[fwlug] Getting Linux onto an old laptop

[Vern Ceder]

I was going to suggest Slackware as well... it's always been my favorite 
for old/slow hardware.

Then if you want a GUI, go with XFCE or IceWM or even Fluxbox...

Cheers,
Vern

Patrick P wrote:
> My bad... Slackware still supports that if you have at least a 486 
> processor. The install is a little unfriendly and may take multiple 
> tries to get right.
> Slackware Linux doesn't require an extremely powerful system to run 
> (though having one is quite nice :). It will run on systems as far back 
> as the 486. Below is a list of minimum system requirements needed to 
> install and run Slackware.
> 
>     * 486 processor
>     * 16MB RAM (32MB suggested)
>     * 100-500 megabytes of hard disk space for a minimal and around
>       3.5GB for full install
>     * 3.5" floppy drive 
> 
> Additional hardware may be needed if you want to run the X Window System 
> at a usable speed or if you want network capabilities.
> 
> 
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     From: parspe at hotmail.com
>     To: fwlug at fortwaynelug.org
>     Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:00:38 -0500
>     Subject: Re: [fwlug] Getting Linux onto an old laptop
> 
>     Good luck. I would suggest searching around on www.linux.org
>     Most mainstream distros these days do not support that little ram,
>     but you can maybe find something.
> 
>      > To: fwlug at fortwaynelug.org
>      > Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:22:59 -0400
>      > From: jonathan.bartels at gmail.com
>      > Subject: [fwlug] Getting Linux onto an old laptop
>      >
>      > I recently acquired an IBM Thinkpad ?2620? from my in-laws
>     basement. The
>      > think has 20MB of ram, roughly 2GB of disk, some gummed up PCMCIA
>     slots,
>      > and a downright nasty j-mouse. It currently has Win95 installed,
>     but I'd
>      > like to get Linux onto it.
>      >
>      > My main goal is to have a good command-line distro running on it with
>      > acceptable networking support. Of course I'm doing this just to have
>      > something to do, but hey it should be amusing. Might send some
>     pics into
>      > AfrotechMods when its done!
>      >
>      > What I need from FWLUG is:
>      > 1. Advice. I know I can stuff a decent Ubuntu install into 1GB or
>     less,
>      > but it'll likely choke on even a minimal set of services. What
>     distros
>      > are out there that would give me acceptable support of pcmcia network
>      > adapters, an acceptable text-editor (I prefer nano, but really should
>      > learn vi), a few screens (3 or 4), a development webserver (like
>      > CherryPie or WEBrick) and w3m?? A good package mangler system
>     like RPM
>      > or apt is a plus. Oh and I don't have a CD drive or USB ports. So
>     it'll
>      > have to boot from a floppy and set up a network connection.
>      > 2. A wireless PCMCIA card. I've got a few 10 and 10/100 PCMCIA cards
>      > running around, but I'd like to be able to lug this thing into
>     meetings
>      > and at least appear to be able to take useful notes. Anyone got one
>      > they'd be willing to part with?
>      >
>      > So any thoughts?
>      >
>      > --
>      > --
>      > Jon Bartels
>      > jonathan.bartels at gmail.com
>      >
>      > PS - I've had it running for 10 minutes and Windows95 has already
>      > frozen.
>      >
>      >
>      > _______________________________________________
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>      > Fwlug at fortwaynelug.org
>      > http://fortwaynelug.org/mailman/listinfo/fwlug_fortwaynelug.org
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-- 
This time for sure!
    -Bullwinkle J. Moose
-----------------------------
Vern Ceder, Director of Technology
Canterbury School, 3210 Smith Road, Ft Wayne, IN 46804
vceder at canterburyschool.org; 260-436-0746; FAX: 260-436-5137