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Old 10-12-2008, 01:28 AM   #1
Cloud13
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Distro for very old laptop


Hi.

I'm pretty new to this Linux stuff, but I'd been hearing a lot about it lately, so I decided to read up about it. Needless to say, I was intrigued.

Now, my main computer is a fairly recent Vaio, but I don't want to go through the bother of backing up all my files and partitioning and what not if I'm not going to like Linux.

However, I have an ancient Toshiba Satellite laptop that'd I'd be willing to make some adjustments to. It has a relatively small amount of files, so it'd be easy for me to back up.

So I was wondering which distro would work best for it, that is, for the most part, user friendly. I am willing to learn about how to use it, with all the commands and stuff, that's one of the things I found interesting.

Here is a spec sheet for said vintage laptop. It's the CDT model.

Really long link to specs

Thanks for any help.
 
Old 10-12-2008, 02:12 AM   #2
craigevil
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DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.
http://distrowatch.com/

Go to distrowatch and pick any distro in the Top 20. Better yet pick a few that have livecds and play with them on your desktop, then when you find one that you like put it on your laptop.
 
Old 10-12-2008, 02:17 AM   #3
2damncommon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cloud13 View Post
I'm pretty new to this Linux stuff, but I'd been hearing a lot about it lately, so I decided to read up about it. Needless to say, I was intrigued.

Now, my main computer is a fairly recent Vaio, but I don't want to go through the bother of backing up all my files and partitioning and what not if I'm not going to like Linux.
Linux is available on live CDs that you don't even need to install to check out and Ubuntu offers a WUBI install to a Windows partition. No need to fool with the old laptop first. If you learn some Linux you WILL be able to continue to use that old laptop as long as you wish.
 
Old 10-12-2008, 03:01 AM   #4
syg00
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And i you do decide to fight with that laptop, I'd suggest puppy. Most other "modern" distros will not like that video config.
 
Old 10-12-2008, 04:23 AM   #5
oskar
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I'd just take a shot at trying install anything. There's a good chance the hardware isn't supported. Debian sid - minimal installation with windowmaker or something like that.

Anyway, that will not be the same linux you get on a modern computer. Try the ubuntu live-cd. Ubuntu realized that it's not much fun if you can't install anything. The wubi install option doesn't partition your drive but creates a fake partition inside a file on your windows partition. The worst that can possibly happen is that it screws up your mbr, and you have to fix it with a win recovery cd (very easy)

Last edited by oskar; 10-12-2008 at 04:30 AM.
 
Old 10-12-2008, 03:02 PM   #6
pinballwizard66
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the best idea is always to try a few distros and find one that works best for you and the one you like the most, because no one can tell you which one is for you, you have to find it out for yourself.

Debian Development

Last edited by pinballwizard66; 10-22-2008 at 12:34 PM.
 
Old 10-12-2008, 04:28 PM   #7
Romanus81
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With specs like that, I would say definitely puppy linux. You might be able to get Slackware to run on it, (Slackware.com) Slackware is one of the oldest managed distros out there, they still have links on it's site for floppy disk installs of it's latest release, and unlike other distros that I've tried it gives you a list of what software packages to install (You might want to deselect KDE, you will get xfce, blackbox, and window maker, and you can play with those to see which one wants to work for you.
If that fails, FreeDOS or Puppy Linux/DSL.
 
Old 10-12-2008, 05:47 PM   #8
oskar
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Yes he will get slackware to run, but compile times would be way too long for comfort.
 
Old 10-12-2008, 05:54 PM   #9
loperz7
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Will MenuetOS work on a laptop like that?

Gentoo

Last edited by loperz7; 10-23-2008 at 03:57 AM.
 
Old 10-12-2008, 06:57 PM   #10
dasy2k1
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i would recomed anything without gnome or kde

as the OP is a newbie i would recomend Xubuntu

mabie not the fatsest on that spec... but at last it should set up easily and will get you a usable system fast.

then i would suggest that you play with others when you are more comfatable with linux
 
Old 10-12-2008, 08:39 PM   #11
elliott678
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I've run Puppy on something very similar, it was fairly responsive, just don't expect miracles.
 
  


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