I have an old PC, it has 128 MB RAM, and a 233 MHz processor.

Any suggested linux distro for this computer?

I want a GUI with it and OpenOffice included in the default installation.
I have installed Knoppix with it and it occupied 2 Gb off the HDD and have little room for files.(not including the linux-swap partition)
Preferably a distro which eats up little space from my HD.
And also a KDE environment.

Thanks in advance!

-nico

If you want to use KDE, you will need to add a lot of ram to it. 128megs is not going to do you any good.
Also there are a lot of threads related to your topic. A search on LQ will definitely get you some options.
I know some minimal distributions like DSL and Puppy can be really small but I doubt they will have office by default. If you are connected to internet you should be able to download and install it though. Installing packages is not an issue as such. What is more important for you is to get a distribution of your choice that will run on the specs that are not too beautiful.

I had a similar situation on a Compaq Armada 1500C. I have installed Debian Net Installer. Installed Xfce on top of it. I think you can try the same.

Regards,

--
Prasanta

I've searched forums and found Zenwalk and OpenSUSE can be installed in a computer with only 128 MB of RAM. However, I've got issues when it comes to CPU speed. It can only run at 233MHz. Can Xubunto be tried on this machine?

I've tried Linux Puppy but I had problems with Grub. It always shows errors after repeated usage. Errors like "Error 17, 15 and 22." I don't really know how to fix this and I reinstall Linux Puppy back to the HD. It's so tasking and tiring.

I've gone through the Debian site but I was overwhelmed with the vast distributions they have and the "architectures" they have. I honestly don't know what type of architecture my old computer is on.

I hope someone helps me...

Thanks anyway...

- nico

Have you tried DSL? If puppy is having issues, you could go with some of the other puplets. Xubuntu can do with 128megs as such but I do not know what processor you have. But it could support 32 bit architecture and you could use any i386 images.
Another small distribution that I have used is Austrumi. It is a live distribution and is very small. Debian with LXDE could also work but you will need to customize the packages to be installed.

The Puppy problem is most likely related to "root=sda1" or whatever
if it says sda1, change it to hda1
also, does it say pmedia=atahd
or idehd?

GRML-medium, not in toram mode
will run pretty good there using fluxbox
and you can get iceweasel or even midori for browsing

A dsl or grml2hd install would be even faster

anoher newer distro for oldr stuuff is Sprii, which used toi be Icebuntu
and even Absolute Linux
or antix

so
google

grml (debian)
absolute linux (good choice, its slack!)
antix (mepis/ubuntu)
Sprii (Ubuntu)

I've tried DSL but I had some issues with it. It was fast however, it did not have that much word processor.
By the way, I have Cyrix M II processor.

I have to try Linux Pupplets though but I hope there is OpenOffice there.

Is there OpenOffice in grml? I've googled Sprii but I can't seem to find it.

The fact is, this computer is offline. I just want to use it as a PC that can make documents and other papers.

Can you recommend a distro for this? Just a desktop and some word processors and some presentation apps.

Tnx very much guys!

- nico

I have scratched the folically challenged head on this one myself and it seems the older (within reason) the 'distro' and the less the programs the better. The main problem is the processor, given the same socket, 400MHZ would make a big difference and often chucked out by many.
OpenOffice is a big program. If you could just install 'Writer' it would be more useful in context. 'Pocket openoffice' is worth considering-80mb. Abiword is also a consideration. Also the bare bones versions of Debian4 or Crunchbang but the processor will squeal at the internet.
Best of luck!

Fred.

Fred, does the word processors you mentioned part of bare bones Debian 4?or Crunchbang?
I am a newbie and would want a distro that has some word processors with it. I like the pocket openoffice, but does any distro have it? or do I have to install it through internet?

Thanks!

-nico

As said before do not put much emphasis on word processor. It can be installed through your package manager once your distribution is up and running. With your specs you should avoid Open Office. It is a resource hog. Just for word processing, Abi Word is best of them all.

Really concerned about disk space & RAM, why don't you try using live CD versions
live CDS have the packages readily installed...

limited, therefore, crunchbang or Debian small- be shaw to right click on the desktop on crunch.
Fred

whats wrong with DSL?
i am using it right as i am typing this and no bugs!

tinycore with openoffice Might maybe run ?

DSL can get openoffice thru mydsl browser cant it?

also, my grml-magix, found in ThorsHammer, runs at 80+mb RAM with fluxbox
in live (not toram) mode
and it has abiword
you could add open office if running persistent
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...remble-751227/

I'll try tinycore then..
I'm concerned about the wordprocessor because my computer is offline.
I want to install linux with a wordprocessor.

Thanks guys!

-nico