Which linux system for an old Thinkpad

s_b

tweeter wrote: »

Zorin OS 6 Lite for old and low-spec computers.

zorin

KISS
linux mint will work from the box
i would recommend puppy but why when op has 20 giggies to play with
never heard of yours though

Kernel_Sanders

23n1th wrote: »

No provided you didn't want much in the way of storage on the 20gb hard drive.

Well, let's hope the OP hasn't wiped XP from his machine then, as he queried. It's good for another two years, and can run on 256MB of RAM if you are frugal with the programmes you want running with it.

23n1th

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Well, let's hope the OP hasn't wiped XP from his machine then, as he queried. It's good for another two years, and can run on 256MB of RAM if you are frugal with the programmes you want running with it.

Thats fine if the OP wants to run an outdated OS for the next two years which can run, just about, on that laptop with all the security it will need. But then why would the OP do that when he wants to learn about linux as stated in the first post?

esuhl

I would say that Arch would be the best distro to use by far, particularly if the OP wants to learn a bit about Linux. The installation process takes a while longer than for other distros, but if you follow the wiki step-by-step it's dead easy. The reason it takes a bit longer than normal is because nothing is installed by default, so you don't end up with a million things you don't need pre-installed and slowing down your PC, and since you get to install everything and set it all up, you know exactly what's on your system and how to configure it. It's perfect for learning how Linux works.

I tried installing XP on my netbook but it was just too slow to use. Arch, on the other hand, is pretty nippy (by comparison). And it's the only Linux distro that I haven't managed to totally screw-up and end up reinstalling! I've been using it as my main desktop OS for several years too.

Have a look here: https://www.archlinux.org/

esuhl

s_b wrote: »

KISS
linux mint will work from the box
i would recommend puppy but why when op has 20 giggies to play with
never heard of yours though

K.I.S.S. is pretty much the summary of the Arch Philosophy:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/The_Arch_Way

pedrothefish

thanks to all who contributed, I have bit to think about.
I expect I shall go a bit quiet for a few days!
What is the best way to clear the hard drive of xp?
thanks again

tronator

pedrothefish wrote: »

What is the best way to clear the hard drive of xp?
thanks again

As said before, let the installer of whatever Linux you chose take care of it.

Skeenfleent

Incidentally, the installer for Linux may or may not be able to understand any hidden recovery partition on the drive (Thinkpads have them by default).
Check in Gpartedit or Gnome Partition Editor from any good Linux Live CD (boot CD). It will list the partitions and the interface is a good one, clear to understand.

I like those Thinkpads, they're good kit, forget the age. I had a 2GB one with a slower CPU and it was FAST. Worked alright in Linux, too (Intel chipset & CPU, older Radeon, well-matured drivers, in other words).

Up the RAM to the maximum 1GB (buy a matching pair i.e. 2 x 512MB PC2100 200-pin SODIMM, I believe) and you can run anything bar Windows Vista and 7 (and a nice distro of Linux is more pleasant than those bloatwares anyway in the long term).

If you refuse to invest anything at all to balance that relatively-fast CPU with more RAM, can I recommend Anti-X (Mepis) which runs well even on my ancient PIII?

Kernel_Sanders

23n1th wrote: »

Thats fine if the OP wants to run an outdated OS for the next two years which can run, just about, on that laptop with all the security it will need. But then why would the OP do that when he wants to learn about linux as stated in the first post?

Because he might have wanted to retain it in case he couldn't get on with Linux.
But there is also the issue of misinforming people who are searching for information. When I have a problem, it is usually solved by finding the answer on an internet forum. So, somebody who has never heard of dual booting might come across this thread and see that a member with hundreds of thanks to his name has expressed the need to wipe XP in order to install a Linux distro.

23n1th

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Because he might have wanted to retain it in case he couldn't get on with Linux.

I see nowhere in the OPs first post a reference about them wanting to retain XP, in fact the question was the best linux to install.

If they had asked about retaining it I would have told them about it, and still advised wiping XP due to the issues I've already mentioned.

But there is also the issue of misinforming people who are searching for information. When I have a problem, it is usually solved by finding the answer on an internet forum. So, somebody who has never heard of dual booting might come across this thread and see that a member with hundreds of thanks to his name has expressed the need to wipe XP in order to install a Linux distro.

I have misinformed nobody. I answered the question asked by the OP. The fact you don't seem to like the answer is besides the point.