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OS for low spec laptop

  • 08-11-2007 10:09am
    #1
    The Machine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 148 ✭✭


    Hi all,

    I've recently upgraded my laptop to a shiny new Dell Vostro. :D

    My old Compaq laptop is running XP but it is very slow, so to speed it up I was thinking of putting a more lightweight OS on it. Maybe some sort of Linux OS. Do you think this might help? If so, what Linux distribution would you recommend?

    Here is the spec of the Compaq:
    Presario 700EA,
    1GHz AMD Athlon,
    256MB RAM
    20GB Hard drive.

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    Agent Smith
    Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 21,504 Mod ✭✭✭✭Agent Smith


    Try Zenwalk


  • #3
    Fabio
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,280 ✭✭✭Fabio


    maybe a version of ubuntu...thiking of doing that to an old laptop myself.


  • #4
    Tom Dunne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    I think the Window Manager is key here. Try one with ICE Wm, I believe it is fairly light weight.

    I'll actually move this over to the Unix forum, you'll get some better suggestions there.


  • #5
    monkey tennis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 583 ✭✭✭monkey tennis


    Xubuntu could be worth a look (the RAM is likely to be the bottleneck for any GUI on this system btw)


  • #6
    xjr400
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8 ✭xjr400


    gentoo, only emerge what you need, leave all the extras out or if thats too hard core:P, damn small linux :)


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  • #7
    bushy...
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,467 ✭✭✭bushy...


    You can cut down XP a good bit to bring a good increase in speed ( google for tools to make your own "XPlite" install disc , don't go downloading .isos , a few are trojaned to death) . I did it with a similar machine for the craic , it was at the desktop in about 17secs and shutdown in about 5 .
    Another option is Debian ( lazy way http://goodbye-microsoft.com/ ) , but tell it to finish the install before it goes mad and installs gnome ,kde and all the rest of the software on the planet . Then install Fluxbox or similar so you have a desktop going .


  • #8
    The Machine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 148 ✭✭The Machine


    Thanks for all the great advice! I'll check out some of these options....


  • #9
    Khannie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,485 ✭✭✭✭Khannie


    If you just fancy a dabble in linux, I'd suggest xubuntu. It's lightweight enough to run ok on that box.

    If you fancy getting your hands dirty, and want the best performance, I'd suggest gentoo. My box only has 68MB in use after boot. Nice. :)


  • #10
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,567 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    www.puppylinux.org is also good , tiny and it looks very like windows

    A complete operating system with suite of GUI apps, only about 50 - 140M and boots directly off the CDROM.


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