Sunday, January 6, 2013

Is there a Linux distribution small enough to run on a VERY old laptop?

Q. I've looked at previous answers and what the askers call "old" makes this one seem like Methusalah. It's a Dell Latitude LM, an old Pentium laptop running Win95, with 24mb RAM and a hard drive smaller than one gig. I'd like to do something with it (maybe even give it to my cat to watch screensavers). Any advice (other than using it as a doorstop) will be welcome.

A. I have successfully installed and used the following on old Pentium I class machines.

Damn Small Linux (second version, the one that's not damn small)

Debian-GNU 1.3 (or anything basically pre-Sarge)

Redhat 6 (prior to Redhat Enterprise and Fedora)

OR

You can install DOS and play Pacman on it the whole day.

What is the best Linux distribution for a beginner?
Q. I don't know anything about Linux. Should be easy to use and should be an active and popular distribution that is still updated from time to time and has an active developer team.

A. Here are some options for installing or trying out Linux

Option One (Full installation)

I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 9 Main Edition which is built upon Ubuntu 10.04 Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled

Linux Mint 9 Download
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=52

The Perfect Desktop - Linux Mint 9 (Isadora)
http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-9-isadora

Linux Mint 9 User Guide Download pdf.
http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_isadora.php

You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 9 then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation

Linux Mint 9 can also be run direct from the LiveCD from Booting up without touching your Hard Drive

Also worth considering :

Fedora Remix (Fedora with elements of Linux Mint)
http://fcoremix.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/lucky-13/
http://iso.linux.hr/community-fedora-remix/
http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/Fedora/13/html/User_Guide/

Again Fedora Remix can be run direct from the LiveDVD without touching your Hard Drive

Option Two (Install Linux inside Windows)

Installing Ubuntu as a dual-boot with Windows without partitioning
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/wubi

You keep Windows as it is, Wubi only adds an extra option to boot into Ubuntu. Wubi does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader, and does not install special drivers. It works just like any other application.

Wubi keeps most of the files in one folder, and if you do not like it, you can simply uninstall it as any other application.

Boot in to windows insert the Ubuntu 10.04 LiveCD and you will offered the option of installing inside windows which is where the Wubi installer comes in, you will be asked how many gigabytes you wish to allocate to Ubuntu (I recommend 8gb) then you set a password for your installation then click install and thats it.

Once Ubuntu is fully installed upon starting your PC you will be given a choice of which operating system you want to use Windows or Ubuntu

Ubuntu 10.04 Download
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) User Guide
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Lucid

Linux Mint 9 which is built upon Ubuntu 10.04 has a similar feature called mint4win and the directions given above for Wubi can be followed
http://duncsweb.com/2009/09/27/mint4win-a-wubi-based-installer-of-linux-mint/

As with Linux Mint 9 and Fedora Remix, Ubuntu 10.04 can also be run straight from the LiveCD without touching your Hard drive

Option Three (LiveCD)

Here the possibilities are endless as you can try out as many different Linux distros. as you like until you find the one thats right for you DISTROWATCH.COM gives full listings (second lists the major distributions)
http://distrowatch.com/

Major Linux Distributions
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major


LUg.

What is the best linux distribution for Mac?
Q. I just recently got my hands on an old Power Mac. It happens to have OS distribution 8 point something.This info is mostly for the purpose of dating the thing.
What I want to know is what is the best distribution in this case: Yellow Dog or Ubuntu? I am a super guru on PCs but I am relatively new to the world of Linux and I'm not an expert on Macs either. Also something preferably with a decent GUI and internet capabilities would be nice.

A. Macbuntu is best, which is basically Ubuntu made to look like Mac. I would test any distribution by getting a USB and installing Linux from an ISO or disc onto the USB and booting to the USB.




Powered by Yahoo! Answers

No comments:

Post a Comment