linux download

sonny989uk · 10-30-2006, 08:18 PM

old comp died think i might put linux on it need to know where to find it please

**K-B** · 10-31-2006, 04:11 AM

Hi sonny989uk, first of all welcome to the Forums

There are many "distros" (distributions) of Linux readily available, such as Ubuntu, Suse, Fedora, Xandros, to name a few. Ubuntu is definitely the most highly touted distro for beginners, for its ease-of-use. Ubuntu is available for download HERE You can also have it shipped to you on a CD for free, if you have a slow internet connection. However it can take several weeks for it to arrive.

While Ubuntu is highly popular, it is not the only one recommended for beginners. All the distros I mentioned above are popular also. I personally prefer Fedora Core. You may wish to do some research on different distros. A good site that has distro reviews, links to support forums, and general info is DistroWatch. Many distros also offer a "live" CD, which allows you to test-drive Linux without changing or installing anything on your computer.
Good luck

**Bartender** · 10-31-2006, 06:30 AM

What part of the old PC died? How much RAM does it have? What's the CPU? My old P3 450MHz does OK with 650+ MB RAM. Not great, but OK. I'm thinking about trying Xubuntu, which is tailored for older PC's. It's still Ubuntu, but using a lighter graphic user interface. Both GNOME (Ubuntu's GUI) and KDE (Kubuntu's GUI) are a pleasure to work with but require more RAM. Think 512 at least if you want a system that won't be limited by RAM.

**K-B** · 10-31-2006, 08:12 AM

I have a P3 450mhz that I've run Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Linspire, Santa Fe, to name a few on it. And it only has 256mb RAM. Currently I'm running Windows XP Pro on it, and I use Dreamweaver, Photoshop, GIMP, with no problems.

**Bartender** · 10-31-2006, 08:54 AM

Hi, k -
Perhaps I overstated the RAM issue. I didn't mean to indicate it wouldn't work, just that a person shouldn't expect a really snappy PC. Much better than XP of course

.
You and I have identical processors. I've gotta wait at least a second or two for most Ubuntu app's to come up.
Abiword takes 6 seconds to give me a page and cursor.
OpenOffice takes 25 seconds or so to appear.
RhythmBox takes 6 seconds to show me the library.
Clicking my terminal icon on the desktop takes about 2 sec. to give me a cursor.
GIMP = 16 seconds.
I shut off gdesklets cause running a couple of them bogged the PC down so much.
It'll play music that I've ripped to the hard drive, but according to top CPU usage goes to about 30%. CPU usage jumps up noticeably (10% or so) just running System Monitor!
CPU usage flashes to 100% momentarily for any action. Maybe that's a good thing, I don't know.
I'm not unhappy with it, especially since the thing cost me nothing and has provided my introduction into Linux, but I can't wait to build a more robust PC!
EDIT: I've got the directions in "Beginning Linux" for turning off some of the services. Have you tried any of that? I don't know if it's worth it

**K-B** · 10-31-2006, 09:06 AM

I've never tried turning off services in Linux.
True enough, this old pc runs XP with no problems, but it is very slow. Slowly but surely. GIMP takes 33 seconds to load, Photoshop takes 1min 30seconds!
I'm sure running Linux would be faster

donkey42 · 11-04-2006, 02:10 PM

i think you'd probably be better trying different OS's by using VMware

**K-B** · 11-04-2006, 03:40 PM

Xubuntu would also be a good candidate. Light and fast.

**Cellus** · 11-05-2006, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donkey42

i think you'd probably be better trying different OS's by using VMware

While you can get a general feel for an OS using it through a virtual machine, it will not be entirely authentic. It will always be slower. Keep this in mind if you ever decide to do this - the real deal will be faster.

donkey42 · 11-06-2006, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellus

While you can get a general feel for an OS using it through a virtual machine, it will not be entirely authentic. It will always be slower. Keep this in mind if you ever decide to do this - the real deal will be faster.

true, but you can remove a lot a the delay by installing VMware tools (onto the guest) and not splitting the virtual HDD into 2 Gig files (i think it splits vHDD into 2 Gb files to be compatable with FAT32, cos i think the file size in FAT32 is limited to 3 or 4 Gig, not sure which)

**Cellus** · 11-06-2006, 10:27 AM

That will help, however it will still run slower. This is because you have "two systems" running on one - they both have to share resources. I'm simply saying this to be mindful that the complete experience can not be witnessed while using the virtual machine. If there are complaints that it is running too slow, it's not the OS to blame but the usage of a virtual machine.

Don't take this the wrong way, I'm a VMware fan. I've even attended their seminars.

donkey42 · 11-06-2006, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellus

Don't take this the wrong way, I'm a VMware fan. I've even attended their seminars.

i'm not disagreeing with you, i think VMware is great too, but if someone wants to try linux - VMware is the easiest way to go, you were right to point out the performance degradation if you use VMware (i should have mentioned it in my original post, thank god there's someone else (who knows more than me on TSF)

)

**Cellus** · 11-06-2006, 02:19 PM

No worries.

10-30-2006, 08:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
sonny989uk Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1 OS: xp	linux download old comp died think i might put linux on it need to know where to find it please

10-31-2006, 04:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
K-B Moderator, Linux Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,880 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	Hi sonny989uk, first of all welcome to the Forums There are many "distros" (distributions) of Linux readily available, such as Ubuntu, Suse, Fedora, Xandros, to name a few. Ubuntu is definitely the most highly touted distro for beginners, for its ease-of-use. Ubuntu is available for download HERE You can also have it shipped to you on a CD for free, if you have a slow internet connection. However it can take several weeks for it to arrive. While Ubuntu is highly popular, it is not the only one recommended for beginners. All the distros I mentioned above are popular also. I personally prefer Fedora Core. You may wish to do some research on different distros. A good site that has distro reviews, links to support forums, and general info is DistroWatch. Many distros also offer a "live" CD, which allows you to test-drive Linux without changing or installing anything on your computer. Good luck __________________

10-31-2006, 08:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
K-B Moderator, Linux Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,880 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	I have a P3 450mhz that I've run Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Linspire, Santa Fe, to name a few on it. And it only has 256mb RAM. Currently I'm running Windows XP Pro on it, and I use Dreamweaver, Photoshop, GIMP, with no problems. __________________

10-31-2006, 08:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Hi, k - Perhaps I overstated the RAM issue. I didn't mean to indicate it wouldn't work, just that a person shouldn't expect a really snappy PC. Much better than XP of course . You and I have identical processors. I've gotta wait at least a second or two for most Ubuntu app's to come up. Abiword takes 6 seconds to give me a page and cursor. OpenOffice takes 25 seconds or so to appear. RhythmBox takes 6 seconds to show me the library. Clicking my terminal icon on the desktop takes about 2 sec. to give me a cursor. GIMP = 16 seconds. I shut off gdesklets cause running a couple of them bogged the PC down so much. It'll play music that I've ripped to the hard drive, but according to top CPU usage goes to about 30%. CPU usage jumps up noticeably (10% or so) just running System Monitor! CPU usage flashes to 100% momentarily for any action. Maybe that's a good thing, I don't know. I'm not unhappy with it, especially since the thing cost me nothing and has provided my introduction into Linux, but I can't wait to build a more robust PC! EDIT: I've got the directions in "Beginning Linux" for turning off some of the services. Have you tried any of that? I don't know if it's worth it Last edited by Bartender; 10-31-2006 at 08:57 AM.

10-31-2006, 09:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
K-B Moderator, Linux Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,880 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	I've never tried turning off services in Linux. True enough, this old pc runs XP with no problems, but it is very slow. Slowly but surely. GIMP takes 33 seconds to load, Photoshop takes 1min 30seconds! I'm sure running Linux would be faster __________________

10-31-2006, 06:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	What part of the old PC died? How much RAM does it have? What's the CPU? My old P3 450MHz does OK with 650+ MB RAM. Not great, but OK. I'm thinking about trying Xubuntu, which is tailored for older PC's. It's still Ubuntu, but using a lighter graphic user interface. Both GNOME (Ubuntu's GUI) and KDE (Kubuntu's GUI) are a pleasure to work with but require more RAM. Think 512 at least if you want a system that won't be limited by RAM.

11-04-2006, 02:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
donkey42 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 46 OS: Kubuntu Feisty	try VMware i think you'd probably be better trying different OS's by using VMware __________________ Intel P4 3Ghz Ceder Mill, Corsair VS 1Gb DDR2 PC5300, Kubuntu (Feisty), NV Geforce 6200 (256Mb), Seagate HDDs, Foxconn P4M800P7MB, AC/97, Antec TP Trio 550W, AOC 7Vlr, Hayes Ethernet Router 15085 (i think)

11-04-2006, 03:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
K-B Moderator, Linux Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,880 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	Xubuntu would also be a good candidate. Light and fast. __________________

11-06-2006, 10:27 AM	#11 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	That will help, however it will still run slower. This is because you have "two systems" running on one - they both have to share resources. I'm simply saying this to be mindful that the complete experience can not be witnessed while using the virtual machine. If there are complaints that it is running too slow, it's not the OS to blame but the usage of a virtual machine. Don't take this the wrong way, I'm a VMware fan. I've even attended their seminars. __________________ TSF Networking Team Virus/Trojan/Spyware Removal Help Donate!

11-06-2006, 02:19 PM	#13 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	No worries. __________________ TSF Networking Team Virus/Trojan/Spyware Removal Help Donate!