I have decided to try and learn linux. The old pc I intend using was running windows xp pro sp3. It is an amd 2800+ and has 250MB of ram. The hard drive is empty and is 10GB. What version of linux would you suggest I download and install? Once I have it installed is there an idiots guide to using linux. I downloaded ubuntu 11.04 and burnt the iso to disk but after looking as though it is installing all I have is a black screen with the word Ubuntu 11.04 in the centre and 4 dots beneath it which in turn go red then white again. This continued for over an hour until I switched the pc off.

250MB is far to less for Ubuntu 11.04. I would recommend to try it with antiX, Vector Linux, Linux Mint LXDE or XFCE, Lubuntu or Xubuntu or Bodhi Linux.
There are more distributions that are aimed towards older computers, those are only the ones that came to my mind immediately.

Welcome to Linux!

Hmm, not a great first imression...sorry about that. But, Linux does cater for lighter systems. What would you be able to run...let's see. I'd go for Xubuntu. Does not need much of a PC (use it myself on an other system) and is very pleasing.

The four dots, by the way, belong to Ubuntu, you'll see them back on Xubuntu

I'd not go any lighter (though there is much lighter than that) as your system meets Xubuntu's need in plenty.

I'll keep this thread on my radar to help if need be!

Thor

I would suggest that you give Slackware a go -- it'll fit on your systems and you'll get to learn Linux in the process. You might want to think about a larger drive (and some more RAM) in any event.

You will need to partition your disk drive when you start (there are instructions) probably using cfdisk; you'll need two primary partitions, one for swap (make that 500MB) and the rest of the disk for everything else. You should take a look the the Slackware Book -- explains everything you need to know -- at http://www.slackbook.org/.

Take your time, don't be in a hurry and if you don't understand something ask at the Slackware forum here a LQ.

Welcome the the world.

Hope this helps some.

thank you both I am now downloading as Thor_2.0 suggested Xubuntu - I will report back when I have it installed. Thanks again.

tronayne - thanks I will look at that after I have looked at Xubuntu

I downloaded and burnt xubuntu and when I tried to run it I got the message "could not find x86-64 only i686 need to get the correct version" so I need guidance to the correct download. Sorry to be such a nuisance.

Assuming that you have an Athlon XP 2800+, and not an Athlon64 2800+, you need the 32 bit version, that one that is labeled PC (Intel x86) desktop CD.

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well I have now downloaded and burnt the correct version. It starts up, I click on English and it gives me 5 options - Try without installing - Install - check disc for defects - test memory - boot from first hard disk. No matter which of the options I choose, except for the last one, I get Xubuntu 11.04 and the 4 flashing dots. Nothing else seems to be happening. How long should this go on for before I give up? it has been like it for 15 minutes so far.

You know, you've barely got enough memory in the box for it to get out of its own way and, well, Ubuntu is kind of a RAM hog what with the GUI stuff going by default -- gonna take forever plus a week.

If you'd try downloading the 32-bit Slackware ISO and give that shot you might have a little more success. When it boots, the default is console mode (no GUI) so you can probably bounce around and try a few things and see what you think (and, then give the GUI a try). You might want to select xfce as a window manager rather than KDE during setup, it's got a smaller footprint than KDE.

It would be a really good idea to pop for some RAM strips -- they're cheap, a couple of gig wouldn't hurt, probably help (a lot!). In any event the box is not going to be a rocket sled with that processor speed but it'll at least chug along if it's got some memory to work with (you're probably swapping with the limited RAM available -- do you notice a whole lot of disk activity? that's why).

Hope this helps some.

I suggest...

You would have a greater choice of linux distributions and desktops if you could install more RAM. If you have a tower cabinet, you might take a screwdriver and open it to see what kind of RAM it uses and whether you have an empty RAM slot.

On a system as old as this, you might be able to find RAM sticks at swap meets and garage sales without paying much for it, or in the trash. The more you have, the better.

Otherwise, as suggested, try one of the popular linux distributions with a lightweight desktop, LXDE, or perhaps XFCE. You also need a distribution that is not so new that it no longer supports the component chips in your system.

Try out some of the live-cds to see what works and what you like. You can Search for those for low RAM.

http://www.livecdlist.com/

If you want something that should boot, try KNOPPIX 5.1.1. It has many cheatcodes that may be used to get it to boot, and can be downloaded through LQ.

http://iso.linuxquestions.org/search.php?query=knoppix

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hi, one of my PCs is an Athlon XP 2400+ with 256MB of RAM. It happily runs Slackware12.2 with kde 3.5.10. I've never felt any need for more memory. Of course, it would be faster with more ram, but i think 256MB is more than enough unless you want to use KDE4 or so

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thanks all - after 25 minutes it started showing that it was doing something and appears to be installing. It has now reached the detect keyboard stage and I have had to press various keys etc. There is a blue line at the bottom of the screen about three quarters across. A circle is revolving so I take it something is going on but there are no keys to press to do anything else. I will give this a try when it finishes and see what else I need to do. Thanks again.

maybe creating a swap partition on the hard drive before installing would speed it up a bit

well it crashed and now the pc will not even boot. I am begining to think that linux does not want me to use it.