Linux for my laptop

[zmatt]

I have an old Pentium 2 laptop. it is 400mhz has 160mb ram and has a 5 gig hard drive. what would be a good dstro for it? I want it to run well but also to have all the standard features of an OS, i know that some of the smaller distros can be limited. I have already tried Ubuntu 6.1 but the cd crashed the computer.

 

[macdude425]

Debian. You can strip it down to nothing so I think it'd be perfect for you.

 

[zmatt]

Does Debian have wifi support? i have a pcmcia wireless card for this computer, and it would be awesome if it would work cause they never built in an ethernet port for some reason.

 

[macdude425]

You will likely have to install using a wired netcard (if you use the Debian Netinstall method, which gets 80% of the software you use from the internet), but after that, you SHOULD be able to use wireless, depending on the card. What card do you have?

 

[jakec]

Here are two of the best sites for Linux & laptops, go there and see what other users have done with your model laptop

Linux on Laptops
TuxMobil: Linux With Laptops, Notebooks, PDAs and Mobile Cell Phones

as for distros:

Kubuntu
Kubuntu - The KDE Desktop


Mandriva
Mandriva One - Mandriva Linux


PCLinuxOS .92
FTP archive directory /pub/metalab/distributions/texstar/pclinuxos/live-cd/english/preview/
ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/distributions/texstar/pclinuxos/live-cd/english/preview/

This is the distro I use and recommend, Why because it works right out of the box. No need to configure Everything, everything just works. It also comes as a 1 CD install that is a live CD that you can install later if you wish.

Mephis
MEPIS | an OS for the 21st Century

if you want to try some Lighter options:

Vector Linux
VectorLinux - VectorLinux.com

DSL
DSL information

Puppy Linux
http://www.puppylinux.org/user/viewpage.php?page_id=3

Slackware
The Slackware Linux Project

BeaFanatIX
BeaFanatIX

Elive:
Where Debian meets Enlightenment

if your still unsure of the distro & need more help deciding, try these distro choosers:

http://eedok.voidofmind.com/linux/chooser.html
zegenie Studios Linux Distribution Chooser
polishlinux.org » Distro chooser
Desktop Linux At Home - Distro Selector

Jake

 

[zmatt]

Thanks for all the help. I decided on using vector linux because it supports ym sound card out of the box unlike the others, which i found needed extra drivers to work.

 

[ZenOswyn]

If you have any speed problems with their default desktop (I believe it's KDE) try XFCE, IceWM, or Fluxbox. I had a laptop with even lower speeds, and those window managers ran wonderfully on it.

 

[zmatt]

OK thanks for the tips. I have heard the XFCE which is the default for the version i downloaded has some issues with my hardware but IceWM works fine.

 

[zmatt]

Update:


i installed Vector no my laptop, and i installed LILO but when i boot the machine up my BIOS says no operating system was found. Also the X11 package will not install for no good reason. Does this mean i wont have GUI? and if so can I set one up after the fact?

 

[macdude425]

It appears LILO did not install properly. You may have to go back to the installer and reinstall LILO.

(BTW, if you have the option, get GRUB - it's a little better.)

And yes, you SHOULD be able to get X11 after the fact.