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Linux for an old laptop?
I wanted to get my old toshiba laptop working, preferably with linux but with it's spec, I'm not sure what will work. It has a pentium 3 500mhz processor with 64mb RAM. I have already tried a few distros... Mint/ubuntu didn't boot altogether, Crunchbang loaded fully but came up with an error and froze, I don't like puppy linux, DSL did perform very well but I hate the looks of it. DSL also has very little functionality, I mean, it can't even mount a pen drive. So i don't know what I should choose now. Could someone direct me to a linux distro that looks good and will work on my laptop? Thanks.
Quick answers appreciated
Thanks for the reply but Xubuntu requires 192mb to install and my laptop only has 64mb. I don't want to spend money on a ram upgrade because it just isn't worth it for my heap of junk.
6 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
There is also linux mint 7 Xfce http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/linuxmint.com/stable/7/co...
XFCE is a good window manager for not so powerful computers, give it a try.
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I saw it asks for 256 Mb..
There is another Linux version,
http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_elyssa_xfce.php
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Source(s): http://www.linuxmint.com/blog/?p=1026 - Anonymous1 decade ago
There is not very much choice in Linux using GUI's with that small amount of memory. That would probably work with a Linux that is console command only. Maybe Feather Linux, Slax Linux or NimbleX Linux would work since you already shot down two that I would have suggested. You won't find full blown distributions that will run on that amount of RAM. Even if you found one it would load slow, run slow and take time to do anything. It wouldn't be enjoyable. Wish you the best.
You could do an internet search for Linux Distribution Lists and review what is available. Maybe you can find a few that may work. The processor is OK, but its the Ram that makes it difficult to find a Linux that will work. You may be able to get some more ram cheap from a computer shop for an older computer. Or a Computer Recycle place.
- 1 decade ago
Linux is great and you can even use an old crappy laptop to use
with todays programs, like chat, torrents, web browsing , music,
movies, almost everything.
For a slow laptop like yours, Xubuntu should be the distro for you.
Source(s): with 64 mb of ram it may be slow installing it. There is also a distro I heard of called Really fast linux that only requires 64 mb of ram maybe even 32, but I am not to familiar with it, try Xubuntu and try to buy some ram for your old laptop, 128 should be good. - jerry tLv 71 decade ago
You are asking for a lot if you want it to "look good" and run on 64 mb ram. It takes ram to look good; to have nice background, pretty icons, nice window frames, fast response, well drawn components, etc.
You will have to avoid desktops like kde and gnome, and use one of the lighter desktops. THen you will have to configure the looks to how you like it.
Here are some examples of linux installs on little ram.
Have fun
Source(s): http://www.linux.com/archive/feed/52134 http://distrowatch.com/search.php?category=Old+com... - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- † Oh yeahLv 61 decade ago
It's not so much your processor that is the problem, it's the amount of RAM. To support the heavier more complex looking desktop environments you will need more RAM.
