What is the best version of linux to install on an older computer?

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Feb,12

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11:05 am

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I have an old desktop from a family member. It only has 128mb RAM and that’s the most it can take. It’s a 500 MHz I think. What’s the best Linux I can put on here? Ubuntu requires 256 mb of RAM.

With your specs. As has already been suggested its really a choice of Puppy Linux or Damn Small Linux. You could take a look at Linux Mint 4.0 Fluxbox. If you wanted to go retro. you could install Windows 3.11

Download Linux Mint 4.0 Fluxbox http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_daryna_fluxbox.php

Download Windows 3.11 http://www.sirendesign.net/ernweb/redmond311.shtml

LUG.

10 Responses to “What is the best version of linux to install on an older computer?”

  1. Puppy Linux.

    http://www.puppylinux.org/
    References :

  2. damn small linux at

    http://damnsmalllinux.org/applications.html

    allow you could look around for older ubuntu Linux OS that uses less requirements.
    References :

  3. If your system is very old, I recommend you to use Puppy Linux. It is a small operating system and works great on slower computers. You entire Operating system weighs less than 150 MB. Hope this helps you out. Follow the link to download puppy Linux:
    http://www.puppylinux.org/index.php?q=downloads
    References :
    http://www.puppylinux.org/index.php?q=downloads

  4. well I have put Linux on alot of old desktops and laptop computers that have 128 meg of ram in and ssome with less ram, I have never had any problems with any of them

    I have installed
    unbutu
    pclinuxos
    opensuse

    what you need to do is download the live cd’s and test them on your system. that is the only way to find out what will run on what system.
    References :

  5. 1 CD-RW will answer your question. If Linux is anything, it’s the OS of experimenters. (There are over 300 distros.) And a non-graphic installation (command shell only) will work on a MUCH smaller computer. (I used to run the 0.92 kernel in a computer with 640K of RAM.)
    References :

  6. With your specs. As has already been suggested its really a choice of Puppy Linux or Damn Small Linux. You could take a look at Linux Mint 4.0 Fluxbox. If you wanted to go retro. you could install Windows 3.11

    Download Linux Mint 4.0 Fluxbox http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_daryna_fluxbox.php

    Download Windows 3.11 http://www.sirendesign.net/ernweb/redmond311.shtml

    LUG.
    References :

  7. I’m running PCLinuxOS with KDE on an old Compac Presario laptop with only 128 RAM/Pentium III/20 gig hard drive that originally came with Win ME loaded on it. It’s just fine to learn with, get into my online e-mail (that’s all I use anyway) and surf the web with.

    http://www.pclinuxos.com/

    To find a LUG (Linux User Group) near you who can help you a LOT:

    http://www.linux.org/groups/

    …along with a LOT of other Linux info.

    Another good site to bookmark is:

    http://www.distrowatch.com

    I hope this helps. Good Luck!
    References :
    Over a decade computing experience including just under a year with PCLOS on that laptop. Once I learn what I want/need to in order to be able to "administrate" the PCLOS as well as I can Windoze, I’m planning on installing it on my [more powerful] Desktop.

  8. Puppy Linux is probably best based on the specs you’ve listed.

    Damn Small Linux is best for systems with less than 128MB of RAM.
    References :

  9. Try SLAX or if you can get a older version of Ubuntu.
    References :

  10. You should be more specific. When you say "the best version of linux", what you really want is "the best version of linux for my uses" and that depends on what you want to use the computer for. Linux itself is only a piece of software that interacts with the hardware. Each Linux distro however is made with specific uses in mind. Without knowing what you want, it’s impossible to say "X is better than Y". If you were looking for a desktop OS to surf and word process on, I’d recommend one distro, but if you were looking to host a server, I’d recommend another entirely, etc. The idea is, there is no "best" per se, only what’s best for you.
    References :

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