Can anyone suggest what version?

randyvol · #1 28th September 2010, 01:08 PM

All -

Been a while since I used Fedora. I have an older laptop. Think I purchased somewhere around 2003-ish. It is a Centrino powered laptop (Pentium M I think); 1.4 Ghz processor with 512 MB RAM.

Currently runs Windows XP.

I tried the 13 Live install, but quickly deduced that my laptop did not have the firepower to run it because trying to install to disk just buried the poor thing. After about 15 minutes crunching on the CD, the disk drive light finally flashed and the speaker icon popped up in the lower right side of the taskbar.

So, like any red-blooded American male, after encountering this difficulty I read the documentation that indicates 1Gb of memory (and probably a more modern chipset) is required for 13.

Here is my question - Can someone direct me to a previous release suitable for my laptop (if one is still available)?

Thanks much.

jpollard · #2 28th September 2010, 01:42 PM

Welll.... I installed F13 on a PIII with 512MB ram. I used the Live CD, but had to
install the non-PAE kernel to make it work. I also used the text mode install which
runs a LOT faster (less memory pressure than the GUI).

Works for me, though the Sony VIAO is very old, and is beginning to come apart
(the glue on the network connector failed so to have a network I have to remove
the speaker mount plate and put my fingernail on the housing and hold it "just right"
, one USB port plug is damaged - nothing can be plugged in...), The clock acts
strange when it gets hot (starts interrupting continuously causing the system to
hang until it either cools off, or flushes the IRQ interrupt)

But it works most of the time...

stevea · #3 28th September 2010, 01:47 PM

Previous releases (pre F12) are not supported and even finding downloads is a challenge - much less critical updates.

No - you need to find a different distro. You might like Arch linux or DeLiLinux, Zenwalk, Vector Linux. Do a search at distrowatch
http://distrowatch.com/

bonedome · #4 28th September 2010, 04:48 PM

Hello
one distro that will run sweet as a nut on your machine is good ole puppy linux and you don't even need to install it.

Quote:

After about 15 minutes crunching on the CD

have you tried installing fed13 from a usb stick ? I find it's much quicker and quieter

CiaW · #5 28th September 2010, 04:50 PM

On the topic of a different distro, I would suggest linux mint debian might work well. Or any other linux mint 9 spin (LXDE perhaps). And if you're new to linux that's possibly a better option than plan B, below.

I have a laptop with even less ram (256mb) on which I did a text install of F12 using the netinstall. I actually did the text install because there wasn't enough ram to do a gui install. Then I did a groupinstall of the GNOME desktop and openbox and X windowing (I forget what it's called), and I log on to the gnome/openbox desktop which seems to work a bit better on that laptop than the LXDE spin. It's not speedy by any means, but I don't use it often so it does what it needs to do on occasion.

***Dangermouse*** · #6 28th September 2010, 05:31 PM

Fedora13 works fine on my kids comp and it only has 256 mem, however i had to install it on another comp and ran first boot on the target comp.

lineak · #7 28th September 2010, 08:54 PM

Did you have a look on the LXDE spin?

---------- Post added at 09:54 PM CDT ---------- Previous post was at 07:48 PM CDT ----------

Or take a look at the xfce spin: http://spins.fedoraproject.org/xfce/

Chilly Willy · #8 28th September 2010, 11:11 PM

I also run a PIII with 512M ram (max) & have no problems with it running. As expected, it's no i7, but it gets the job done.

randyvol · #9 29th September 2010, 01:24 PM

Thanks for all the responses. Before I give up on Fedora, it appears from documentation, this thread and other posts that my problem might be trying to run live, not Fedora itself.

I believe I'll just partition my disk and do a regular install of 13 on my laptop; making it a dual booter 'puter for now and see where I get.

While other distros may not be supported, and just for FYI, I have found on mirrors all the distros from 13 back to 4... and since I have 3 and 2 on CDs at home - I now have almost the whole pedigree of Fedora. Sooooooooooo - if 13 won't work, I'll just keep working backward until I get one that does.

(I happen to like Fedora. I know the kernal is the same, but I just happen to like Fedora. Don't really get all that excited about mint, ubuntu, et al).

Thanks for the help !

Regards