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DanceMan
05-04-2003, 03:11 AM
I have an old Pentium 133 AST with an 850mb hard drive, and a 33.6 hardware modem. I want to put Linux in it so I can leave it at my girlfriend's as an e-mail checker and light web browser.
I could use Win 98SE and not have a problem with the tiny hard drive, or with 32, 48 or 64mb of RAM. But I'd like to start actually using Linux.
I have most of the recent Mandrake and RedHat distros except for the ones just released. Some of the distros have a problem installing into small hard drives, at least for a newbie who isn't sure which packages to get rid of. The standard install choices are usually too large.
Getting past that hurdle, are the Linux distros, if used with a small desktop like Iceworm, heavier users of RAM than 98SE to the point where I'd have to significantly increase the RAM?
Any advice appreciated.
I would install Slackware, or maybe Debian.
hkctr
05-04-2003, 05:09 AM
Might want to try Vector Linux 3.2, non SOHO version. Small, light and may suit your needs without having to select and install packages individually.
z0mbix
05-04-2003, 05:18 AM
go with Debian...
hkctr
05-04-2003, 10:37 AM
Your getting some real global support here DanceMan. Argentina, Japan and the UK!
Make sure your swap partition is at least as big as the amount of ram you have. No matter what you choose, it will be a tight squeeze if you install X. If you don't know what packages to choose and MDK and RH is what you have experience in, Debian may be a bit of a challenge. Hence my Vector suggestion because it is about 230mb to download and install in about 400mb if I remember correctly. It has Icewm pre-configured as well as a couple of browsers and e-mail programs included. It comes with a simple text based installer and some configuration tools to get you going.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
sarah31
05-04-2003, 11:38 AM
damnsmalllinux or peanut could also serve you well.
DanceMan
05-04-2003, 01:32 PM
Thanks, eveyone. I had the idea that X did increase Linux' RAM needs relative to Win, but I'm not much of a command line type, though I could handle it for an install, with instructions or prompts.
jetblackz
05-04-2003, 01:54 PM
http://www.vectorlinux.com/ gets my vote.
It's 500MB after install. Light GUI. Your box will run it fine with swap.
DanceMan
05-04-2003, 02:09 PM
After looking around, I think Vector Linux sounds like the best for this computer, and my newbie status.
Peanut takes up about 800mb of hard drive, too much for an 850mb hdd. Damnsmalllinux is probably too minimal for me.
Vector Linux takes up 435mb on the drive and has an older version of Xfree for pre-P200, which should be good for the 1mb onboard video in the AST.
madcompnerd
05-04-2003, 04:17 PM
Vector, it was about the only thing that worked on my old Pentium classic with 80MB of EDO memory.
Use the old version of X.
Good luck. It will be slower than crap.
DanceMan
05-11-2003, 03:05 AM
I'm still on dialup. Slow is relative.