Linux - NewbieThis Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question?
If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
I have a x86 32 bit pc with 40 gb hdd, 256 mb ram, pentium 4 processor currently running on windows xp but it is very slow. I wanna move on to linux. Suggest suitable distros. Basic usage is internet surfing, chatting, open office and a little bit of photos viewing. I can afford a 32 gb pen drive if its live distro but i can't afford more hardware upgrades. Please help.
Last edited by james holmes; 02-18-2014 at 12:40 PM.
Debian netinstall with a lightweight window manager or LXDE should work.
anti-X would work, which is based on Debian but saves you a lot of the work of setting things up yourself.
Absolute would work, it's Slackware reconfigured for use on older machines.
Your computer is slow because it is a slow computer. If you switch to a faster computer, then it will be faster, whether you are running Windows, Linux, or Mac OS. Here are some suggestions how you can find a faster computer for free: https://kmandla.wordpress.com/2010/1...-old-computer/
Right at this moment in history, Windows XP is about to become obsolete, so companies/universities are dumping all their old XP hardware. I bet you can find a nice dual core system with 1gb ram if you ask family/friends/coworkers.
Anyway if you really are stuck with the Pentium 4 with 256mb RAM, and there is no option or possibility for upgrade, then my most enthusiastic distro recommendation is: antix
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.