Linux for an old laptop?

Question

I wanted to get my old toshiba laptop working, preferably with linux but with it's spec, I'm not sure what will work. It has a pentium 3 500mhz processor with 64mb RAM. I have already tried a few distros... Mint/ubuntu didn't boot altogether, Crunchbang loaded fully but came up with an error and froze,...

Answer 1

There is also linux mint 7 Xfce http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/linuxmint.com/s...
XFCE is a good window manager for not so powerful computers, give it a try.
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I saw it asks for 256 Mb..

There is another Linux version,
http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_elyssa_xfce...
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Answer 2

There is not very much choice in Linux using GUI's with that small amount of memory. That would probably work with a Linux that is console command only. Maybe Feather Linux, Slax Linux or NimbleX Linux would work since you already shot down two that I would have suggested. You won't find full blown distributions that will run on that amount of RAM. Even if you found one it would load slow, run slow and take time to do anything. It wouldn't be enjoyable. Wish you the best.

You could do an internet search for Linux Distribution Lists and review what is available. Maybe you can find a few that may work. The processor is OK, but its the Ram that makes it difficult to find a Linux that will work. You may be able to get some more ram cheap from a computer shop for an older computer. Or a Computer Recycle place.

Answer 3

Linux is great and you can even use an old crappy laptop to use
with todays programs, like chat, torrents, web browsing , music,
movies, almost everything.

For a slow laptop like yours, Xubuntu should be the distro for you.

http://www.xubuntu.org/

Answer 4

You are asking for a lot if you want it to "look good" and run on 64 mb ram. It takes ram to look good; to have nice background, pretty icons, nice window frames, fast response, well drawn components, etc.
You will have to avoid desktops like kde and gnome, and use one of the lighter desktops. THen you will have to configure the looks to how you like it.
Here are some examples of linux installs on little ram.
Have fun

Answer 5

It's not so much your processor that is the problem, it's the amount of RAM. To support the heavier more complex looking desktop environments you will need more RAM.

Answer 6

Try puppy linux. If it doesn't work, give up and cry. =(