Advice Needed - on a Fujitsu 435DX

[Funnyname]

Install on an old Laptop


I need some advise on installing a *buntu version on an old laptop. I have a Fujitsu 435DX: 133 MHz MMX, 1.4G HDD, 16MB memory, 10x CD hot swap able with a floppy drive, ESS 1878 sound card, 12.1" DSTN monitor @ 800x600 16bpp. I did upgarde the harddrive to a 4 Gig

My first problem is – the machine is not CD bootable, so it has to be done through windows. I heard some rumours of this being worked on, so I am wondering if it is available now. There is a PCMCIA network card that I have with it, so a network (internet) install is possible, if this is an option with a floppie boot disk.

The next question would be what distro – Kubuntu is what I would lean towards becasue I am comfortable with it, I was wondering if Xubuntu would be a better distro to use.

Any input would be appreciated. I know that this is an old laptop and basically useless, but it still works and is in great shape. This will make a great companion to the T61 I use everyday running Kubuntu.

[nilsA]

Re: Advice Needed - on a Fujitsu 435DX

Possibly you could make a boot floppy, and then switch to the CD at the right moment?

Then I guess you'd better go for Xubuntu, or probaby rather DSL (Damd Small Linux) or DSL-N. 16MB isn't much memory, and the 435DX 133 MHZ - I have tried and it was no fun.

[Snowhog]

Re: Advice Needed - on a Fujitsu 435DX

4G HD? If a *ubuntu distro is what you want to use, then Xubuntu is going to be (most probably) your only choice:

Ubuntu System Requirements

Some reading:

HOWTO: Install Xubuntu on an OLD computer (Dell Latitude LM, but applies to others)

[Funnyname]

Re: Advice Needed - on a Fujitsu 435DX

Possibly you could make a boot floppy, and then switch to the CD at the right moment?

Then I guess you'd better go for Xubuntu, or probaby rather DSL (Damd Small Linux) or DSL-N. 16MB isn't much memory, and the 435DX 133 MHZ - I have tried and it was no fun.

Ends up I do not need the floppy boot disk. Boots to live CD - somewhat. Also there is 48MB of RAM. Thanks for the suggestion on DSL - That one never occurred to me until you said it.

Snowhog - thanks also for the suggestions. I will read that page and hopefully find something that will help.

I know this seems like a waste of time - trying to stuff Linux on an extremely old machine. But you read so many articles that report that the system requirements are lower than Windows, and the older hardware shines on Linux - I thought I would give it a try. It has been sitting in my office - unused for about a year now.

I'll post if I actually get this up and running.