equivalent-ish to a Pentium 3).
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