Linux on old computers

Peter B

I have 3 old desktop computers. All three used to run windows and are quite slow now. I have read that you can install Linux on old computers and use them for browsing the web, word processing, programming etc. I have read loads of forums about how to install Linux but it seems like a real mission to get it running properly.

What I probably need is an old free version and which I could install as a secondary OS using a dual boot system. Are there people you can get to install it? I would like to try with one computer first. When I was looking into getting Linux I needed partition magic and to buy Mandrake. It just looked like so much effort and money on something I was experimenting on.

Could someone please suggest is running Linux on an old computer a good idea or not? Is it expensive to set up and is it difficult? Are you able to get people to install it for you (at a cost of course)?

Thank you in advance. I understand Linux is a Ferrari compared to Windows (wheel barrow) and want to test the water before I make the full plunge.

Khannie

What you should do is download a livecd. This allows you to boot from the cd and test the operating system without actually installing it.

If the computers are old, surely you're happy enough to lose the windows installs?

There are a lot of linux distributions out there, but for old desktops and someone new to linux I'd suggest xubuntu. You can download the livecd here.

If you intend installing and running it for anything other than basic stuff (web / word documents / etc. ). You will need to do some reading.

bushy...

Peter B wrote:

I have 3 old desktop computers. All three used to run windows and are quite slow now. I have read that you can install Linux on old computers and use them for browsing the web, word processing, programming etc. I have read loads of forums about how to install Linux but it seems like a real mission to get it running properly.

It isn't that hard really , if they are old pcs it makes it even easier . You just need to think about the whole thing a different way. Windows works well and is polished (ish) because people just wanted something shiny that they could install and use without thinking , and paid well for it ....so the company can afford to have lads working on making it look polished.

Peter B wrote:

What I probably need is an old free version and which I could install as a secondary OS using a dual boot system. Are there people you can get to install it? I would like to try with one computer first. When I was looking into getting Linux I needed partition magic and to buy Mandrake. It just looked like so much effort and money on something I was experimenting on.

You don't have to spend anything, there are plenty of free tools/distributions out there. Instead of worrying about dual-booting/saving partitions first time either get yourself a small (10gb type size) hard disk and install it on that or just decide to convert one of the three over completely . One less thing to worry about. It Will Work(tm).

Peter B wrote:

Could someone please suggest is running Linux on an old computer a good idea or not? Is it expensive to set up and is it difficult? Are you able to get people to install it for you (at a cost of course)?

It is a great idea , you'll be surprised how quick some old stuff can be sometimes, and there is no need to get someone to install it for you , esp since you have a second pc to look up the web if you get stuck. The installation programs for many distributions are all clicky buttons and stuff , you wont have any problems really

Peter B wrote:

Thank you in advance. I understand Linux is a Ferrari compared to Windows (wheel barrow) and want to test the water before I make the full plunge.

If you get a distribution and add loads and loads of shiny stuff it will end up like the Ferrari in that old Lotto ad with the hay trailer .

If the pcs are really old maybe this would suit :
ftp://ftp.oss.cc.gatech.edu/pub/linux/distributions/damnsmall/current/current.iso

again its a bootable cd , but all the stuff is chosen to be almost as small as possible

monkey tennis

+1 for Xubuntu

eoineen

Peter

I'd be happy to share any experiences with you on the installation of Ubuntu on older PCs. You might want to check out this thread here to get a sense of what I have done with my old Inspiron.

sound_wave

For old computers I would go with Damn Small Linux http://damnsmalllinux.org/ it can be run as a live cd or from RAM and weighs in at just 50 megs with the option to extend the OS using apt as its based on Debian. It can even be run from within windows too

Squeeonline

I am currently running Ubuntu 7.04 on a Pentium 3 500Mhz piece of sh*t. It runs really really well. Granted it does things slower that newer computers but thats expected. I can do almost everything that someone with XP can do, (except playing big games) and without having to use M$.

The one program i hate, is Openoffice. It works but i find it really slow compared to when i was running Win98 and MS office. If i could run MS office i would be much happier.

generalmiaow

How old are they peter? The good news is that for some some things linux actually runs better on old hardware than new ones, because the hardware has been around longer, and there's some stuff like scanners and old network cards that don't have drivers for new versions of windows, but work in linux without having to install anything.

Xubuntu is fully functional for oldish computers, then next in line, IMO would be vector linux (slightly harder to install) and then Damn Small Linux. There's linux for even older computers, but it can be hard to set up as they are more specialised. Must be noted also that testing using a LiveCD doesn't give you a good idea of performance once installed.

bushy...

Had forgotten about :

http://goodbye-microsoft.com/

Its an easy way to install debian , you can change to fluxbox or similar later.

Red Alert

Xubuntu is good. Software installation is easy for a newcomer too and most Ubuntu advice also applies to it.

All the Ubuntu distributions have the installer on a live CD which includes openoffice and a web browser so you can try out the real thing and just click install when you're ready. I think it does partition resizing.

generalmiaow

Red Alert wrote:

Xubuntu is good. Software installation is easy for a newcomer too and most Ubuntu advice also applies to it.

All the Ubuntu distributions have the installer on a live CD which includes openoffice and a web browser so you can try out the real thing and just click install when you're ready. I think it does partition resizing.

It does, and not only that, you can even catch up on your work or browse the web while it's installing, not that it takes too long.