Is this worth attempting?

eamon

Hello Everybody

I would like to try a version of Linux. To accomplish this I have an old PC (256mb RAM & 30gb HD) It is currently powered by XP pro SP2 (wants to upgrade itself to SP3). After 6 years (actually parts of the machine are 11 years old) of use the machine is slow and stuffed with software updates to this & that. I'm thinking that I could give it a new lease of life by installing Linux and removing XP and all the other supporting software.

Is this a good MSE idea/plan? I don't mind killing the machine if in the process I learn something!

Look forward to your feedback

Eamon

[Deleted User]

Quickest way to speed the machine up would be to reimage it either with pre-imaged discs from when your purchased the machine or with an XP disc.

You could then install something like this: http://www.vmware.com/products/ws/ and install Linux.

Or if you wanted, install Linux as the native OS.

Third option would be to create a bootable ISO of something like this: http://www.knoppix.org/ if you wanted a more temporary approach to Linux

chunter

Yeh well worth it. Ubuntu may need a little more than 256mbyte to run at an ideal speed, but it'll be noticeabley quicker than windows.
The ubuntu disk will let you do a "temporary" install to see how you like it.

Excellent for just surfing the web with almost complete safety, (inc firefox and NoScript) without the need for any antivirus stuff dragging the machine down.

FreheitOverture

Sure, why not. You may not be able to get the most advanced version of Linux with that RAM? (Although Im not a Linux geek so don't know!) I like some versions of Linux and I reckon its better to have a go and learn something.

timbim_2

On that hardware I'd be tempted to try xubuntu or fluxbuntu as well, and see which you find a better trade-off of speed against features, or indeed buy some more RAM, which is dead cheap these days.

garrydh

As others have mentioned Ubuntu can be tried out using a live CD without installing to the hard disk. This can be a great way to check that all (or most) of your hardware is actually going to work. Hardware detection is better now than ever before but there is still occasionally hardware that is not supported or requires extra configuration.

You're probably best sticking with plain Ubuntu as it's one of the easiest to use and most documented. But if it does run too slow Xubuntu would be a good bet.

There's also a whole host of different versions of Linux that you can use but Ubuntu, or a variant of it, is a great starting place.

eamon

Yes, thats all very interesting and supports my thinking. I should say that I've ran the machine through crucial and more RAM isn't an option. The machine will only be used for basic surfing, a little home office work and as it has a CD ROM & CD writer it gets used for copying CD's occasionally.

Many thanks so far.

Eamon

456789

Sounds like a great idea to me - and Linux is definately a good learning experience - if you are connecting a printer etc. to it though check first if that linux distro has a driver for it

patman99

DON'T try ubuntu as a first linux, it st definately for more intermediate users. Quite a lot of hardware needs tweaking from with shell (Linux equiv. of MS Dos).
For a PC with such modest Memory, you could try either Damn Small Linux (DSL), or MiniPCLinuxOS.
I installed the former on a friends laptop with just 64Mb Ram & 4.2Gb hD. It was installed and surfing the net within 15 minutes. As for the latter, I have that installed on a pendrive with some recovery utilities installed just in case one of my PCs dies.

DCFC79

Its worthy of an attempt,

eamon

I got of my a*** and I've gone and done it! I now have Xubuntu, cute rodent and the logon screen scared the s**t out of me, wasn't expecting a short sharp drum riff!

Anyway to the serious stuff. I assume that I still need firewall & antivrus, which ones work fine with Xubuntu products? (At the mo the PC is disconnected from the net)

Look forward to your replies.

Eamon