Resurrecting an ancient laptop - Linux distribution?

adamdynamic

Hey,

I've just inherited a fairly old laptop (it has Windows XP but also a floppy disk drive so I'm not exactly sure how old it is), it runs very slowly though I'm hoping that because of the volume of rubbish software on it.

I read somewhere once about a version of Ubuntu that was specifically stripped-down for use on old laptops but I can't seem to find any reference to it anywhere?

A simple laptop with a simple word processor/spreadsheet package etc would be really useful for me, does anyone here have any experience rescuing these types of machines? Or is it too old and beyond repair?

Any advice on this would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Adam.

fwor

From recent threads, Lubuntu and Xubuntu are the versions that need least resources, with Lubuntu needing least, but you really need to know how much memory it has to be sure.

If it runs Windows Ok (but slowly) then either will probably work. Or you can go even more cut-down and use Puppy Linux, though whether something like OpenOffice will run on top of that I don't know.

For hardware testing, run either of the above as a LiveCD and see if it will boot up properly.

Donnie

Post the specs before you get started. You can use CCleaner. The specs will be shown at the top of the program interface.

Maybe Xubuntu will do.

closed

Post a hijackthis log, if it came with XP originally, XP will still run fine on it once you've either reinstalled XP, or cleared up the startup gunge.

bob_man_uk

im not a fan of open office, it is really slow to load on my relatively powerful netbook and ubuntu 10.04.

I guess its just trial and error for finding the linux os that will suit you, but for an openoffice alternative i suggest koffice.org it may require you to have a load of KDE libraries installed (especailly if you go for an ubuntu type OS which usually defaults with gnome) but with todays install helpers, if you have a fast internet connections downloading and using should be relatively easy.

puppy linux is quite small and light, and iirc comes with a few tools for opening common office documents.

DeLi is apparently suited for very low spec machines, only needing 750mb of hdd space, however i have never used it so dont know how easy it will be to install itself or other software,

theres also DSL (damn small linux) and feather linux.

ive never tried them but dsl is a stripped down knoppix (first linux os to have a livecd OS) but all that is is modified debian.

choice is yours, all i can say is fill your boots and try as many as you dare to install until you find one that works perfectly.

Hammyman

You need DSL-Damn Small Linux. Will run on 64MB. Uses a X session with a very lightweight windows manager. The GUI is not the prettiest but its got all the hardware support and the latest software and runs at a good lick.

jbreckmckye

Ubuntu, even in its lighter forms, may still be too bulky for this machine. DSL would be far too spartan - and its developers have moved on to Tiny Core Linux anyway.

The most obvious candidate would be Puppy Linux - try OpenBox Puppy. Or I hear TinyMe is quite good, if a bit less attractive. There's also Slitaz, but it works better as an administrator's LiveCD than as a permanent desktop distro.

I hear great things about Zenwalk too.

Donnie

We haven't quite yet got the specs...

adamdynamic

Donnie wrote: »

Post the specs before you get started. You can use CCleaner. The specs will be shown at the top of the program interface.

Maybe Xubuntu will do.

Hey, Thanks for the replies everyone. I've run CCleaner and Hijackthis and the info is as follows:

CCleaner:

MS Windows XP Home SP2

239MB RAM, Trident Video Accelerator CyberBlade XP Ai1 v6. 4022-16B.22ICDNP

Hijackthis:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 16:37:20, on 01/01/2000
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16608)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\Agent\mcagent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\00THotkey.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\TPWRTRAY.EXE
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Controls\TFncKy.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Wireless Hotkey\TosHKCW.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Album Starter Edition\3.0\Apps\apdproxy.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_02\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apntex.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\CCleaner\ccleaner.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.co.uk/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = www-cache.reith.bbc.co.uk:80
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_02\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: scriptproxy - {7DB2D5A0-7241-4E79-B68D-6309F01C5231} - C:\Program Files\McAfee\VirusScan\scriptsn.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar3.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\2.0.301.7164\swg.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar3.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [00THotkey] C:\WINDOWS\System32\00THotkey.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Apoint] C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Tpwrtray] TPWRTRAY.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TFncKy] TFncKy.exe /Type 10
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TosHKCW.exe] C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Wireless Hotkey\TosHKCW.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Photo Downloader] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Album Starter Edition\3.0\Apps\apdproxy.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_02\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Policies\Explorer\Run: [start] C:\Program Files\Online Video Add-on\isfmntr.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.exe.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search & Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {4E62C4DE-627D-4604-B157-4B7D6B09F02E} (AccountTracking Profile Manager Class) - https://moneymanager.egg.com/Pinsafe/accounttracking.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1158595837678
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: endopsychic - {92050ffb-b796-4146-ae27-7e5e1d93b8a8} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\veptlh.dll (file missing)
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Services (mcmscsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Proxy Service (McProxy) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe

--
End of file - 6596 bytes

From doing some reading around the internet it seems like loading a distro onto a 'liveCD'(?) and testing it that way first to make sure it can see all the hardware etc, something else I'll have to read up on though!

Any advice on where to go from here would be appreciated!

Thanks again,

Adam.

GunJack

Puppy Linux download page here......it's small, cute and the newest version has good driver support:-

http://puppylinux.org/main/index.php?file=How%20to%20download%20Puppy.htm

I use it on occasion, and even though I'm a dyed-in-the-wool windows user, it's pretty good Download the ISO, burn to CD, and set the old lappy to boot from CD. Fire it up and have a play

The other advantage of trying it this way is that it just runs in RAM, and won't damage your current XP install on the hdd (unless you tell it to, of course)

Savvy_Spender_South

A cheap hardware upgrade for about £20 would be to increas the RAM to 1GB. Check DABS and Ebay for a SODIMM 1GB. you can find your current one by turning the LAPTOP upside down and removing a couple of small screws. Google TOMS HARDWARE for a step by step guide. This small cost will reap instant rewards for general word processing and simple calculations. The Manufacturer of the LAPTOP may still have detail on their website of the total spec it can handle. This can be a good guide when selecting a SODIMM to purchase. enjoy....