Linux for very old laptop (floppies)

ratchetfps · 18-December-06, 12:36 AM

I recently aquired a very old laptop with the following specs:

Compaq Contura 3/25
Primary Disk - 121.4 mb
Total Memory 4096 kb
Primary monitor - Color VGA

That's about all I could gather upon initial inspection, and I would like to put linux on it. I want it to be a simple text editor for taking notes, and I'm looking for a very tiny package. Right now it looks like Damn Small Linux might be an option. Any help is much appreciated, this is my first attempt installing linux.

FunkyStickman · 18-December-06, 07:04 AM

If the hard drive is only 121MB, then it severely limits what you can run... and I don't see where it explains how you can put DSL on floppies (though it should be possible). From the specs I would imagine it's a 386-based lappy, correct? I used to have an old Toshiba 386 with 4MB of memory.... it even had a B&W screen.

If you run into trouble, we're here for you!

ratchetfps · 18-December-06, 07:02 PM

Ya this lappy is 386 based and b&w haha. Thanks for the help, i'll keep trying with DSL

crash_maxed · 24-December-06, 11:53 AM

Best bet would be to take out the HD and put it into another box for install...only thing I can think of.

ossamauk · 04-February-07, 08:42 AM

floppix is nice but with a gui dsl, puppy, feather, slax and vector are all nice.

18-December-06, 12:36 AM		#1 (permalink)
ratchetfps Apex Tech Fanatic Supreme	Linux for very old laptop (floppies) I recently aquired a very old laptop with the following specs: Compaq Contura 3/25 Primary Disk - 121.4 mb Total Memory 4096 kb Primary monitor - Color VGA That's about all I could gather upon initial inspection, and I would like to put linux on it. I want it to be a simple text editor for taking notes, and I'm looking for a very tiny package. Right now it looks like Damn Small Linux might be an option. Any help is much appreciated, this is my first attempt installing linux. Last edited by ratchetfps; 18-December-06 at 12:52 AM.

18-December-06, 07:04 AM		#2 (permalink)
FunkyStickman Linux Warrior	Re: Linux for very old laptop (floppies) If the hard drive is only 121MB, then it severely limits what you can run... and I don't see where it explains how you can put DSL on floppies (though it should be possible). From the specs I would imagine it's a 386-based lappy, correct? I used to have an old Toshiba 386 with 4MB of memory.... it even had a B&W screen. If you run into trouble, we're here for you!

18-December-06, 07:02 PM		#3 (permalink)
ratchetfps Apex Tech Fanatic Supreme	Re: Linux for very old laptop (floppies) Ya this lappy is 386 based and b&w haha. Thanks for the help, i'll keep trying with DSL

24-December-06, 11:53 AM		#4 (permalink)
crash_maxed Apex Techie Lite	Re: Linux for very old laptop (floppies) Best bet would be to take out the HD and put it into another box for install...only thing I can think of.

04-February-07, 08:42 AM		#5 (permalink)
ossamauk Apex Techie Lite	Re: Linux for very old laptop (floppies) floppix is nice but with a gui dsl, puppy, feather, slax and vector are all nice.

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