[plug] Getting Linux to work on old computers

[Onno Benschop]

Yeah, 32-bit vs. 64-bit caught me earlier this year.

--
finger painting on glass is an inexact art - apologies for any errors in
this scra^Hibble

()/)/)() ..ASCII for Onno..

On Sat, 25 Dec 2021, 23:25 , <vegancaffeineaddict at gmail.com> wrote:

> How about trying 32 bit linux?
>
> I suspect that
>
> https://www.makeuseof.com/linux-distros-with-32-bit-support/
> (Legacy support for 32 bit (i386 not ‘AMD64’))
> More information at
> Distrowatch.com
>
> Ubuntu stopped supporting 32bit systems so its family did so too
>
> Sorry I didn’t remember this earlier!
>
> Daniel
>
> On 25 Dec 2021, at 13:27, charles todd <ctodd000 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 
> Thanks, Daniel
> Your reply is much appreciated.
> The hard drive has already been changed and has 420gb free space. There is
> 2gb RAM on the memory stick, but there is sufficient space to add another
> stick from one of the other computers. Being an old Windows Vista computer,
> the bios has few options and certainly not UEFI.
> My next move is probably to use a blank SSD and install Linux on this (if
> possible) from a disc.
>
> Once again, many thanks for your help.
>
> On Sat, 25 Dec 2021 at 11:22, <vegancaffeineaddict at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Charles
>> I’m a Linux enthusiast rather than any kind of expert so take my ideas as
>> only that …
>>
>> Knoppix always seems to have the best hardware detection but it relies on
>> ram and possibly a swap or temp file to expand
>>
>> Perhaps use a different keyboard and mouse and try the bios with legacy
>> settings
>>
>> I wonder if the possibly limited ram is not enough for live distribution
>> that use ram
>> … can you disconnect the windows HDD and put another in place so you can
>> try a full install without wrecking anything?
>>
>> Ubuntu perhaps as a start
>>
>> I’ll let others add better suggestions
>> …
>>
>> Daniel
>>
>> On 25 Dec 2021, at 10:25, charles todd <ctodd000 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> 
>> A number of old NEC computers (Windows Vista era) have arrived in my
>> workshop and I am keen to install Linux on these for use in Senior Centres.
>>
>> Although these work with Vista and Windows 7, I cannot get any of the
>> computers to install Linux. Trials so far include:-
>>
>>
>>    1. USB with various Linux Distros, eg Mint, Ubuntu failed to boot.
>>    2. A purchased custom USB for Linux also failed. This was designed
>>    for "old" computers.
>>    3. The USB ports are working, I have installed Windows without
>>    problems. The installation disk was recognised by the computer and showed
>>    all the files present.
>>    4. Linux was installed on a DVD disk (right-click iso etc.) The Disk
>>    drive was working and the installation disk initially stated Linux on the
>>    monitor, then a box was displayed with Linux options. The box was not
>>    active using any key on the keypad including the TAB key suggested.
>>    5. A second disc was made using another Linux Distro which performed
>>    as the first.
>>    6. Recommendations on the Linux pages suggest disabling the "fast
>>    boot" There does not appear to be a fast boot option.
>>
>> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Charles
>> _______________________________________________
>> PLUG discussion list: plug at plug.org.au
>> http://lists.plug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/plug
>> Committee e-mail: committee at plug.org.au
>> PLUG Membership: http://www.plug.org.au/membership
>>
>> _______________________________________________
> PLUG discussion list: plug at plug.org.au
> http://lists.plug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/plug
> Committee e-mail: committee at plug.org.au
> PLUG Membership: http://www.plug.org.au/membership
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.plug.org.au/pipermail/plug/attachments/20211226/390475ed/attachment.html>