hi un1x,
ive tried puppy before, couldnt get to far with it though unfortunately.

You're welcome, let us know how it turns out.

Regards...

Hi DavidMcCann,

I will try the Salix kde version.
(i like many of the features in kde like kuser and it helps if the linux supports it)

the live cd's i tried kept freezing during install,
i tried multiple times until i gave up on it.
it was probably a setting in virtual box that prevented it from installing in my case,
but it was still very frustrating after a while.

delusional!

or http://www.slackel.gr/

http://www.slackel.gr/isos/screensho...-4.10.5-02.png

Please be respectful with your comments. Take a look here.

Regards...

"Anyone know of small linux versions that include a desktop?"
If a DE is meant, small must be relative to the OP, whereas they are an oxymoron to this poster. Several good suggestions have been made, but the most accurate one may be lubuntu. I prefer to download and burn the mini.iso so as to preclude such software as is not needed. This, only because I want to watch netflix, which I do via google chrome beta, and use openbox, only.
antiX is another small distro, but does not come with a DE. Try its 'brother,' MX-14, perhaps.

Thank you all for all your efforts and replies.

I have tried all the ones mentioned thus far, thanks for the suggestions.

But either virtual box didnt like them or the live cd's would not boot.
and the couple that did boot, were slow and bulky like the ubuntu desktops i tried.

Im sure it was most likely because i am trying to install them to virtual box.
and not my actual desktop pc, but for testing thats how i prefer to do it.
at least then i can test it out and see if it does what i need it to do.

i am hoping to find a basic, no nonsense, simple, kde desktop style linux distro,
that i can add my own stuff to without to much hassle.
if anyone wants to suggest one id be willing to try them.
never know.

Hi sidzen,
I am not sure what you are implying by that statement.

The question was "Anyone know of small linux versions that include a desktop?"
by small i was actually thinking of the overall install of a linux distro.
without all the extra office, games, email, or education stuff installed by default,
as for what im looking for all those are useless to me for a webserver.

as for the "with a desktop", yes a desktop is preferred, as i dont want it all command line.
for most others im sure thats ok, typing everything out in a terminal and all that,
but id rather not have to do that unless i have to. but thats my opinion.

You mentioned "lubuntu", i have not tried that distro in particular,
but considering my bad luck with trying past Ubuntu core distros in virtual box,
i am presuming that one is not much different.
ive tried Ubuntu server, Ubuntu desktop, Kubuntu but did not have good results.
im sure most others like it, swear by it and so on, but most dont try it on virtual box.

I will try the MX-14-4, it looks interesting (and apparently has the desktop)
thanks for the suggestion.

Why are you "testing" distros in VB? Why not just run it as a live CD (and it will be faster on a USB stick if you go that route instead) to test the distro? Is there some reason you can'ttest this way?

Another option, if you absolutely cannot test in VB or via live cd, is to install to another HDD and boot off of it instead of your normal HDD. That is, if you have a spare drive laying around you can use, or if your computer can boot from USB and you have an external USB HDD.
Well, without knowing exactly what you want to add to them, or how much CLI experience you have (I'm guessing not much, since you state you prefer a GUI), it's rather hard to be too specific in a recommendation other than all the small/lightweight distros already mentioned. Ease of software installs for the "other" stuff you want to put on it also varies based on distro; I think Ubuntu/derivatives (Xubuntu, Lubuntu, LXLE, or any other *ubuntu) will be likely the easiest (for GUI) and have the most software available.

For lightweight (on system resources), good GUI, and ease of install/software additions, Lubuntu (LXLE also, based on Lubuntu) is hard to beat IMO, although there are lighter Linux distros out there (AntiX, Puppy, TinyCore, DSL, etc.) - it just depends on what level of install/configuration experience and CLI skills you have. Another distro to consider, but not yet mentioned, is Free BSD - it's been around a long time and is very stable, not much you can't do with it. I like LXLE as a daily "desktop" system because it "works", has a great installed base of software, and is Ubuntu-based, which means adding software is simple, and available in at least 3 different GUI ways (Lubuntu Software Center, Ubuntu Software Center, and Synaptic). It also means regular kernel updates and great support. Plus, the desktop wallpapers are phenomenal. It's also lightweight (since based on Lubuntu) and there are both 32 and 64-bit versions, and it runs great on older hardware.

BTW, both Ubuntu (with Unity) and most KDE-based distros are not lightweight (they need resources), and therefore will chug under VB I'd imagine. Lubuntu may be better for that, as it is significantly lighter on resources. Another poster recommended using the "mini.iso" version for good reason; all that "other office stuff, games, etc." is left off the install. But, be prepared for more configuration once installed.

The best way is to try, try, try different distros, but if you can't/don't want to run them as live CD/USB or install to second HDD, then "trying" a bunch becomes a pain.

That's the best advice I can give you. Good luck!

Hi MX372,
Most of the live cd's are much slower than it being installed to vbox.
plus they usually wont allow saving changes or editing the files if needed on the cd.

if after testing in vbox, i find the distro will do as i need then i would do a dual boot.

the intention is to have a distro i can install a webserver on for script testing.
(i have a personal website that runs on a paid linux server)
i want something similar to test php scripts on, before applying them to my website.
so all that extra office stuff as you can imagine is useless to me.
of course some stuff would be useful like audio/video,text editors etc.

something id like is a distro id have the ability to add things if needed,
not already have them there by default.

thats what i've been doing just in vbox though. for the ease of creating the environment.
and if it does not work just remove the environment, and go to the next one to try.
i see your point about just testing as a live cd, but then your limited to whats on the cd,
as you cant install and run or save things on the live cd. on vbox you can.

I do have to admit i was impressed with "sidzen's" suggestion of MX-14.
while its not kde exactly, and it is bloated with a lot of extras it is impressive.
if i can remove unwanted things without killing the install it may be what i need.
but i can say the live cd is fast, even faster on vbox than any ive tried so far.
so if anyone else wants to try it out im sure you'd be satisfied with it the way it is.

Hi,
Tinycore is quite small.

http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/downloads.html

http://linuxbbq.org/ only if you dare.

Hi nigelc,
I checked out Tinycore earlier, but the iso is not bootable,
so i cant install it in virtual box.
i think its intended when you already have an operating system installed.
not as a fresh install.