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Thread ID: 58252 2005-05-26 05:59:00 recommendations for linux distro for older computer? Ravage (6815) Press F1
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358633 2005-05-26 05:59:00 Howdy

I am currently writting a thesis on my old HP 6305. Specs include:
266 MHz, 92+4 (onboard video) RAM, 4 GB and 2 GB hard drives running Win 98 :)

This computer satifies my needs as a word proccessor at the moment, but when I finish I want to play around with Linux.

Can anyone recommend a distro (preferably windows like) that will run fine on these specs.

Cheers

Ravage
Ravage (6815)
358634 2005-05-26 06:21:00 Mandrake 9 runs reasonably on a 96MB 233 MHz Compaq laptop of mine. I doubt if you'll be happy with the latest distributions. The more "Windows-like" they get, the more resources they need. :( Graham L (2)
358635 2005-05-26 06:58:00 Always the way isn't it.

It's just to try them out at the moment though. If I find something I like, I might put it on my good computer when I finally clear some space on the hard drive :)

Cheers

Ravage
Ravage (6815)
358636 2005-05-26 07:39:00 Vector Linux! Chilling_Silence (9)
358637 2005-05-26 09:18:00 Vector Linux!

Another vote for Vector here (based on Slackware). :cool:
dolby digital (5073)
358638 2005-05-26 09:32:00 I will also vote for Vector Linux,
I had version3 or 4 on an old P166 with 64mb ram and it went like a rocket, especially when doing java programming, I think the included gui is icewm which issmall and fast

a good review on the latest version is here

www.madpenguin.org

If you have an older machine skip the heavy GUIs like KDE and GNOME, I personally like XFCE, but IceWM does look a lot more like windows and is very quick and not dificult for a begginner to get used to, (from memory, I have a fast machine now, so i have the bigger guis)
Morgenmuffel (187)
358639 2005-05-26 13:36:00 checked out the site.
followed the links, various versions available from 1.8 to 5.0.
will the newer versions still work on the older machine?

Ps. I've never been sure about this.....
I'm on Jetstreams 256K 1 GB monthly plan.
I could download the ~330 MB distro from the vectorlinux ftp site. Does that still count against my 1 GB quota or does it only include http sites? If so, I'll have to wait until my quota is up, then download it at 64K.

Cheers

Ravage
Ravage (6815)
358640 2005-05-26 14:43:00 distro.ibiblio.org

sorry the url function on here is playing up

according to the above link version 4 is probably the best for your setup, don't get a soho version as they have things like KDE etc which are taxing on older software,

anyway I'm off to bed

gotta get the kids to school tomorrow
Morgenmuffel (187)
358641 2005-05-26 20:10:00 Puppy Linux

60 meg iso download

not as full featured as some but it has the basics:
word processor
spread sheet
email
internet browser (text and graphical)
games

Very 95 like and it can be install onto usb pen drive, hard drive. Runs enterly in ram (128) if booted up from live cd.

It also able of writing your data back to a multi session cdr
Also if you are running from live cd it will save the configuration ie custom settings to a file on your C:\ with no effect on the os on that drive (the file is called pup) and on next boot, will use this file to set up puppy the way you had it last time.

be warned through its a beta release
beama (111)
358642 2005-05-27 02:20:00 Austrumi may be worth a look as well.

cyti.latgola.lv

or if you can handle a different (non windows look) try Damn Small Linux

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
rmcb (164)
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