Thread: Tech Advice Needed: Small (free) OS recommendation

Well, I'm throwing in a little late here I guess, but yes, Linux is most likely the way to go.

I'm actually running Debian, Etch I believe, on a Pentium 2 300MHZ with no problems at all.

I can recall the first couple of times I ever installed Linux, I was so confused... Configuring x11 and so on. I was shocked when I installed Etch, the installation took care of everything for me. The standard GUI set up seems to include GUI tools for doing the vast majority of your configurations, set up and admin type tasks. It's great, GNU/Linux has really come a long, long way.

since this thread got resurrected...
not sure what you picked up, but i wouldn't recommend ubuntu even though that's what i run on my computers. at least not the latest version
my brother in law who has my old thinkpad is not happy with the latest 8.10 version of ubuntu to the point of rolling back to 8.4.
even after switching from kde to gnome the 384mb seems to not be enough, the cpu is pentium 900mhz, usually speedstepped down to 600mhz, so that's not the problem.
i don't think you'll care much for fancy desktop, and i'd go the small linux distros recommended in previous posts. paritioning shouldn't be a problem at all nowadays.

i haven't messed much with linux for quite some time now. i counsciously chose to go with a distribution where i am content with the defaults, and mostly to give up on playing with stuff. quite happy with that.

Decided to start messing with Linux again because of this thread. Just trying out different distro's. It's quite fun.

Tried: Pendrivelinux, pretty good, easy install but a PAIN to install new stuff on it.
Kubuntu PITA to get things configured but cool other than that.
Ubuntu, nice maybe I'll try thenewest version again.
OpenSuse (still working on that one.)
Linux Mint (have it running in a virtualbox as we speak.)

And I might try a few more.

You can make LFS (linux from scratch) extreamly small, but too much work for beginner I would think.

Steven

It's the beginner part that has me stumped - I tried to make a bootdisk of DSL, and can't get it to recognize it as such - the boot sequence is right, so?

I can see why Linux is seen as a "for computer geeks only," because I consider myself pretty computer savvy, but the criptic file names, the lack of any clear or definied installation process, and fact that there's no auto-installation package (like windows, or any windows program) really does throw one for a loop.

I'm still committed to DSL, I just have to figure out how to get the darn thing to boot!

Mark

Milton Man,

Have you made sure that your bios has been set to boot from the device you want to boot from? if you are using the live cd you will have to make sure you have burned the iso image to the cd and then the bios goes to the cdrom drive first. If you have a good bookstore close you might go look at the linux books, I think there is a good small book on running DSL. If not ask away. If you need a verified working cd you can get one from various places, including members here. PM me if you need to.

Linux is not as difficult as many think, it is just a different mindset. Much the same as shaving with a straight. You will get it and the members here will help if needed.

in edit: If I read your last post correct (for the second or third time) you have set your bios. Then you need to make sure you have made the bootable cd. This requires that you have software that will allow you to write the iso image to the disk and make it bootable. I have used isoburner for windows and roxie has the option of burning an iso. Tell us what you did and we can most likely get you up and running.

the kernels should be very generic i.e. i386, which is a subset of i586, so it should work.
unless somebody messed up, and optimized for i686 or later. i think at one point debian/ububtu? was doing that.
double check your cd.

No problem, Old_School, hi-jack away! This is all good stuff!

I've yet to figure out how to properly make a boot CD, so until I figure that out, I'm stuck with a boat anchor of a laptop. But that's just a function of time and reading on my part, and I hope to get to it soon enough.

Here's hoping you've solved your tech problems too!

Mark

OK guys one good way to help with the problem is go to google and type the name of your laptop or computer + linux and do the search.

Generally you will find a few results that will tell you what people have had good luck with on that particular machine.

I think you can also go to

Linux on Laptops

and look up your make and model to see what people have had good luck with.

Milton Man,

You need to get with someone with your local Linux users group. They will give you more info than you need and probably can have you up and going in a heart beat. Heck you may even be able to convert the bunch of free thinkers into straight razor users also.

Here is there webpage

Ottawa Canada Linux Users Group

And if you need help I can burn a bottable DSL cd and pop it in the mail. send me a pm if interested. I am not an expert by any means but I have had soem success.

scrapcan

Thanks for the offer, scrapcan - I'll be bugging you shortly!

Mark