Installation

[Beginner166]

I was trying to install Linux (Mandrake 8.0) to a an older machine P166 with 48 mb ram but after installation was successfull I found out that machine was quite slow. (I picked up to system just documentation, Internet workstation packages and firewall). Browsing was successfull but after trying to get security updates done the system hangs up. Software updater tells 99 procent is done (downloads packages from Internet well) and ends up there (I waited 5 mins).

I assume that this is too heavy so just would like to know which Linux version would be in level with this old machine. I have an older (Red Hat 6.2) Linux disk too but still found out that it makes doesn´t find my netcard quite easy. I have 3Com 905c card and basic idea is to use machine for web browsing (xwindow is needed).

[Mnemonic]

I am not sure what to tell you regarding the security updates. However, I would stick with MDK 8.0 (rather than try and use an older version).

When you say your machine was slow, you failed to mention what window manager or desktop environment you were trying to run. I would stay away from KDE or Gnome and use a light weight window manager instead. Something like Xfce, IceWM, Blackbox, Fluxbox, or Windowmaker would be much better with the quantity of memory you are currently sporting.

[2damncommon]

The trouble with using an older PC for your first Linux install is that the install needs to be tailored to that PC. This is easily outside what someone who has never used the software can do. Also you will not get the same impression of Linux as someone who has a sucessful install on their brand new P4 PC.
That being said, you can do it.
1. After install you need to find out asap how to shutdown unwanted services in whatever distro you are using. This can get tricky as some services that may seem to be unnecessary are needed by other programs you want to run.
2. Linux distros and packages are optimized by processor type. Slackware and Debian are i386. In other words they will install to about anything. Mandrake is at least i586, and some of their packages are i686. If low RAM wasn't your problem, trying to update a package to i686 may have been. Your Pentium processor is a 586.
3. Choice of windowmanager. If you are running with KDE or Gnome currently, use ICE instead. If ICE was installed you can just select it from your login box after startup.
You did not mention hard drive space. If your drive is small (less than 1 GB) this could be causing you problems if you aren't monitoring disk usage.
Good Luck.

[hiteksurplus]

Slackware has a version of Zipslack made for machines with 4 MB of RAM.

http://www.slackware.com



:D