new to linux ... few questions please.

[nikosgreekos]

I have an older computer thats quite slow with XP and I was thinking about using LINUX for that reason becuase I heard it runs very well on older systems. I want to try it out first without installing it so I magine I should be downloading a " LIVE CD " version I was told but there's so many that I don't know which to use. Anyone with suggestions on this? Also, how do I make it so it's bootable when I turn on the machine without running under XP?

[winemaster]

Chech out XUbuntu. Google it. I am told it is for older computers

[nikosgreekos]

Chech out XUbuntu. Google it. I am told it is for older computers

no mention of this one running off the CD without having to install the OS, i wanted to stay clear of that until I can get a feel of it first.

Anyone else know about any LIVE CD version thats bootable off the disk?

[cdnLilWolf]

I have an older computer thats quite slow with XP and I was thinking about using LINUX for that reason becuase I heard it runs very well on older systems. I want to try it out first without installing it so I magine I should be downloading a " LIVE CD " version I was told but there's so many that I don't know which to use. Anyone with suggestions on this? Also, how do I make it so it's bootable when I turn on the machine without running under XP?

You didn't specify what kind of horsepower you're talking about. Winemaster's suggestion is good as the Xfce is less intense. However, using something like Fluxbox as your window manager is even more practical if eye candy has little meaning (though it is still not too bad).

Most mainstream distro's have stripped down versions or someone else has done it for them. If you want to run from the command line, DSL has a version that will run on a 486.

Checkout distrowatch.com

[Digiital]

If he's running XP, I would think running Ubuntu or Kubuntu would work well for him. But like the others have said, what are the specs on the machine?

[cdnLilWolf]

If he's running XP, I would think running Ubuntu or Kubuntu would work well for him. But like the others have said, what are the specs on the machine?

He also said XP runs slow (which could mean anything). I'm suspecting a PII or likely a PIII.

[Digiital]

I saw that part and as we all know after time XP does bog down in speed. And requires a reinstall every few months, but if the machine was installed with XP orginally then at that time it was fast enough for XP. So it's most likely not a issue with the processor but XP itself.
I've run XP on a 400Mhz with 256 without a issue. Which is more then enough for K/Ubuntu


He also said XP runs slow (which could mean anything). I'm suspecting a PII or likely a PIII.

[nikosgreekos]

If he's running XP, I would think running Ubuntu or Kubuntu would work well for him. But like the others have said, what are the specs on the machine?

Sorry, its a P3 500 256mb ram 32 mb video

[Digiital]

Give one of the live CDs a shot and see how you like it. You should be fine with that system.

[alladnsane]

Hey, I am still in transition from windoze (and happily pursuing a windowless pc). I started with a PIII800 512M ram and lousy video and I ran Ubuntu 7.04 way better than WinME ran. That machine would barely (if at all) run WinXP. I am now running Celeron 1.8 with 1G ram and Ubuntu 7.10 (gutsy) which will run off a live cd very well (mine ran with internet support straight off the cd...everything but my printer - don't buy a lexmark!!!!). My original live cd experience with ubuntu has made me a linux supporter 98%. That will change to 100% after I get a printer that supports linux. Other than my printer, both my old pc and my slightly newer pc have been supported right off the cd (although both were better after installing and running the updates!). I also must say that I installed with a separate /home partition and when I killed my ubuntu recently while really screwing around with my printer, re-installation kept ALL of my settings and was super easy, which makes experimenting and playing around really enjoyable.

[Digiital]

My Samsung Laser printer right on the box said it was supported in Linux.

[Ken_ver_1_5]

you'll want at least 512 meg ram any lower and things will be very slow.

[ssadams]

no mention of this one running off the CD without having to install the OS, i wanted to stay clear of that until I can get a feel of it first.

Anyone else know about any LIVE CD version thats bootable off the disk?


http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download its a live cd download with an installer on the desktop :)

[cdnLilWolf]

Sorry, its a P3 500 256mb ram 32 mb video

Under those circumstances I will still recommend against Ubuntu 7.10 out of the box. Its too demanding for what you have. I have Edgy Eft on a P3-600 and its tedious for everyday use.

My suggestion is as before, a stripped down (GUI-wise) distro like Fluxbuntu (lots of others to pick from). Loading in the latest version of Gnome or KDE desktop will drive you nuts. OTOH, you may have a higher tolerance than I for screen response. Another avenue is to go legacy (an older version) on the distro of your choice. Here I would be more picky and restrict the choice to either Fedora Core 4 or 5 or Ubuntu Breezy (because they're mainstream and still widely used).

[nikosgreekos]

Under those circumstances I will still recommend against Ubuntu 7.10 out of the box. Its too demanding for what you have. I have Edgy Eft on a P3-600 and its tedious for everyday use.

My suggestion is as before, a stripped down (GUI-wise) distro like Fluxbuntu (lots of others to pick from). Loading in the latest version of Gnome or KDE desktop will drive you nuts. OTOH, you may have a higher tolerance than I for screen response. Another avenue is to go legacy (an older version) on the distro of your choice. Here I would be more picky and restrict the choice to either Fedora Core 4 or 5 or Ubuntu Breezy (because they're mainstream and still widely used).

This is driving me nuts already, I have been looking for half an hour for the LIVECD of Fluxbuntu and can't find it anywhere. Theres plenty of the Install files to download but no LIVE CD to be found. They really do not make it easy to switch over .. I'm already frustrated.

[cdnLilWolf]

This is driving me nuts already, I have been looking for half an hour for the LIVECD of Fluxbuntu and can't find it anywhere. Theres plenty of the Install files to download but no LIVE CD to be found. They really do not make it easy to switch over .. I'm already frustrated.

My apologies. Fluxbuntu does not have a LiveCD (That I can find). That said, XUbuntu should work for you as well.

Check here for Dapper Drake Legacy version.. http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/xubuntu-releases/6.06/release/

or here for Gutsy if you want to be brave.... http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/xubuntu-releases/7.10/release/

[nikosgreekos]

My apologies. Fluxbuntu does not have a LiveCD (That I can find). That said, XUbuntu should work for you as well.

Check here for Dapper Drake Legacy version.. http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/xubuntu-releases/6.06/release/

or here for Gutsy if you want to be brave.... http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/xubuntu-releases/7.10/release/

thank you ..im going to try the dapper drake. Wish me luck!

[linuxguru]

Here is a listing of many links to live linux cd's.
On an older PC I would recommend Puppy Linux

http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

[nikosgreekos]

Here is a listing of many links to live linux cd's.
On an older PC I would recommend Puppy Linux

http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

I went to click do download it and it keeps saying that it cannot find the URL. In the meantime I downloaded FEATHER LINUX, maybe not the right one for my machine but I do have it which is a releif after all this searching. So I have the file .ISO burned on a CD, Is this supposed to be the LIVE CD and boot with a menu screen??

[cdnLilWolf]

I went to click do download it and it keeps saying that it cannot find the URL. In the meantime I downloaded FEATHER LINUX, maybe not the right one for my machine but I do have it which is a releif after all this searching. So I have the file .ISO burned on a CD, Is this supposed to be the LIVE CD and boot with a menu screen??

PuppyLinux FTP is here ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/

From what I can see, Feather Linux is a live CD. He does have a separate download for thumb drives though.

[nikosgreekos]

PuppyLinux FTP is here ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/

From what I can see, Feather Linux is a live CD. He does have a separate download for thumb drives though.

I got it booted up to the Linux desktop
I tried Firefox but could not connect, went to setup wireless connection but could not find wireless connection. Can you help me here?

[cdnLilWolf]

I got it booted up to the Linux desktop
I tried Firefox but could not connect, went to setup wireless connection but could not find wireless connection. Can you help me here?

I have not played with wireless a lot yet. So far the house has a wireless connection between the router and the print server (D-link WBR2310 to DPR1260) and the Nintendo Wii, everything else is hardwired (which I prefer).

This link makes a reference to an app called "rutilit". Check this review and it's references on how to fine tune it. They make it sound simple anyway.

http://madpenguin.org/cms/index.php/?m=show&opt=printable&id=7536

[linuxguru]

Setting up wireless in linux might be a bit difficult for people new to linux. Play with a live cd or two for a while - then try a full installed version - after that try wireless. Some linux distros support wireless out of the box for certain wireless chipsets. Most will require the setup of ndiswrapper [a linux tool] to allow using Windows wireless drivers to get the wireless working.

[Superman3332001]

Setting up wireless in linux might be a bit difficult for people new to linux. Play with a live cd or two for a while - then try a full installed version - after that try wireless. Some linux distros support wireless out of the box for certain wireless chipsets. Most will require the setup of ndiswrapper [a linux tool] to allow using Windows wireless drivers to get the wireless working.

I agree with you linuxguru. I had to try several flavors of linux till I found one that worked with my wireless card.

[Superman3332001]

I have an older computer thats quite slow with XP and I was thinking about using LINUX for that reason becuase I heard it runs very well on older systems. I want to try it out first without installing it so I magine I should be downloading a " LIVE CD " version I was told but there's so many that I don't know which to use. Anyone with suggestions on this? Also, how do I make it so it's bootable when I turn on the machine without running under XP?

ubuntu 7.10 works for me. I love it.. Maybe even look at opensuse.

[Omnios]

Sorry, its a P3 500 256mb ram 32 mb video

Ubuntu live cd requires 300+ megs

[Omnios]

you'll want at least 512 meg ram any lower and things will be very slow.

Sadly it will still run on 256megs but much slower than previos releases.

This is for 2008 os realeases which is still very good.

[Superman3332001]

thank you ..im going to try the dapper drake. Wish me luck!

Good Luck and feel free to post questions here if you need help and I am sure that myself or someone else would be more than happy to help you if they can. :)