Tech Tip 126 - Resurrecting an Old PC with Linux

Posted by ttblogger on 06/10 at 09:36 AM Permalink
image

Not only is Linux a viable replacement for Windows on desktop and laptop computers, it’s widely touted as being able to breath some life back into old computers. Why even bother? Aside from the potential environmental impact of disposing of an old PC, simply because hardware is out of date doesn’t mean it’s useless. You can use older computers as file or media servers, stripped-down workstations, or even as low-cost computers in cash-strapped schools. The Linux Caffe, an Internet cafe in Toronto, even uses old ThinkPads running Linux as terminals.

Not all Linux distributions are suitable for an older PC, however – many current ones eat up a considerable amount of memory, processor power, and hard drive space. Luckily, there are a number of small and light, but fully-featured Linux distributions that can be used to resurrect an old PC.

Read Full Article Click Here
    Posted by Dennis P. Skea  on  06/10  at  09:33 AM

  1. Got 2 old 386’s, one has windows 3.1, the other has ???  This sounds like something to try.  (Considering I know nothing about this geek stuff, this should be a challange!!!)

    2. Posted by Greg Talbott  on  06/10  at  10:09 AM

  2. I have considered experimenting with Linux on some older Pentium systems but hesitated to do so as these older motherboards have no onboard video and identifying some of these video cards is practically impossible.
    I just am hesitating that I will run into hardware compatability issues as I am green to the Linux software.
    Some links to address such issues would be a great addition to this article.

    3. Posted by SkyWlf77  on  06/10  at  10:21 AM

  3. Decently written article.  I myself have been experimenting with Linux recently as my home network has grown and I don’t relish the thought of spending $100 or more on each copy of Windows XP Pro for these machines.  Add to that the fact that Linux cooperates better with Macintosh Operating Systems and Linux will make my life so much easier.

    I have not tried using this on older PC’s yet, but I have a few slower Pentium 3’s here that I might use to give it a shot.  Thanks for pointing out the distros that are worth looking at.

    Linux also gives me an option to be able to offer cheaper computer systems to my clients as well as ones that don’t require enormous amounts of time scanning the system for Adware, Malware, Spyware and the like.

    I actually use two hard drives in my main machine--One running Windows XP Pro for compatibility reasons and the other running SimplyMEPIS 6.5.  I use the MEPIS Linux drive to back up my pictures, music files and other important documents in case of a Malware or Virus attack against my Windows drive.  Those Malware/Virus problems don’t cross platforms, so I know that even if my XP Pro drive becomes a victim, all my important files are backed up and secure.

    Thanks for an informative article!

    4. Posted by Captain  on  06/10  at  11:30 AM

  4. Great info as usual from Geeks.
    Keep up the good work.

    5. Posted by susan  on  06/10  at  11:55 AM

  5. i have an old ibm 300PL i tried this on.it didn’t work- it no longer “sees” the keyboard or mouse, and is basically useless.

    6. Posted by john  on  06/10  at  01:27 PM

  6. Good article.

    Something to try. Some older distros have lower hardware requirements. I have been able to run Red Hat v. 8 or 9 on a Toshiba 300mhz laptop with 96mb ram although very poorly. It can run with Knoppix v3.5(?).

    Off topic (a little).
    I started with Red Hat 7 in late 2000. Now off windows except for Palm backup and needing windows to get new data for car and handheld GPS units.

    Request: I would like to see Geeks put comments on products about ability to run Linux or run under Linux. It could be simple involving putting a live distro in a new computer and see what happens. You could then make comment such as “wireless card doesn’t work. May be possible with some work.” or “Computer/device won’t work with live distros Fedora 7, Ubuntu or Knoppix. Fix is unknown.” or works with [distro].

    I think you could word the disclaimers to protect you and still give some of us an idea of immediate usability of products.

    I am now on the lookout for a laptop for a grandson and have run into good deals that I have passed on because no one has even tried them with linux.

    7. Posted by Paul Yearwood  on  06/10  at  02:03 PM

  7. I had an old Presario I used with Puppy Linux and a few others until the power supply died. I got eight years out of it.  Puppy OS is designed to load entirely into RAM memory, usually needing between 60 and 90 Meg RAM to function. This is a live CD, like DSL, which means it does not need to be loaded to the hard drive. The Xubuntu is also a live CD.

    I keep a copy of Puppy handy because it can be used as a rescue live CD. It can access all areas of a hard drive and can use the internet, all live. Since it loads entirely into ram, my dead machine had 160 RAM, you can use the cd/dvd drive after it is loaded. When I used in on my Presario with 400 Mhz Pentiun, it was faster than my Semperon 1.6 Ghz with 512 RAM and XP Home.

    It can also be loaded into a flash drive, but older machines would not handle that technology. I found Puppy to be a fun distro to play with and keep for rescue operations.

    8. Posted by KAP  on  06/10  at  02:50 PM

  8. might want to put up another source for DeliLinux, the original one that was put in the article - http://www.delilinux.de/ - the connection timed out (could be just TimeWarner being goofy).no workie.

    ah hell, 2 seconds of googling got me a good source for the iso and info - http://delili.lens.hl-users.com/

    other than that, nice summary of what to do with old doorstops. wink

    oh yeah… does having “x x x” without spaces in your email address get you a blacklist?

    9. Posted by Richard  on  06/10  at  07:38 PM

  9. Not bad i have used them all in the past by far pavorite is puppy. Great fully featured distro.

    10. Posted by F. Baker  on  06/10  at  08:04 PM

  10. I started playing with differant builds of Linux. The Ubuntu was very good but seemed to not like to read or use wifi cards. MEPIS32 was my choice. It recognized everything and is super on older systems. Also,when I ran in to a glitch on install, a simple re-boot and resume often fixed the hang!

    11. Posted by J. Gainvors  on  06/10  at  08:18 PM

  11. I currently am running XP (no kidding right?) and I was wondering if it would be possible to install a version of linus to the other partition on my Hard drive. I know windows usually throws a fit about installing several copies of an OS and I was wondering if during the boot process you would have the same option of which to boot to. Advice is welcome.. Thanks!

    12. Posted by Lestin Cooper  on  06/10  at  08:33 PM

  12. Pretty cool

    13. Posted by BSD Freak  on  06/10  at  11:26 PM

  13. I am sad that you did not mention FreeBSD.  :(

    14. Posted by Paul Yearwood  on  06/11  at  02:03 AM

  14. Yes, you can dual boot. As long as you do not use the entire hard drive for your Linux installation, you will be asked where to put your GRUB or LILO. This will enable you to choose at bootup which operating system to use. I once had a triple system boot option. I had XP, 98, and Linux installed when my system was built.I do not recommend that unless you have two harddrives. You will be asked if you want to boot into XP or your Linux. Remember, Linux is about choice.  Have fun and good luck
    Paul

    15. Posted by ec2biz.com  on  10/02  at  06:35 AM

  15. I started playing with differant builds of Linux.

    16. Posted by Flexible houses  on  11/01  at  11:24 PM

  16. Linux might be perfect but i wouldn’t work on it anyway( Even if Linux installation were a single way to turn my pc back to life. I have tried to work with Linux, but can’t “find common language” with it and feel rather incomfortable.

    17. Posted by Justin Reed  on  03/26  at  03:26 PM

  17. I love linux Ive used fedora core and am currently using ubuntu and its great

    18. Posted by Kjellstine  on  09/23  at  03:11 AM

  18. Very informative and enlightening website

    19. Posted by Catoenya  on  09/23  at  11:56 PM

  19. A exceptional happy site!

    20. Posted by Augustlena  on  09/24  at  10:51 PM

  20. Thank you for the card so that I may look on the website. I love the picutres. I will continue to look on the website to observe you latest pictures.

    21. Posted by Gjermundtilde  on  09/29  at  10:43 PM

  21. Very interesting & professional site. You done great work.

    22. Posted by Hugoseline  on  09/30  at  03:36 AM

  22. Great web site! I love the content, pics and hard work!

    23. Page 1 of 1 pages

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:

Smileys

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Submit the word you see below:


Next entry: Tech Tip 127 - Five Must-Have Firefox Extensions

Previous entry: Tech Tip 125 - Setting Up a Home or Office Wireless Sound System

<< Back to main