I grabbed the Linpus Lite OS today because, well, it looks really nice for a tablet. I tried to install it on an HP Slate 500 first (thinking that would end my Windows 8 troubles). It will install, but when booting after the install, it just hangs at a blinking cursor. So, I've nixed that idea for now.

However, I wanted to give the OS a try, so I pulled out an old TravelMate C110. It's specs are:
CPU: Intel Pentium M 1GHz
RAM: 2GB
HDD: 120GB

It technically meets the spec requirements found on the Linpus website, however, the Linpus kernel requires PAE to be enabled on the CPU and this computer doesn't appear to have that as an option. From the research I've done, I don't need PAE (it allows for more than 4GB of RAM to be seen by a non-x64 system), so, I'm wondering, is there a way for me to disable this requirement?

I have never compiled a kernel before (I've been a Windows guy all my life), which is what I think I need to do...I can follow instructions if there are some good ones out there that you can point me too.

Thanks,

Tony

Here are the specs for Limpus Lite.

It will run a gig of ram, probably well on much less. You do not need PAE.

Not sure why you are asking about compiling a kernel, it looks like this distro ( like most ) supply a working kernel.

Here is a review I found on Limpus Lite. Its worth a read before you install.

-->http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2010/09/21...te-1-4-review/

You will find you get better performance if you install and use Xfce, rather than Gnome. You could install both, your drive is more than big enough.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the quick reply!

That's what I thought when I got started. But, when you try to boot to the DVD to install Linbus (on this TravelMate), it throws an error:

"This kernel requires the following features not present on the CPU:
pae
Unable to boot - please use a kernel appropriate for your CPU"

I know this is common with virtualized systems, and there, it can be fixed with checking a box to turn on PAE, but, to my knowledge, this isn't possible in a physical system.

When I tried to research this prior to posting, it seemed like the only way to turn off the requirement was in the kernel (which, I thought required it to be re-compiled to work). Is there some other way? Or, am I missing something in the BIOS of the computer itself?

According to another site, Linbus is Fedora based if that makes any difference.

Thanks again for your help.

I'd suggest using the forum Search feature before you get too far with your project, as Linpus enjoys a pretty terrible reputation around here. Why not just use Fedora?

This Linpus is completely redesigned and was just released. It's completely designed for a touchpad. My hope was to run it on my HP Slate 500, but it wouldn't work, so I wanted to try it on something else to see how it worked. AFAIK, regular Fedora is no more touchpad worthy than any of the other Linux distros I've played with (mostly Ubuntu flavors)....is there one I'm missing?

Honestly, I have no preference for Linpus other than it looks Android like...so, if there is another option, I'm game.

I am not a tablet user myself, no recommendation from me. The Linpus information is all archived if you want to use the Search feature.

I tend to agree with Snowpine. You are in a bit of a chicken and egg place. In order to compile a kernel, you need linux installed. You can't get Limpus running.

If you want Limpus, have a look at their documentation, there should be some README files on the install media. There may be more than one kernel supplied on the media. There may be a possibility of switching with a boot parameter. ( I have never tried Limpus, this is the way a lot of distros are supplied ). I did look at their web site, and found nothing of use there.

I'm guessing you have an external CD/DVD drive. If yes, I would give another distro a try. I'm not a Fedora fan, it is too bleeding edge for my liking. There are lots to choose from.

Since this is an older machine, have a look at Puppy Linux, or Slax. You can find info on either at www.distrowatch.com. You will find reviews, and links to the sites. Either distro will boot as a live CD, if that works you can install.

Ok, will do. Thanks.

Yeah, I've played with some of those other distros. I have Kubuntu running on one of my systems. I will check the documentation (I also went ahead and sent an email to their support people, although, I have no clue how helpful they will be (like you said, the website doesn't have much there).

Thanks for the info...I'll keep digging and see what I can find.

Just an FYI - I was able to get it installed without issue on a Toshiba Satellite R25. It is super quick, but very stripped down. You have to install some packages to get the look I was going for, so there might be hope of just installing those packages (or similar) on another distro. It is pretty nice...on this old laptop, it boots to usable in less than 30 seconds even with all the software I put on it. Still hoping to find something for my Slate that will make it useful (it should never have shipped with Windows 7 as the OS)...

Thanks again for all your input.

Just chanced by your post through search and wanted to ask a question. I have a TravelMate C110 which has 1GB RAM and 56GB HDD. I want to upgrade the RAM but read that the C110 only accepts 1GB. Just wondering if our tabs are different releases or whether I can up mine or not. Any knowledge about this you could give me?

It definintely accepted 2GBs of RAM. I don't know how high it'll go (I'd guess 2 or 4GB would be the max). If memory serves me, it might be that one stick of RAM is under the keyboard, and the other is on the bottom...but I've worked on so many laptops since then, I could be wrong. Hope that helps.

yeah thanks tony.

I did read a spec sheet that said 1GB, but I think that motherboards are sometimes released with a conservative estimate and utilizing what RAM is around at the time (of course). Good to know, anyway. Now I just have to locate some RAM, preferably at a bargain price.. need a keyboard too! It's not tablet upgrade time for me at the moment unfortunately, hehe. Cheers

I hear you. I was messing around with mine again last night, the 2nd stick of RAM is under the aluminum shield beneath the keyboard....

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Ah huh. I must keep that in my mem banks for when I get around to it.
I shouldn't talk this tab down. It's a cool little unit which makes cuter noises than R2D2. Does your hdd make little mechanical peeps, tweets and buzzes like mine? Sounds like there's obscure clockwork in there. Broken keys; hairline cracks here and there; yet it does a great job. And it's loaded with xp which I think is probably the best windoze stop-off to suffer for those who have the need.
Linpus is news to me. I've mostly used Ubuntu (Studio) on another machine. Does Linpus have tablet functionality?