Can't install Linux Mint 32 bit 19.3 in 20 year old pc.

[Ginger]

This is a very old HP pc. There are a couple of old disk drive in them and they seem to work when they want lol. But aside from that this computer still works.
I decided to try to get it runnin for my dad. So I tried to install Linux Mint 19.3 32 bit. Actually I tried several times.
It would get as far in the setup as:
“Select something else and I’d create my partitions and click install and it would just sit and load in a perpetual state until I manually pressed the power button. And when it would reboot there was nothing.
I repeated this using a live version of 32 bit Debian with similar results. Tiny Core works though lol.

And I would install the 64 bit versions like I have so many other times on my newer machines.
I ran into another problem during this situation. I guess I’ll end up talking about 3 different computers in this question. I have a pc that’s a year and a half old another that is 10 years old and the one that this subject is about which is 20 years old roughly.
That 32 bit version of Linux Mint wouldn’t boot on my new machine with the UEFI. Which is another question.
I’ll post some pictures to see if someone has an idea.
I had another picture but it seems like it will only let me post 3.

[Hoser Rob]

There are definitely limits to this "Linux is the saviour of old hardware" thing. Most modern Linux distros like Mint or Ubuntu aren't meant to run on 20 year old hardware. Some work better because they're designed to but you don't get the ease of use of Mint or Ubuntu.

If Tiny Core works you should maybe try that. Maybe 32 bit Antix.

[Moem]

I guess I’ll end up talking about 3 different computers in this question.

Then I strongly suggest making three topics, not just one.

[iliketrains]

Debian net-install ?
https://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/
The Athalon XP is specifically listed as a possible candidate. A window manager like IceWM is the best bet when the install reaches the point of offering such things. If more RAM can possibly be fitted it will help, with that collection you may have some spare bits ? I can't remember where those machines maxed out.
Enable swap if that's not done by default.

Or antix as already mentioned, it won't take long to test

edit/ A little YouTubing suggests choosing a window manager over a desktop environment with netinstall is not straight forward. Choose the lightest DE and cross fingers ?

[Peter Linu]

Hoser Bob,
I just installed 'antiX-386-base' on an Asus netbook 2011. Easy peasy. It's only 750Mb. Still too many apps for me. Once I become familiar with it I'll probably uninstall the unwanted software.

[iliketrains]

AMD Athlon XP 2800+ why does that ring a bell ? Let's check the junk underneath the stairs.

Code: Select all

System:    Host: antix1 Kernel: 4.9.0-279-antix.1-486-smp i686 bits: 32 Console: tty 1 
           Distro: antiX-21_386-core Grup Yorum 31 October 2021 
Memory:    RAM: total: 747.1 MiB used: 57.4 MiB (7.7%) 
           RAM Report: permissions: Unable to run dmidecode. Root privileges required. 
CPU:       Info: Single Core model: AMD Athlon XP 2800+ bits: 32 type: UP cache: L2: 512 KiB 
           Speed: 2125 MHz min/max: N/A Core speed (MHz): 1: 2125 

heehee now to corrupt this thing trying to install X. And yes, I'm aware there's an easier way.

[Reddog1]

You are trying to install an operating system that, while it might run on 1GB of ram, cannot be installed from a live disk with only 1GB of ram. A live disk loads the operating system into ram, so with such a small amount it guarantees failure with Mint, somewhere in the process.You need an OS that can be installed with a minimum amount of ram. In addition to antix, which is arch-based, you could give Sparky Linux, which is debian-based, a shot, with the Openbox, LXDE or LXQT desktops. The default Sparky Installer, (Calamares), requires a minimum of 1GB of RAM, but the advanced installer is advertised to run on less.
I doubt you will have a very good experience surfing the web with that old machine. Probably o.k. with twice the ram, but teeth gritting with only 1GB

[all41]

There are minimalistic distros that will run on that hardware--not Mint.
Desktop takes 550ish MB.
With only 1MB ram most anything you do hits swap-heavily
Not a pretty picture.
On the up-note--back in it's day--as computers were used then--those were respectful machines

[Peter Linu]

To Reddog1 and all41,
Maybe you didn't read correctly.
I am now running antiX-386-base on the Asus netbook. Surfing is as quick as with Mint Cinnamon although that's the least of my problems. The modest use to which it will be put is as an audio player. Since I will be using all sorts of codecs (mp3,flac, 24bit, aac, mp4) I think I'll install Foobar2000. It's done me proud for 20 years over several different computers and systems.

[Reddog1]

Where you will run into trouble is by opening a lot of tabs in your browser. Hold the number of tabs down, and you will be o.k., but you must remember not to open a lot of those. How many you can open will depend on what you are doing in the various tabs. Antix is a nice distro, once the packaging system is figured out (installing a printer can require jumping through some hoops). I suggested Sparky because it uses Synaptic as a package manager and is very Mint-like, but either distro is fine. My #2 and #3 choices for distros are arch-based. Sparky is #4

[Peter Linu]

I will rarely use antiX for internet browsing. Mostly internet is only for program and app installation/updates.

[mikaelrask]

good alternatives for that computer can also be puppy linux,bodhi linux,lubuntu, arch linux they only need about 200 mb of ram to run, the spec says you can add 4 gb ddr2 that i would strongly recommend you to that also replace the harddisk with an ssd.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... html/specs

good luk

[asinoro]

https://q4os.org/
Very impressive operating system with the Desktop of Trinity, simple stable and efficient based on Debian stable!