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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux distro for an ancient Pentium PC (lemmy.ml)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

63 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I need some help finding a distro for a very old machine.

It's my family's old desktop with 2001 components (bought in 2004) and a Pentium CPU that is NOT i686. I checked the exact model and architecture once but I don't remember it now. The only thing I remember is that it's not i686 so 99% of modern 32 bit distros don't work on it (stuck right after grub).

The machine has 1 Gb of DDR1 RAM though so I think it may be useful or at least fun to play around with.

Now it's on Windows XP that runs quite well but doesn't support modern SSL certificates so it can't browse the internet (idk how to fix it ok?).

A long time ago I tried to run multiple distros in live mode on it and got only one (Puppy) to work. Display, sound, ethernet and pretty much everything worked fine. GPU seemed to be an issue though because NVidia and I couldn't install the driver (it was skill issue and I think it's possible to do). But now it doesn't work for some reason.

Are there any Linux distros or other operating systems (preferably not deprecated) that I can install on it? And btw it does have bootable USB support.

EDIT: There are way too many answers and a lot of ones that don't mind the architecture limitations. I'm grateful to everyone who replied but I have to close this discussion now and I will not reply to further answers. I have received enough information and I cannot physically read so many replies.

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[–] [email protected] 28 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Tiny Core would probably run on it.

I have it on a PII 333MHz with 192MB of RAM from 1999. It grinds to a halt if I try to open pretty much any modern website though.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I just checked it and it seems to be an independent distro. Does it have a repo or do I have to compile everything I want to install?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It has a repo with programs you can install. The selection is fairly limited though.

http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/doku.php?id=wiki:install_apps

That computer is in the basement and I'm not having any luck finding a list of what's available.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Hmm I can't find a browseable repo so idk if there's anything useful for it but I might check it out. Thanks

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

the repos are browsable inside the package manager - I would imagine they are browsable outside as well, but I have never had cause to do so.

honestly, give tinycore a shot. fire it up in a VM and take a look around - it really is an amazingly useful distro.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

My main Linux machine is too slow to run a VM of any kind

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

understood. tinycore is a live installable distro, so you can still test it on bare metal.

pick the GUI flavor and kick the tires for a while.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

If you do compile something, it is very easy to make it an installable package you could share. I'm not sure how the repos are managed