Linux on 'old' laptop

Author	Message
mwaj Joined: Mar 03, 2009 Posts: 2 Other Topics	Posted Mar 03, 2009 at 12:44:00 PM Subject: Linux on 'old' laptop I am trying to use linux, any linux, on an old laptop. I've managed to install RedHat, kernal 2.4.?, but don't want to have to pay business prices for support and upgrades. Though RedHat isn't fully working yet, I've problems mounting some USB devices, I expect that they can be resolved. I've tried to fire up ubuntu 8.10, and fedora 10, neither will load at all. ubuntu just stops, fedora reports something missing in the CPU. I suspect that I'm going to need an 'older' version, can anyone suggest something that will load?
Back to top
Reed Joined Feb 07, 2008 Posts: 758 Other Topics	Posted: Mar 03, 2009 12:50:23 PM Subject: Linux on 'old' laptop How much RAM does your laptop have? If less than 128 MB, I would try Slitaz or Damn Small Linux; at around 128 MB, you could try Puppy Linux, Antix, or TinyMe.
Back to top
GNUoob Joined Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 1 Other Topics	Posted: Mar 03, 2009 1:51:15 PM Subject: Re: Linux on 'old' laptop [quote=mwaj]I am trying to use linux, any linux, on an old laptop. I've managed to install RedHat, kernal 2.4.?, but don't want to have to pay business prices for support and upgrades. Though RedHat isn't fully working yet, I've problems mounting some USB devices, I expect that they can be resolved. I've tried to fire up ubuntu 8.10, and fedora 10, neither will load at all. ubuntu just stops, fedora reports something missing in the CPU. I suspect that I'm going to need an 'older' version, can anyone suggest something that will load?[/quote] Try posting specs about the laptop
Back to top
mwaj Joined Mar 03, 2009 Posts: 2 Other Topics	Posted: Mar 03, 2009 4:05:04 PM Subject: Re: Re: Linux on 'old' laptop OK, here's the bad news. It's a Pico model 98, with 64mb memory and a 4Gb disk! [Modified by: mwaj on March 03, 2009 04:08 PM]
Back to top
ITjim Joined Mar 03, 2009 Posts: 1 Other Topics	Posted: Mar 03, 2009 7:28:31 PM Subject: Re: Linux on 'old' laptop http://www.puppylinux.org/ I just went through this. If the computer has a CD ROM drive you can use puppy live. Jim
Back to top
Reed Joined Feb 07, 2008 Posts: 758 Other Topics	Posted: Mar 03, 2009 7:50:47 PM Subject: Linux on 'old' laptop Puppy recommends at least 128 MB ram. You were able to run it off a live CD with just 64 MB? I would recommend Slitaz, Vector Linux Lite, or Damn Small Linux.
Back to top
wuy Joined Feb 04, 2009 Posts: 51 Other Topics	Posted: Mar 03, 2009 9:58:54 PM Subject: Re: Linux on 'old' laptop This guy, Kmandla, has an excellent blog with some experiments in running distros in some very old machines http://kmandla.wordpress.com This thread may be interesting too: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=575456 [Modified by: wuy on March 03, 2009 07:02 PM]
Back to top
c21aakevin Joined Mar 04, 2009 Posts: 32 Other Topics	Posted: Mar 04, 2009 9:32:31 PM Subject: Linux on 'old' laptop Will wine work with puppy. I have an old ibm laptop for my daughter. It has 256 ram, and a linksys usb wireless. It is running windows xp pro - extreamly slow. I have been looking for a win98 disk for her, but this puppy might work. The question I have is, will wine work on this? She uses it for writing, internet(not so much because of speed) and playing kids games. Also will there be issues with the wireless? I think the cd has linux software on it. <P> I am an extream nube with linux. Haven't crashed enough yet. I kind of get it, but still having troubles figuring things out. I am just sick of the bulkyness of windows, and all the fragmented files everywhere. Kevin Thanks, Kevin(noob) - Running Opensuse 11.0/Gnome & Window XP-SP3(dual boot) \| Toshibe M-35 Satellite \| 1.4GHz Intel Centrino \| 2 Gig ram(max'd) \| nvidia video GeForce 5200 - beta driver loaded
Back to top
Binary Snake Joined Jan 11, 2009 Posts: 197 Other Topics	Posted: Mar 04, 2009 11:28:33 PM Subject: Linux on 'old' laptop Yes, Wine works with puppy, and with any other linux distribution, here is a link how to install and use it on puppy: http://www.puppylinux.org/wiki/applications/various/wine . And 256mb of ram for puppy will be more than enough. And for wireless, I think linksys provide drivers for linux, but I can't find a link to download them on their official site nor on cisco's website (as linksys is now a division of cisco systems).
Back to top
kewlharsh Joined Mar 02, 2009 Posts: 57 Location:Melbourne, AU Other Topics	Posted: Mar 05, 2009 7:04:17 AM Subject: Linux on 'old' laptop Binary Snake is right. Wine works fine with puppy linux and there should be no problem, as in my experience of using puppy for the last 6 monnths, it has not crashed even once. http://linuxpuppy.wordpress.com/ is one of the puppy linux blogs that provides a detailed guide to getting puppy and installing it on the computer. good luck. Whenever you feel like criticizing someone, just remember that all people in this world have not had the same advantages that you have had. - The Great Gatsby http://puppylinux.hostrator.com/
Back to top
mr..vw Joined Mar 05, 2009 Posts: 11 Location:中国 Other Topics	Posted: Mar 05, 2009 12:56:32 PM Subject: Linux on 'old' laptop 唉,内存只有64M,那么你的CPU应该是P233的档次了! 这样的笔记本其实可以用Slax、Hiweed或者Knoppix等轻量级的系统. ---上面是汉语,下面是英语--==--Upstare is Hanyu,follows are English--- Ah,You computer has only 64M ram, and your CPU should be P233 less or more! As there are poor resource on your laptop, You can try to use Slax 、Hiweed or Knoppix or other lightweight system. 听，下雨的声音...
Back to top
Toshiba Satelite Joined Apr 30, 2009 Posts: 22 Other Topics	Posted: Apr 30, 2009 5:56:44 PM Subject: Linux on 'old' laptop a mate of mine used Xandros or something like that on his little ibm thinkpad, it had 96 ram and 366mhz proccessor, he said it went great Free Movies
Back to top
Munich Joined Apr 28, 2009 Posts: 4 Other Topics	Posted: Apr 30, 2009 8:30:27 PM Subject: Linux on 'old' laptop very interesting, I'll try it on a old notebook with 300mhz processor an 128MB RAM in a view days when I've got time enough. B2B - Vantargis Factoring GmbH
Back to top

Forum Index » Forums » New to Linux