Gaming Linux

[zuron7]

I have a 12 year old laptop with Windows 98 on it.I want to install Linux., so I want to know what distro is the best for it.

Here are the specs:
800MHz CPU
256MB ram
640KB of System Ram

ASk if you need for more info

 

[Wabsta]

I don't really know much about Linux, since I'm not a great fan of it. What I do know, is that there are some really stripped down windows XP on the internet, that will run perfectly with that specs.

If you do want linux, if I can remember right, there is one called Damn Small Linux or something right? Maybe you could try that.

Damn Small is small enough and smart enough to do the following things:

* Boot from a business card CD as a live linux distribution (LiveCD)
* Boot from a USB pen drive
* Boot from within a host operating system (that's right, it can run *inside* Windows)
* Run very nicely from an IDE Compact Flash drive via a method we call "frugal install"
* Transform into a Debian OS with a traditional hard drive install
* Run light enough to power a 486DX with 16MB of Ram
* Run fully in RAM with as little as 128MB (you will be amazed at how fast your computer can be!)
* Modularly grow -- DSL is highly extendable without the need to customize

 

[Thoob]

Damn Small would be a good bet for this machine. Or you could look for an older version of Ubuntu that will run on lower-spec hardware.

 

[Overlord Nadrian]

Many Linux distro's can run on those specs (of course, don't expect a lot of eyecandy). I suggest you try a distribution like Kubuntu if you haven't used anything but Linux before, though I'm not sure if it'd work out well.

Otherwise, I'd suggest getting Ubuntu Netbook (yeah, Netbook, because it was made to run on low spec computers) or Linux Mint.

Also, after looking around on Google for a sec, I found this topic, so you should have a look at it.

 

[zuron7]

Damn Small would be a good bet for this machine. Or you could look for an older version of Ubuntu that will run on lower-spec hardware.
You mean something like xubuntu

QUOTEI don't really know much about Linux, since I'm not a great fan of it. What I do know, is that there are some really stripped down windows XP on the internet, that will run perfectly with that specs.

If you do want linux, if I can remember right, there is one called Damn Small Linux or something right? Maybe you could try that.

QUOTE(http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/)
Damn Small is small enough and smart enough to do the following things:

* Boot from a business card CD as a live linux distribution (LiveCD)
* Boot from a USB pen drive
* Boot from within a host operating system (that's right, it can run *inside* Windows)
* Run very nicely from an IDE Compact Flash drive via a method we call "frugal install"
* Transform into a Debian OS with a traditional hard drive install
* Run light enough to power a 486DX with 16MB of Ram
* Run fully in RAM with as little as 128MB (you will be amazed at how fast your computer can be!)
* Modularly grow -- DSL is highly extendable without the need to customize

Tried XP on it It's too slow.Especially booting

 

[Strider]

It really depends on what you want to do.... you're going at this from the wrong perspective.

Also, it's more important to select the lean components for your use. Like xfce as light desktop environment in your case.

 

[Am0s]

try damn small linux or http://www.tuxradar.com/content/whats-best...ht-linux-distro will give you an answer one way or another

 

[FAST6191]

DSL is nice but it has not seen updates in quite some time. I instead suggest puppy linux: http://puppylinux.org/main/index.php?file=...g%20Started.htm which is also aimed/available for low spec use.

 

[zuron7]

I'm going to try a OS that wabsta mentioned to me-MicroXP since I'm not that great at linux.
If it doesn't work out I'll try the suggestions that you'll have given

thanks

 

[nutella]

DSL is nice but it has not seen updates in quite some time. I instead suggest puppy linux: http://puppylinux.org/main/index.php?file=...g%20Started.htm which is also aimed/available for low spec use.

What he said. Puppy Linux is probably the best distro for computers with 256mb of RAM or less. If you plan on using wireless, make sure whatever you're using works with Linux (PCMCIA card or otherwise). That's probably the only issue you should have. Other than that, I say go for it. I run Puppy Linux on a computer with worse specs than that and it flies (considering how old it is).

 

[BoxShot]

Many Linux distro's can run on those specs (of course, don't expect a lot of eyecandy). I suggest you try a distribution like Kubuntu if you haven't used anything but Linux before, though I'm not sure if it'd work out well.

Otherwise, I'd suggest getting Ubuntu Netbook (yeah, Netbook, because it was made to run on low spec computers) or Linux Mint.

Also, after looking around on Google for a sec, I found this topic, so you should have a look at it.

I really don't think Kubuntu would even run well on a computer like that.

I'd recommend Puppy or Antix.

 

[zuron7]

I got what I want and I burned the .iso image onto a disk and changed the boot sequence so that the cd boots first but no matter how many times I try it still goes back to Windows98.

 

[Elritha]

I got what I want and I burned the .iso image onto a disk and changed the boot sequence so that the cd boots first but no matter how many times I try it still goes back to Windows98.

Are you sure the iso image you burnt is a bootable image? If it isn't you'll have to either modify it to make it bootable before burning, or boot from a windows 98 startup floppy disk and install that way.

If all that doesn't work out I'd recommend trying Xubuntu.

 

[Urza]

Debian variants in general (which includes all Ubuntu variants) are relatively resource-intensive.

In addition to the multiple prior Puppy recommendations, Arch is a very lightweight, and full-featured distro. If you take the short amount of time to become familiar with the platform you can build a very efficient and effective machine.

 

[nutella]

Debian variants in general (which includes all Ubuntu variants) are relatively resource-intensive.

In addition to the multiple prior Puppy recommendations, Arch is a very lightweight, and full-featured distro. If you take the short amount of time to become familiar with the platform you can build a very efficient and effective machine.

Oh yes, how could we forget. Its quite daunting at first, but the documentation is tremendous. Its very satisfying having it setup and its a power users dream.

And to the guy who recommended AntiX, thanks. I'm looking it up now.

 

[zuron7]

Thanks for your help guys Kubuntu works like magic.
I made a mistake of burning the disk with one that was in-built with Windows.
I used IMGBURN and it worked properly.

 

[t^2]

I'm surprised Kubuntu works like magic on a low-spec computer, it's very resource-hogging.

If you ever find it too laggy or just want to speed things up, try Xubuntu. It's much lighter and requires pretty much the same know-how to configure as Kubuntu. XFCE > KDE on low spec computers.

 

[nutella]

I'm surprised Kubuntu works like magic on a low-spec computer, it's very resource-hogging.

If you ever find it too laggy or just want to speed things up, try Xubuntu. It's much lighter and requires pretty much the same know-how to configure as Kubuntu. XFCE > KDE on low spec computers.

I was surprised too. But, whatever works, I guess...

 

[trumpet-205]

Actually I would recommend Fedora LXDE Spin. Even Xubuntu is resource-hogging IMO.

Like others have said, very surprised that Kubuntu works "like a magic".

 

[Nimbus]

Puppy Linux may work, it's pretty lightweight.
Xubuntu is a long shot, but may be able to work
Lubuntu (Ubuntu with LXDE Desktop Environment) may also be a good choice

Either way, I commend you for at least considering Linux, you've made this hell-raven smile inside.