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    Help setting up Linux on an older PC

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by jojoinnit, Feb 14, 2008.

  1. jojoinnit

    jojoinnit Notebook Consultant

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    I have an old Dell Latitude LS ultra-portable.
    It is:

    P3 400Mhz
    64MB of ram
    4.5GB HD

    Currently it is running XP which as you might imagine is close to unusable with only 64mb of ram.

    It has an external floppy and a single USB 1.1 slot.

    What distro would you recommend and any advice on installing from the USB? Unfortunately, it has no option to boot from USB. (This is from 1999-2000). Know of any way to enable USB booting on an old machine?

    Thanks!

    Edit: Also, I need a distro that will let me use a wireless card.
     
    jojoinnit, Feb 14, 2008
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  2. Telkwa

    Telkwa Notebook Consultant

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    Try looking for the latest BIOS version. If there's a download that's newer than the one you're using, you could try flashing it. A newer BIOS might enable boot from USB.
    Flashing the BIOS is not a risk-free proposition so be careful if you do this.

    Damn Small Linux is designed to run from USB flash drive. That lappy is so old, and is so feature-less, that I'd say you're very close to the point of wasting your time and energy.
     
    Telkwa, Feb 14, 2008
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  3. jojoinnit

    jojoinnit Notebook Consultant

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    Theres no new BIOS. As for how old it is, if I can get it going on Linux, theres no reason it can't be perfectly usable for typing and web browsing.
     
    jojoinnit, Feb 14, 2008
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  4. rm2

    rm2 Notebook Consultant

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    A while back I installed Vector Linux on a machine with no CD or USB. I used an old serial Zip drive to copy the OS image into the hard drive. There were instructions on how to create a boot floppy that would then use the image to complete the installation. It worked very well and I still miss using that old Sasteroids game that came with it. I wonder is Vector still has something like that.
     
    rm2, Feb 14, 2008
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  5. timberwolf

    timberwolf Notebook Consultant

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    The damnsmalllinux (DSL) distro http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/ still maintain a boot floppy image and one of their minimum requirements boast "Run light enough to power a 486DX with 16MB of Ram".

    If you hunt around on their wiki documentation I am sure you'll be able to find a method for running and installing DSL without a CDROM drive.

    I've had Puppy linux and Debian running on a Pentium 120MHz cpu with only 48MB ram, it was a bit slooow.
     
    timberwolf, Feb 14, 2008
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  6. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

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    There is also MEPIS Antix which is pretty darned good, and meant for older machines
     
    theZoid, Feb 14, 2008
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