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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux distro for an ancient Pentium PC (lemmy.ml)

submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I need some help finding a distro for a very old machine.

It's my family's old desktop with 2001 components (bought in 2004) and a Pentium CPU that is NOT i686. I checked the exact model and architecture once but I don't remember it now. The only thing I remember is that it's not i686 so 99% of modern 32 bit distros don't work on it (stuck right after grub).

The machine has 1 Gb of DDR1 RAM though so I think it may be useful or at least fun to play around with.

Now it's on Windows XP that runs quite well but doesn't support modern SSL certificates so it can't browse the internet (idk how to fix it ok?).

A long time ago I tried to run multiple distros in live mode on it and got only one (Puppy) to work. Display, sound, ethernet and pretty much everything worked fine. GPU seemed to be an issue though because NVidia and I couldn't install the driver (it was skill issue and I think it's possible to do). But now it doesn't work for some reason.

Are there any Linux distros or other operating systems (preferably not deprecated) that I can install on it? And btw it does have bootable USB support.

EDIT: There are way too many answers and a lot of ones that don't mind the architecture limitations. I'm grateful to everyone who replied but I have to close this discussion now and I will not reply to further answers. I have received enough information and I cannot physically read so many replies.

(page 2) 9 comments

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I found this in the wastelands of Google: https://www.howtogeek.com/linux-distributions-to-breathe-new-life-into-old-hardware/

I read the guide and it seems pretty solid.

If it is not x86 is it the Itanium ISA?

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Dunno if it would work or not, but I wonder if a minimal NixOS install would work.

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[–] cocolopez 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Void with Xfce has done wonders to my atom cpu with 2 GB of ram. Also iceWM has seen a new release that might worth checking

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[–] TCB13 0 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Now it’s on Windows XP that runs quite well but doesn’t support modern SSL certificates so it can’t browse the internet (idk how to fix it ok?).

Yes there are modernized versions of Windows XP with updated certificates and whatnot.

The only thing I remember is that it’s not i686 so 99% of modern 32 bit distros don’t work on it (stuck right after grub).

Debian has images for i386: https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/i386/

But... frankly the power consumption of that thing will be just crazy. Take for example this example, a more modern Pentium D vs a Pi:

https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/compare/6390478?baseline=5583060

[–] [email protected] -5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Maybe let go of this ancient hardware? Seriously: Get a Raspberry Pi (or whatever SOC computer is the latest trend) and install whatever distribution you want. You get 100x the performance for 100x less power consumption. It's great to reuse old hardware and all, but THAT old?

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