Saving an old PC with Linux

Shefwedfan

Ok, so a friend has old PC, Dell Dimension 1100. It hasn't been used in years but she was wondering could it be rescued for her kid? He will just use for browsing etc....

I had a look at it and it wun Windows Home Edition XP, has Intel Celeron 2.8Ghz proc but the main issue.....256GB RAM

It runs like a pig with XP. So I was thinking of putting Linux. Just wondering would the current versions of Linux work? Or what would be the best version to use on low spec?

Would like browser and maybe a word processor......

Thanks

Johnboy1951

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Ok, so a friend has old PC, Dell Dimension 1100. It hasn't been used in years but she was wondering could it be rescued for her kid? He will just use for browsing etc....

I had a look at it and it wun Windows Home Edition XP, has Intel Celeron 2.8Ghz proc but the main issue.....256GB RAM

It runs like a pig with XP. So I was thinking of putting Linux. Just wondering would the current versions of Linux work? Or what would be the best version to use on low spec?

Would like browser and maybe a word processor......

Thanks

You need to find a distro release that is aimed specifically at such low end hardware.

Maybe Antix or even Puppy would do it.
Probably others out there also.

In addition given the age of the PC it possibly needs a 32 bit OS.

FanadMan

Could try adding more RAM. Max it can take is 2GB. Cex are selling 1GB modules for €4 https://ie.webuy.com/product.php?sku=SMEMBDH9

It would make overall operation a lot better on any OS.

fxotoole

I was thinking you could use it as a hardware firewall, dns caching server, or router but the lack of RAM would make it difficult to do much with it

PropJoe10

You'll need at least 1GB RAM for it to be any use really, but either Lubuntu or Zorin Lite would run fine on that for basic tasks.

http://lubuntu.net/
https://zorinos.com/download/lite/

PropJoe10

fxotoole wrote: »

I was thinking you could use it as a hardware firewall, dns caching server, or router but the lack of RAM would make it difficult to do much with it

Not sure why the OP would do that when they clearly stated they wanted it for browsing and word processing.

Shefwedfan

Found the below. Anyone have experience?

http://www.linuxandubuntu.com/home/5-lightweight-linux-for-old-computers

PropJoe10

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Found the below. Anyone have experience?

http://www.linuxandubuntu.com/home/5-lightweight-linux-for-old-computers

Sure. I'd avoid the likes of Puppy Linux for your situation.Check out Lubuntu or Zorin Lite, links above.

You would need to download the ISO, burn it to a USB/CD and boot from that. You can use the likes of Rufus in Windows to burn ISOs to USB:

https://rufus.akeo.ie/

bonzodog2

OP, I'd be surprised if your Dell can boot from USB. Check in BIOS for options. Use https://www.cdburnerxp.se/ to burn CD from ISO

Keplar240B

I put LXLE distro on some old computers. but they had 2GB of ram in them
You can upgrade the RAM easily and cheaply on that PC to 2 GB

LXLE is based on Lubuntu which is an Ubuntu OS using the LXDE desktop environment. It is designed to be a drop-in and go OS, primarily for aging computers. Its intention is to be able to install it on any computer and be relatively done after install. At times removing unwanted programs or features is easier than configuring for a day. Our distro follows the same LTS schedule as Ubuntu. In short, LXLE is an eclectic respin of Lubuntu with its own user suppor

http://www.lxle.net/

256 mB is very low these days even if distros install the apps like webrowsers will hog up the memory pretty quickly.

Shefwedfan

FanadMan wrote: »

Could try adding more RAM. Max it can take is 2GB. Cex are selling 1GB modules for €4 https://ie.webuy.com/product.php?sku=SMEMBDH9

It would make overall operation a lot better on any OS.

Thanks, have decided memory is the best option. I checked on Dell website and it is listed as Dimension 1100/B110. Got the manual and found the info below. Is the memory you linked correct?

back in the day I used to work on support desk for all of this stuff Now I can't remember how to format a bloody hard drive :mad:

Type
333- and 400-MHz DDR SDRAM
NOTE:
DDR333 and DDR400 memory
runs at 266MHz when
configured with Celero
n 400MHz FSB processors
NOTE:
DDR333 memory runs at 320M
Hz when configured with
Pentium 4 800MHz FSB processors

FanadMan

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Thanks, have decided memory is the best option. I checked on Dell website and it is listed as Dimension 1100/B110. Got the manual and found the info below. Is the memory you linked correct?

back in the day I used to work on support desk for all of this stuff Now I can't remember how to format a bloody hard drive :mad:

Type
333- and 400-MHz DDR SDRAM
NOTE:
DDR333 and DDR400 memory
runs at 266MHz when
configured with Celero
n 400MHz FSB processors
NOTE:
DDR333 memory runs at 320M
Hz when configured with
Pentium 4 800MHz FSB processors

According to Crucial http://eu.crucial.com/eur/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Dell/dimension-1100# that's the correct spec.

What spec Ram/CPU is currently installed?

Shefwedfan

FanadMan wrote: »

According to Crucial http://eu.crucial.com/eur/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Dell/dimension-1100# that's the correct spec.

What spec Ram/CPU is currently installed?

Haven't opened yet....just says in System Props

Dell Dimension DE051

Intel Celeron 2.8Ghz proc

2.79Ghz, 256MB of RAM

FanadMan

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Haven't opened yet....just says in System Props

Dell Dimension DE051

Intel Celeron 2.8Ghz proc

2.79Ghz, 256GB of RAM

The RAM I listed earlier should work fine for that system. Installing 2x 1GB modules should help it quite a bit.

Worztron

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

You need to find a distro release that is aimed specifically at such low end hardware.

Maybe Antix or even Puppy would do it.
Probably others out there also.

In addition given the age of the PC it possibly needs a 32 bit OS.

+1 antiX.

Shefwedfan

thanks, memory ordered. Once it arrives will look at next steps

I guess any of the versions of Linux will run standard Firefox browser?

Also it can run freebie versions of word processor?

Never really used Linux so no idea :-)

me_irl

Shefwedfan wrote: »

thanks, memory ordered. Once it arrives will look at next steps

I guess any of the versions of Linux will run standard Firefox browser?

Also it can run freebie versions of word processor?

Never really used Linux so no idea :-)

I use Libre Office. Can read and save as docx format.

Worztron

me_irl wrote: »

I use Libre Office. Can read and save as docx format.

Yes, LibreOffice is excellent. It has Writer, Calc, etc. I use it daily.

ZENER

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I had a look at it and it wun Windows Home Edition XP, has Intel Celeron 2.8Ghz proc but the main issue.....256GB RAM


Thanks

:eek:

Shefwedfan

ZENER wrote: »

:eek:

hahaha......I work with servers and it is how many TB's do you want to put in them

God I find it hard to remember when I was working with desktops and saying 256MB was loads :)

ZENER

Am I the only one who is seeing 256GB? That is 256 GIGABYTES?!

Shefwedfan

ZENER wrote: »

Am I the only one who is seeing 256GB? That is 256 GIGABYTES?!

Sorry it was typo, 256MB I meant

Shefwedfan

Ok memory delivered yesterday. Installed and desktop is actually flying along now

Thanks for the tip on website, never used them before but perfect

Now the question, will I just leave Windows XP on it or should I reload to Linux? It is for a young lad who has only used Windows, also Word is installed on it which I didn't notice before. So should I leave as is or bite the bullet.

Worztron

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Ok memory delivered yesterday. Installed and desktop is actually flying along now

Thanks for the tip on website, never used them before but perfect

Now the question, will I just leave Windows XP on it or should I reload to Linux? It is for a young lad who has only used Windows, also Word is installed on it which I didn't notice before. So should I leave as is or bite the bullet.

Bite the bullet. XP is dead. Give GNU/Linux a go.

Shefwedfan

Worztron wrote: »

Bite the bullet. XP is dead. Give GNU/Linux a go.

Thanks, as I use it more I am thinking that might be the route. Firefox killed the processor so I found browser Lunascape which I am using on it. Works ok but really from what I can read majortyof light weight browser are Linux options

Worztron

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Thanks, as I use it more I am thinking that might be the route. Firefox killed the processor so I found browser Lunascape which I am using on it. Works ok but really from what I can read majortyof light weight browser are Linux options

Midori web browser is light on resources and it's open-source.

me_irl

Worztron wrote: »

Bite the bullet. XP is dead. Give GNU/Linux a go.

The most "natural" progression would be to use Peppermint OS.

https://peppermintos.com/

I am biased since I've been using it for so long as my daily driver.

Shefwedfan

Worztron wrote: »

Midori web browser is light on resources and it's open-source.

Tried it but after install when I opened I kept getting errors about missing files....it seemed to work but didnt like the errors

Shefwedfan

Last question, any issues with Youtube running on Linux?

Worztron

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Last question, any issues with Youtube running on Linux?

Hi Shefwedfan.

None.

Shefwedfan

Ok, so had a look around and I think the best option is Lubuntu.....based on doing a few google searchs.

The requirements are low and I would guess most app's will be supported on it

Worztron

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Ok, so had a look around and I think the best option is Lubuntu.....based on doing a few google searchs.

The requirements are low and I would guess most app's will be supported on it

Lubuntu still uses LXDE AFAIK. It's very light on resource use alright. It's not the most user-friendly desktop environment (DE) for beginners to tweak a lot but still great.

I'd go with Debian+LXDE but Ubuntu-based distros are more suited to beginners.

Also when using an Ubuntu-based distro (aka distribution) -- opt for the LTS (long term support) releases as they are the most stable are supported for many years. LTS are for example 14.04, 16.04, etc. - that is released in April on even numbered years.

cunavalos

Another option is to convert a Chrome OS clone using the home version (Free) of CloudReady from neverware.

https://www.neverware.com/freedownload

If you have an active Office 365 subscription the online apps give you access to the full suite of office programs.

I have installed it on a Dell Precision from similar era and made a nearly obsolete pc useable again

Shefwedfan

Thanks for all the help, few issues :-) I forgot how much fun it is messing with these older PC's....

So the drive in the PC is a CDRW and all I had was DVD-R and DVD-RW
Was just about to order a couple of CDR but then I noticed the file size. It is over 800MB.

So even if I get some CDR's I won't be able to install the OS.....

Also by the looks of Lubuntu the spec might be a bit high, I think it will kill the CPU, if you could call what is installed in this box a CPU these days :-)
So kind of back to drawing board

Worztron

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Thanks for all the help, few issues :-) I forgot how much fun it is messing with these older PC's....

So the drive in the PC is a CDRW and all I had was DVD-R and DVD-RW
Was just about to order a couple of CDR but then I noticed the file size. It is over 800MB.

So even if I get some CDR's I won't be able to install the OS.....

Also by the looks of Lubuntu the spec might be a bit high, I think it will kill the CPU, if you could call what is installed in this box a CPU these days :-)

So kind of back to drawing board

Consider antiX.

Shefwedfan

Worztron wrote: »

Consider antiX.

The ISO image looks to be similar size to Lubuntu? Or am I missing something?

Shefwedfan

So I went to local shop as I started to get lazy. 60 quid they wanted off me to load Linux. Also went on and on about XP and I was going to get hacked and rob all my information:-) .......they also said I could stick on Win7 onto. I said not a hope but he said no problem.....poor thing would die a death

I decided other option would be to buy a cheap IDE DVD drive. So I see one on CeX for 10 quid. Thanks again for that website I am buying too much crap off it....

While I was at it I was thinking about pulling out the HDD and putting in SSD. But I cannot find SSD with IDE connection. I guess that is a step too far for my old banger.....

Johnboy1951

Shefwedfan wrote: »

The ISO image looks to be similar size to Lubuntu? Or am I missing something?

The size of the ISO is irrelevant.

Worztron

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

The size of the ISO is irrelevant.

+1

Shefwedfan

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

The size of the ISO is irrelevant.

Is I try to burn to CDR if it is bigger than the CD it will cause an issue? No?

Johnboy1951

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Is I try to burn to CDR if it is bigger than the CD it will cause an issue? No?

If it won't fit on a CD then burn it to a DVD or USB flash stick.

The_B_Man

He said he only has a CD-RW drive, no DVD drive.
He also said his motherboard is so old it doesnt support USB boot.


EDIT: OP i'd say just get the DVD drive for a tenner and leave it at that. If you keep buying upgrades, then you're spending too much and then you'll start getting into the financial territory where you could get an Intel Pentium G4560!

Shefwedfan

The_B_Man wrote: »

He said he only has a CD-RW drive, no DVD drive.
He also said his motherboard is so old it doesnt support USB boot.


EDIT: OP i'd say just get the DVD drive for a tenner and leave it at that. If you keep buying upgrades, then you're spending too much and then you'll start getting into the financial territory where you could get an Intel Pentium G4560!

Thanks, I did that yesterday. I got one for 10 with delivery. Have a few DVDRW here ready to go.

Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow and I try and get it up and running tomorrow evening.....

If I get this up and running I think I will try and get something similar for myself, maybe a little bit more grunt in CPU...but do that up....

I promise I wont annoy people with more questions on here....I have actually started to remember most of the stuff I done years ago:P

I can't believe it is so long ago but the last time I build my own PC was in 2003:eek: scary

Shefwedfan

The struggles continue.....

I keep forgetting when dealing with old PC's always have back up plan....

So I got DVRW delivered, it was laptop one instead of PC so I had to drop it back and get refund. Got myself sorted and off I went....should have remembered less haste more speed.....

So stuck on ISO. Said to myself I must do another copy. Didn't do that of course.

Booted into Lubuntu and started install. Of course wiped the drive and then just as it was about to finish it crapped out. Now left with no OS running on system, I can boot into Lubuntu off DVD but of course can't write to DVD drive

Now to try and find someone with DVDRW installed somewhere. I have laptops etc but the skinny ones which have no DVD installed.....

I will, I promise to myself get this up and running :-)

Shefwedfan

Ok so finally have Lubuntu up and running....issue is I had a look at Zorin and really liked the look of it :-)

Anyway to resolve the DVD issue I picked up a really cheap tower, going to keep that for myself to mess around with. No matter what I tried with 16.04.03 Lunbuntu it wouldn't install so I got 16.04.01 and got it up and running....running an update on it which I think from reading will bring it up to .03....

After that looking to get those few apps installed and hopefully done and dusted finally

Thanks for all the help....

Worztron

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Ok so finally have Lubuntu up and running....issue is I had a look at Zorin and really liked the look of it :-)

Anyway to resolve the DVD issue I picked up a really cheap tower, going to keep that for myself to mess around with. No matter what I tried with 16.04.03 Lunbuntu it wouldn't install so I got 16.04.01 and got it up and running....running an update on it which I think from reading will bring it up to .03....

After that looking to get those few apps installed and hopefully done and dusted finally

Thanks for all the help....

Kudos for sticking at it. Happy computing with GNU/Linux. :-)

Shefwedfan

Worztron wrote: »

Kudos for sticking at it. Happy computing with GNU/Linux. :-)

It is flying along, maybe a little hard on the CPU but 10 times better then XP....

Have LibreOffice installed....all the main app's which he should require....even took a bash at Kodi and got that up and running.....

Going to download some notes/guides and print out....then off to the student with it....I will have a tear in my eye :P

Then I start with the new box, a little bit more power in it(massive Dual core Pentium:eek:) so will see what I use on that.....maybe Xubuntu for a start..

Thanks again for the advice everyone

Worztron

Shefwedfan wrote: »

It is flying along, maybe a little hard on the CPU but 10 times better then XP....

Have LibreOffice installed....all the main app's which he should require....even took a bash at Kodi and got that up and running.....

Going to download some notes/guides and print out....then off to the student with it....I will have a tear in my eye :P

Then I start with the new box, a little bit more power in it(massive Dual core Pentium:eek:) so will see what I use on that.....maybe Xubuntu for a start..

Thanks again for the advice everyone

You're very welcome Shefwedfan. I'm always happy to see people give Linux a try.

Shefwedfan

Worztron wrote: »

You're very welcome Shefwedfan. I'm always happy to see people give Linux a try.

Thanks, I am doing a bit of messing around....I decided to try Peppermint on the test box and loved the look of the Software Manager....so I stuck it onto the system for the student, I think it will be an easier migration from Windows.....

Have it up and running and seems to run a little quicker than Lubuntu.....

Going to finish it off and then get the box I am keeping up and running with something :P....want to try and see exactly what I can do with Linux now.....

Shefwedfan

me_irl wrote: »

The most "natural" progression would be to use Peppermint OS.

https://peppermintos.com/

I am biased since I've been using it for so long as my daily driver.

Just wondering which version of Peppermint you are running? I have installed version 8 but it seems a bit dodgy at times...