Hi there, I own an old laptop Asus Centrino 1.6 Ghz with 532 Mo (sort of) of Ram that is runing Windows Xp professionnal very well. I'd like to give it a second youth by installing Linux on it(or on usb key preferably). Til now, I tried everything I could, Rufus or Ventoy and at least 5 distros (on 32 bits). The computer boot without any trouble on my usb key and often after I've choosen my distro nothing interresting happen (only text page that I don't understand). Sometime with few distros and after some big minutes, I obtain the following: 'your kernel don't have PAE....'or something like that that I don't remember well. I also looked sideway of virtualisation but I don't see this option on my computer. My laptop is at least from 2005 and I don't want to use too much the command line since I'm moore like a newbie and the computer will be used mainly by a woman that know nothing on computer. Somebody could help please?

There is no ASUS model laptop called a "Centrino", although there were several that featured an Intel Centrino CPU.
I would try some of the distributions that still support 32-bit.

See https://www.debugpoint.com/32-bit-linux-distributions/ and like articles for options.

Some of the Pentium Ms did not display the PAE flag and so with PAE enabled kernels it would fail to install unless you added a forcepae kernel option. PAE (Physical Address Extension) would allow 32 Bit processors to access more then 3GB of memory.

It might help to know what specific distribution you have tried installing. Does the actual install process complete successfully?

Sorry for my mistake (Centrino). I just wrote what is written on the laptop. You should be right, it's an Intel Centrino CPU. Anyyway, Thanks a lot for the link but I tried all exept voidLinux. I'm downloading it right now but there's a new problem I encountered with my old laptop. Suddently and without any reason I can see, it can't read anymore my usb key and ask me to format it. While On my newer pc the key is still the same with all the log I put on it. I don't want to abuse but do you have an idea of what's going on?

Thanks for the fast reply. I have tried Bionicpup, Br-Os, BusterDog-openbox, Porteus And maybe some others that I'm not sure of.

For the PAE, yes that's what the message was telling (for the forcepae, etc...) But the thing I don't understand is why I would need to access more than 3Gb of memory

Now I encountered another issue with my old laptop, it can't read anymore on my usb key and ask if I want to format now; while on my newer computer this key remain the same with all the log I put on

It is because the distribution is built with PAE support and it does not detect that the laptop is PAE capable regardless of how much memory is actually installed.

I would try antix or maybe mx. I don't understand if you are trying to install linux on the same laptop why would it ask if you want to format the flash drive. Are you actually booting from the USB drive?

Yes I'm boothing from the usb drive. When my laptop ask me to format it (the key), it's when I'm not using it of course. I mean I could use my key to boot (on Ventoy or Rufus) several times but not on a distro like I said in my first post. Then I let my pc sleep for a while and when I came back to it, then it asked me to format the key. In short, I cannot use my USB key no more (on my old computer, but yes with the other) until I Format it.
I hope I write a way you can understand since English is not my first language. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try it when I'll settle my usb key issue

You really could benefit from more RAM. You can run Linux on it, but if you open a modern full-featured web browser and then open some bloated website your RAM fill up fast.

Try running SliTaz or Tiny Core Plus on it....

https://www.slitaz.org/en/

http://www.tinycorelinux.net/

I have a backup computer with a CPU that doesn't report PAE, even though it has it. I'm currently running the Xgce version of Debian, but I know that it will run AntiX. The one that you want is AntiX — that will run happily in the amount of memory that you have (or even in less).

I suspect that the "forcepae" option in the kernel is extinct. It was not a standard feature, but one introduced by Ubuntu, which no longer supports 32-bit computers.

JuJuan,

Try antiX-23 which was released on 28th August 2023:

Download one of the 32-bit versions from:
https://antixlinux.com/download/


antiX-23 is a new release based on Debian bookworm.

As usual we offer the following completely systemd-free and elogind-free flavours for both 32 and 64 bit architecture. Available iso files for sysVinit or runit.

antiX-full (c1.7GB) – 4 windows managers – IceWM (default), fluxbox, jwm and herbstluftwm plus full libreoffice suite. x64 versions come with 2 kernels. Legacy 5.10 and Modern 6.1

antiX-base (c1GB) – 4 windows managers – IceWM (default), fluxbox, jwm and herbstluftwm.

antiX-core (c520MB) – no X, but should support most wireless.

antiX-net (c220MB)- no X. Just enough to get you connected (wired) and ready to build.

(If using core or net versions, to connect to the Internet, you might need to type as root user ifup eth0 or ifup eth1 or if using core – type ceni)

The 32 bit version uses a non-pae kernel.

Note: After installation of antiX-23_x64-full editions, the default kernel will be Modern 6.1 even if Legacy 5.10 was booted during the live boot.

* Based on Debian 12 (Bookworm), but without systemd/libsystemd0 and elogind/libelogind0.
* eudev instead of udev
* Customised 5.10.188 kernel
* Customised 6.1.42 kernel (x64 full only)
* libreoffice 7.5.5-4
* firefox-esr 102.14.0esr-1 on antiX-full
* seamonkey 2.53.17 on antiX-base
* claws-mail 4.1.1-2
* cups for printing
* xmms -for audio
* celluloid and mpv – for playing video
* smtube – play youtube videos without a using a browser
* qpdfview – pdf reader
* arc-evopro2-theme-antix

* No snaps (systemd) and no flatpaks (elogind)!

So what do we have.

File managers and desktop:

* zzzFM
* rox-filer
* mc

Convert your video and audio files with:

* winff
* asunder

Connect to the net with:

* connman
* gnome-ppp (if you are still on dial-up)
* ceni

Editors:

* geany
* leafpad

Tools for remastering and creating snapshots of installed system:

* iso-snapshot
* remaster tools

General tools:

* bootrepair
* Package Installer
* Network Assistant
* User Manager
* ddm-mx – install nvidia drivers

Others:

* hexchat – gui chat
* luckybackup – excellent backup tool. There’s nothing lucky about it!
* simple-scan – for scanning documents
* transmission-gtk – torrent downloader
* wingrid-antix – turn the stacking window managers into tilers.
* Xfburn for burning cd/dvd
* connectshares-antix for network shares
* droopy-antix – an easy way to transfer files over the net.
* mirage – image viewer
* antiX Control Centre – an easy way to do just about anything!
* streamtuner2 – listen to streaming radio
* cherrytree – note taking application

Why not try out our included ‘cli’ apps:

* Editors: nano and vim-tiny
* Newsreader: newsboat
* Chat: irssi
* Audio player: mocp
* Radio: pmrp
* Video player: mpv
* Youtube video: ytfzf
* Torrent: rtorrent
* Cd burner: cdw
* Writer: Wordgrinder

**NEW**

* zzzFM/IceWM default ‘desktop’
* IceWM Control Centre
* New wallpaper and themes

Cool in-house antiX apps available in the repos:

* 1-to-1-voice-antix – Voice chat between two pcs via encrypted mumble
* 1-to-1-assistance-antix – Remote access help application
* ssh-conduit – Remote resouces via an ssh encypted connection

Xp registry rot probably. Or try different slot. Older gear can be finiky.


I'd disregard those popup messages as valid. +1 for antiX 23 from me.