Minimum Required System Configuration

[DrHu]

Compaq Armada M300

• Compaq Armada M300
  REVIEW DATE:02.20.01
  # Pentium III/600, 128MB SDRAM, 12GB hard drive, 12.1-inch XGA TFT screen, 4MB ATI Rage LT Pro graphics, external 8X DVD-ROM; integrated 10/100 Ethernet

I don't know which Armada M300, you have but it doesn't match the listed specs..
http://www.ehow.com/how_4779747_install ... ada-m.html

• The M300 also supports up to 320 MB of installed RAM

--the problem is the amount of RAM you can add to the max (320MB), that is too low for most modern OS, Linux included..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_II
I think it might just install; an older Linux mint version
--not the current release, your processor is 1 16bit CPU, and your system memory RAM (128mb) is extremely small
http://www.cnbc.cmu.edu/~plaut/m300/
--older Linux versions, Red Hat 6, they are at release 11 or 12 now, so it is quite far back

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Linux-Mi ... 2620.shtml
--based on the processor (is it 32bit) and the minimum system RAM; even if it installed it wouldn't be very functional

You could try an older Mint version or a smaller Linux, such as puppylinux
http://www.puppylinux.org/
http://www.puppylinux.org/home/overview

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/download.html
http://bengross.com/smallunix.html

[thx1138]

Try the Fluxbox edition of Mint or Puppy. Both should work properly with your system.