Reviving a clamshell G3 PPC ibook

[kimtoufectis]

I downloaded a Mint 16 PPC iso and burned it to a CD a while ago, intending to install it on a G4 iMac, but couldn't get it to install. [I eventually got Lubuntu running on it, but ultimately went back to OS X 10.5 when I learned about how TenFourFox keeps Firefox development up for PPC Macs.] This weekend I decided to see what I could do with an even older 300 MHz clamshell G3 iBook maxed out with 500+ MB of RAM. The CD-ROM ran through all of the steps of the install process except loading the extra packages (desktop et al.). So when I boot the machine it takes me to Debian GNU/Linux 7 login screen.

So now what? Poking around on the Debian wiki, I learned that LXDE is the lighest of the main desktop environments, and ran the command to install what was described there as the minimum set of elements:

Code: Select all

# apt-get install lxde-core

It took about 40 minutes to download and install, I hope successfully (several messages along the way starting with the word "locale" warned about not finding some folder, but that didn't seem to interrupt the install). I gather I've installed LXDE, but have no idea how to run it (or whether the LXDE-core is even usable in and of itself).

What I seek is to boot into a usable Linux desktop, and to be able to add a few programs (a browser or two, perhaps a media player/podcatcher) to get some actual use out of 18 year-old hardware. Can the community recommend my next steps?

[kukamuumuka]

Mint 16 is outdated, so install a supported edition.
https://www.linuxmint.com/download_all.php

What I seek is to boot into a usable Linux desktop, and to be able to add a few programs (a browser or two, perhaps a media player/podcatcher) to get some actual use out of 18 year-old hardware. Can the community recommend my next steps?

If computer is that weak, you need to use some light linux like antiX, Puppy or Slitaz.
http://distrowatch.com/

PS. JWM is the lightest desktop-environment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWM

[kimtoufectis]

Mint 16 is outdated, so install a supported edition.
https://www.linuxmint.com/download_all.php

kimtoufectis wrote:
What I seek is to boot into a usable Linux desktop, and to be able to add a few programs (a browser or two, perhaps a media player/podcatcher) to get some actual use out of 18 year-old hardware. Can the community recommend my next steps?

If computer is that weak, you need to use some light linux like antiX, Puppy or Slitaz.
http://distrowatch.com/

PS. JWM is the lightest desktop-environment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWM

administrollaattori--

Thanks for your response. There are implications to your take I'd like to explore.

First, Mint 16 versus 17. I've not found a version of 17 that will fit on a CR-ROM, and my G3 doesn't handle DVDs (or firewire). [One version advertises 696 MB,, less than the nominal 700 MB of a CD, but my writer fails to fit it on each time.] At the site you linked even the XFCE for 18.2 weighs in at 1.5 GB, and none of them mentions compatibility with PPC chips so I'm not clear on how to proceed there. [I got my version a year or so ago from a site, mintppc.org, that seems to have vanished...]

Alternatively I'm open to trying a lighter distro more compatible with older machines, as you suggest. But do any of them has a ppc-ready version? I'm pretty sure a generic x396 choice is a non-starter on a PPC chip.

[Tomgin5]

I have installed LM 17 and 18 both 32 bit and 64 bit. None will install on a Motorola processor. I am quite certain that the G3 ibook is a Motorola. The big integer command vs little integer is backward compared to the intel and AMD processors. There are a few other issues as well.

[kimtoufectis]

I have installed LM 17 and 18 both 32 bit and 64 bit. None will install on a Motorola processor. I am quite certain that the G3 ibook is a Motorola. The big integer command vs little integer is backward compared to the intel and AMD processors. There are a few other issues as well.

Tomgin5--

If you're right, then what do you make of the (recently defunct) website named "mintppc.org" from which I downloaded Mint 16 (referenced at https://macpowerpc.com/2013/03/28/run-linux-run/)? And supposing you're right, that Mint can't/i] be put on a PPC Mac, do you have any suggestion about what I can install?

--Kim

[MintBean]

No supported or future version of Mint will support PPC architecture. Since the website you mention is now offline, speculation really serves little purpose - the fact is it was not affiliated with Mint and was offering an outdated ISO.

Personally I know nothing of PPC compatible distros- and few on this site are likely to since they are presumably running Mint, a non PPC distro.
A quick Google turned this up. Might be useful.
http://powerpcliberation.blogspot.co.uk ... werpc.html