I think this is the right place to post this, since there is no Fedora forum, and I am not sure if it is truly Linux... Oh well!

Right now I'm running RedHat 9 on a Pentium II 300MhZ, and it keeps swapping and getting seemingly locked up. After replies to another post of mine describing this problem, I agree with the replies in that I don't have enough power to run RedHat 9 with Gnome and other memory-sucking tasks running at once.

So here are my options (as I see them):

1) Get more RAM (what kind of ram does a Dell Dimension XPS D300 Pentium 2 use?)

2) Don't use a graphical interface (that would suck...)

3) Downgrade my OS to a preceeding version or another newer OS that uses less system resources (this is the one I am in favor of)

So if I were to downgrade, what should I downgrade to?

I am favoring Fedora, but I'm not sure where to find the System Requirements and stuff on it (and yes, I did check their site).

Keep in mind that I have to be able to dual boot Windows 98 and whatever *NIX, *BSD, or whatever other OS I choose (assuming that I do decide to switch OSes...)

And if I knew whether or not I had an ATX form factor case and motherboard, what kind of RAM my system has, and all of that good stuff, I could just go on an upgrading spree, but I have been unable (even after numerous persisting efforts) to figure out what type of RAM I have, and Dell's site doesn't tell me any specs about my computer (heck, I can't even find a page where it recognizes the existence of this computer!)... Pleas help guys!!

Fedora is a newer version than RH9
Go to www.crucial.com and fill in the details as if you were buying RAM, it will tell you what memory you need
Less demanding distros are Slackware (my fave), the Debians, Gentoo - go to www.linuxiso.org to grab the isos.

"since there is no Fedora forum"

What's this then?
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...?s=&forumid=35

"So here are my options (as I see them):"

How about 4): Use a less resource intensive GUI like Fluxbox, Windowmaker, or IceWM instead of Gnome or KDE. XFCE might be an option too.

"4): Use a less resource intensive GUI like Fluxbox, Windowmaker, or IceWM"

I am a newbie and I will be getting a refurbished thinkpad with no OS soon.

I would like to use a low-resource GUI.

What is the least resistance way to get one onto my machine? I will not be able to build it on a more powerful machine.

Will I still have access to a web-browser?

Dare I even ask for any version of the GIMP?

Following are the specs for the IBM ThinkPad 760XD that will arrive shortly.

Processor: Intel Pentium MMX 166MHz
Memory : 48Mb
Hard Drive Capacity: 2.9Gb
Included Drives: 1.44Mb Floppy Drive
Included CDROM
Included 56K Modem
Display: 12.1" TFT

Can you recommend a GUI/Distro combination?

"Can you recommend a GUI/Distro combination?"

Vector Linux with Fluxbox or IceWM, Damn Small Linux with Fluxbox, or DeLI Linux with IceWM.

"Will I still have access to a web-browser?"

Mozilla and Firefox say they need at least 233mhz, so no dice there, but Opera says it can run on a 166. How well it'll run is another question. If it's too slow to be usefull, you'll want to use Dillo or Links-hacked.

"Dare I even ask for any version of the GIMP?"

The GIMP can run on that hardware, albeit somewhat slowly. Depending on the distro you pick, you might have to compile GIMP yourself, about a 40 minute task with that hardware accoding to the GIMP website.

I've seen yesterday vector linux with iceWM on a pentium 100mhz with opera running real quick.
For the gimp, maybe try something lighter but it worked yesterday.

Get help for install afterwards maintaining is real easy.

MarcA