I have an old IBM 2647 that I was wanting to experiment with while learning to work Linux. Don't know if this is still possible. I would have to create a disc because I cannot get any networking in safe mode. Don't really care about anything but gaining some base knowledge to grow from, so any help would be appreciated.

Is that some kind of Thinkpad? What are the hardware specs? It it your only/most powerful computer?

Try searching for it here: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki

I see about a half dozen model numbers containing the string 2647. It looks like they are Pentium 3 class with 512mb or 1gb maximum RAM capacity. This is at the low end for modern Linux but you may have luck with a "lightweight" distro such as Lubuntu, AntiX, CrunchBang, SliTaz, etc.

If you are just experimenting with a text-only Server install, and not running a lot of services, then you may find the performance quite acceptable.

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Yes this is a Thinkpad and your specs are accurate. I have two other laptops besides this that both run windows 7 but wanted to use this one as a sacrifical laptop being I'm very new. I intend getting several more newer desktops also, but that is two weeks off and would love using the IBM to cut my teeth on. I shall try searching the distro's you advised and will probably have some more questions soon..

How would I go about finding instructions on a "text-only Server install" for this model? Thanks again

If you have a Windows 7 capable computer, that would be my recommendation for learning Linux. Everything will be faster and smoother, and it will be a more pleasant experience overall. Your first step might be to run Linux from a "Live USB drive" so you can safely test drive it without making any partitioning/changes/modifications to your Windows system. Alternately, you can run Virutalbox so that Linux appears as just another application on your Windows desktop; this is a very fun and low-stress way to experiment with a new operating system.

Most distributions have a Server install option. A Server is used for hosting websites, emails, files, printing, etc. (but not for graphical Desktop applications such as web browsing, word processing, games). Here are instructions for Ubuntu Server (very popular and a good way to learn the inner workings of linux): https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/serverguide/C/index.html

Since you don't tell us what your needs are and what skills you are looking to learn, I don't know whether to recommend Desktop or Server.

Also it would help if you tell us the complete hardware specs; it really makes a big difference whether you have 128mb or 1gb of RAM.

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I use Salix on my Thinkpad. It's basically Slackware with added user-friendliness. You can do a CLI-only installation:
http://people.salixos.org/tsuren/doc...tion_Mode.html

If you wanted a GUI, the KDE version of Salix is probably the lightest implementation of that desktop and will run in 512MB. The Xfce one takes 256MB, and with 128MB you have a choice of LXDE or Fluxbox.

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antiX will install and run on your Thinkpad. Feel free to ignore the doomsayers that would have you believe you need a super computer to run linux.

The biggest benefit of using antiX is it is based on Debian, so you have access to the 30,000 packages in the Debian repositories.

Welcome aboard, go ahead and jump right end the water feels great.

Did I mention we have cookies?

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my specs are as follows
IBM Think Pad 2647
Pentium III Processor, 900 MHz
S3 Inc. Savage/IX-MV
256MB, SDRAM, 2DIMMs
30 GB ATA Hard Drive
Integrated Network Card Intel Ethernet Pro 100
Internal 56k Modem
CD/DVD Drive
Cirrus Logic CS 4614/22/24

Looking to learn everything possible. Really wanting to get involved in information technology and this was recommended by a good friend as a starting point. So starting basic and working through. Will obtain more computers and plan to spend a lot of time on everything I can possibly find and/or do.

Also thanks to everyone on the great advice thus far. She has a bad windows xp OS right now that keeps asking for a key and will not let me advance further. Can get a disk with Ubuntu to boot up but the ram is killing me and most the drivers won't run.. I have created a disk with the recommended Salix but it created as a ISO and can't get the cd to take on boot. I'm going to try going back to Ubuntu and see if I can get a read on the disk drive to open Salix to install. And after that I plan to try antiX if I continue to strike out with Salix because antiX seems like the right fit for my specs. Thanks again to everyone.

This is solved and thanks again to those that helped. I had almost forgot to mark it.

I ended up using Puppylinux on the IBM and got a stable pc.