Low RAM installation, with GUI.
 

I am wanting to install slackware onto a Dell Lattitude CP, with a 233MHz processor and 48MB of RAM. Full specs can be found here:

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support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/pmojav/specs.htm

I am partially doing this to learn a bit more about linux (I am relatively new to the Linux-world), but also I want a usable system at the end of it. I just want to be able to take this thing to the library to work on whilst I am there - mainly word-processing and internet surfing, transferring documents to and from it via usb hard drive/memory stick. Nothing particularly extraordinary. However, I would like it to be setup and working without having to hook it up to the net.

However, I would also really prefer to have a GUI, now obviously with only 48MB of RAM, KDE is out of the question. The minimal requirements stated on the slackware site talks about 32MB minimal, with more for X windows. I was planning on using fluxbox, but am not really sure how to go about sorting this out, or even if this is the optimal lightweight WM for my needs.

So, can anyone let me know if this is a viable option? Either way, I would really appreciate some advice, and some pointing in the right direction.

Apologies if this is posted in teh wrong place, it seemed to be the most correct location to me.

xfce is an excellent lightweight wm.

so you think it should be no problem to do that then? It's not going to burst into tears from me abusing it?

BAH. ill just try it and see!

Give it a shot. Sometimes, you just gotta try it.

I have an old compaq 4000/233 I'm gonna be changing to a headless for a mail server,etc.., so I'm interested in your result (Will have more RAM tho, 128mb)

Let me know

I have a Fujitsu Lifebook 565Tx, which is a pentium 166 with 48mb ram running slackware 10.2 with a 2.6.14 kernel and Xorg with Window Maker. It is a bit slow at doing things but is a usable system, with some patience. I don't use this machine very often but it does come in useful. I have even used it as a VPN server with 2 incoming connections (without a gui running) for friends to join my home network.

I also use Window Maker on my other machines as it doesn't drain power away from doing other things.

It is a very basic looking environment but it does its job well.

:)

i installed SW10.2 on sytem with P233 and 32mbram. Xfce runs fine. Even kde will run but web browsing was a little slow but doable. Compiling a kernel will take hrs(8-10hrs on one attempt) so kernel.tgz pkgs are best. Adding 128mb(cheap) ram stick made quite a difference in kde. Enjoy.

You might take a look at STX slackware-based to run on older pcs.

Slack runs lovely on the laptop. No problems at all, other than my unusual sound card - which obviously it is unlikely you would have issues with cwwilson721. As far as I can tell, the specs you suggest may even be overkill if it's only going to be a low load mail server!

Fluxbox is a good option. I've also had really nice results with IceWM on very old machines.



Regards,
Jacob