Best OS for an older system?

toothman · 07-22-2008, 12:06 AM

My sister's old pc screwed up and now Windows is unrecoverably ruined on it =/

What I'm wanting to do is install an OS on it that will work well on an less powerful system. I don't remember the exact specs, but it's along the lines of

256mb of RAM (this I know)
2.0ghz Celeron

It had XP, but the system was slow without running other programs. It's sometimes used to play warcraft 3, but that's the most demanding game that it's ever going to play. Mostly it's used for its cd burner, internet surfing, and random simple stuff like word processing.

It still needs to be able to play Warcraft 3, Diablo 2, Daggerfall, Counterstrike, and a few other 90s games (or more specifically my little brother does, lol). What's the best OS for this pc?

**koala** · 07-22-2008, 03:40 AM

There are several versions of Linux that will run on very low-spec computers, but if you want to stick with Microsoft I would go for Windows 2000. I used it myself until recently, and I know someone who still uses it for advanced programs like AutoCAD and 3D Studio, as well as CD burning, internet and office apps.

**Deleted090308** · 07-22-2008, 04:43 AM

I agree with Koala.
Perhaps ReactOS will work as well (I don't know how stable it is).

**wmorri** · 07-23-2008, 10:02 AM

With specs like that you can run any number of distros. Here is a list of some of theme: Aboslute Linux, Damn Small Linux, Fluxbuntu, Mempis, TinyME

These should all be able to run on your computer. You can also check out more at distrowatch, and Linux Online.

I hope this helps you out.

Cheers!

shuuhen · 07-25-2008, 09:19 PM

I'd say Fluxbuntu, Xubuntu or maybe Puppy Linux. Absolute Linux looks fairly nice and might be the fastest, since it's based on Slackware (Slackware can run on very low spec machines). Blizzard's games are known to run fairly well with Wine (a Windows emulation thing that runs on Unix-like systems). I can't say about Daggerfall, or the others, but you could check out the Wine app database that lists how well programs run through it ( http://appdb.winehq.org/ ).

I recommend putting more RAM in that machine. RAM access is MUCH faster than hard drive access, and your computer will have to use virtual memory/swap space to run most programs. Getting the RAM up to 1 GB should help a fair amount.

**Deleted090308** · 07-25-2008, 10:31 PM

Can you play the games mentioned by the OP in Linux?

shuuhen · 07-26-2008, 12:19 AM

Warcraft III, Diablo II definitely should work (I've always heard of them working fairly well with Wine). Looked like Counterstrike was in the Wine AppDB. I've never heard of Daggerfall (although I don't have much time for gaming anymore).

**peterhuang913** · 07-26-2008, 12:36 AM

WINDOWs XP

also, you expected to game on that old rig? even Linux won't help...

dai · 07-26-2008, 12:58 AM

you will see an increase in speed if you up the ram to 512mg or 1g

shuuhen · 07-26-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterhuang913

WINDOWs XP

also, you expected to game on that old rig? even Linux won't help...

I've run Diablo II on much slower processors. The main problem is the RAM. If the RAM was increased to 1 GB, I'd expect decent performance from that machine.

Using swap space instead of real RAM, it's usable, but the real RAM should be a big factor in the speed.

toothman · 07-27-2008, 12:08 PM

Thanks a lot for the repsonses. Unfortunately, my bro demands XP, so he's gonna pay me to upgrade the RAM and eventually GPU and CPU. If I was keeping the thing as a second pc for myself, I'd prolly go Linux thanks to the posts in this thread.

Btw I was wrong about the current CPU. It's a 2.7Ghz Celeron (still crap). P4s fit in the slot, so it's gonna get one of those eventually.

**wmorri** · 07-28-2008, 08:31 AM

Is P4 the highest that you can go? What is your mobo, we can probably find something better if you want.

Cheers!

07-22-2008, 12:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
toothman Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 51 OS: Windows Vista 32b My System	Best OS for an older system? My sister's old pc screwed up and now Windows is unrecoverably ruined on it =/ What I'm wanting to do is install an OS on it that will work well on an less powerful system. I don't remember the exact specs, but it's along the lines of 256mb of RAM (this I know) 2.0ghz Celeron It had XP, but the system was slow without running other programs. It's sometimes used to play warcraft 3, but that's the most demanding game that it's ever going to play. Mostly it's used for its cd burner, internet surfing, and random simple stuff like word processing. It still needs to be able to play Warcraft 3, Diablo 2, Daggerfall, Counterstrike, and a few other 90s games (or more specifically my little brother does, lol). What's the best OS for this pc? Last edited by toothman; 07-22-2008 at 12:08 AM.

07-22-2008, 03:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,213 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: Best OS for an older system? There are several versions of Linux that will run on very low-spec computers, but if you want to stick with Microsoft I would go for Windows 2000. I used it myself until recently, and I know someone who still uses it for advanced programs like AutoCAD and 3D Studio, as well as CD burning, internet and office apps. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-22-2008, 04:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Best OS for an older system? I agree with Koala. Perhaps ReactOS will work as well (I don't know how stable it is).

07-23-2008, 10:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,722 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Best OS for an older system? With specs like that you can run any number of distros. Here is a list of some of theme: Aboslute Linux, Damn Small Linux, Fluxbuntu, Mempis, TinyME These should all be able to run on your computer. You can also check out more at distrowatch, and Linux Online. I hope this helps you out. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

07-25-2008, 09:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
shuuhen Manager Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 980 OS: Mac OS 9.1, Mac OS X 10.5.8, WinXP Pro, FreeBSD 6.0, Gentoo Linux My System	Re: Best OS for an older system? I'd say Fluxbuntu, Xubuntu or maybe Puppy Linux. Absolute Linux looks fairly nice and might be the fastest, since it's based on Slackware (Slackware can run on very low spec machines). Blizzard's games are known to run fairly well with Wine (a Windows emulation thing that runs on Unix-like systems). I can't say about Daggerfall, or the others, but you could check out the Wine app database that lists how well programs run through it ( http://appdb.winehq.org/ ). I recommend putting more RAM in that machine. RAM access is MUCH faster than hard drive access, and your computer will have to use virtual memory/swap space to run most programs. Getting the RAM up to 1 GB should help a fair amount. __________________ Has it been a few days since I replied to your thread? Don't panic! I'm a busy college student and may forget a post if I'm extra busy (or it might just take me a while to be able to do a decent reply). If you still need help and are awaiting my reply after a few days, PM me about it. When posting what errors you get, please give the full message. It makes helping you much easier.

07-25-2008, 10:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Best OS for an older system? Can you play the games mentioned by the OP in Linux?

07-26-2008, 12:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
shuuhen Manager Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 980 OS: Mac OS 9.1, Mac OS X 10.5.8, WinXP Pro, FreeBSD 6.0, Gentoo Linux My System	Re: Best OS for an older system? Warcraft III, Diablo II definitely should work (I've always heard of them working fairly well with Wine). Looked like Counterstrike was in the Wine AppDB. I've never heard of Daggerfall (although I don't have much time for gaming anymore). __________________ Has it been a few days since I replied to your thread? Don't panic! I'm a busy college student and may forget a post if I'm extra busy (or it might just take me a while to be able to do a decent reply). If you still need help and are awaiting my reply after a few days, PM me about it. When posting what errors you get, please give the full message. It makes helping you much easier.

07-26-2008, 12:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
peterhuang913 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 946 OS: XP Home SP2	Re: Best OS for an older system? WINDOWs XP also, you expected to game on that old rig? even Linux won't help... Last edited by peterhuang913; 07-26-2008 at 12:38 AM.

07-26-2008, 12:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,287 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Best OS for an older system? you will see an increase in speed if you up the ram to 512mg or 1g __________________

07-27-2008, 12:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
toothman Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 51 OS: Windows Vista 32b My System	Re: Best OS for an older system? Thanks a lot for the repsonses. Unfortunately, my bro demands XP, so he's gonna pay me to upgrade the RAM and eventually GPU and CPU. If I was keeping the thing as a second pc for myself, I'd prolly go Linux thanks to the posts in this thread. Btw I was wrong about the current CPU. It's a 2.7Ghz Celeron (still crap). P4s fit in the slot, so it's gonna get one of those eventually.

07-28-2008, 08:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,722 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Best OS for an older system? Is P4 the highest that you can go? What is your mobo, we can probably find something better if you want. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!