An operating system for an ancient computer. An operating system for weak computers. For weak PCs

Probably, we all have old devices, laptops or computers that simply cannot work properly with a modern operating system, be it Windows or Linux. But such devices can still be put to good use. There are Linux distributions specially designed for the minimum consumption of RAM and CPU resources.

In this article, we will look at best distributions Linux for an old laptop or computer that you can use on your devices. This is not a ranking, but just a list, and all the elements are worthy of your attention. Today there will be no long introductions, let's go straight to the review.

Lubuntu is one of the best distros for older laptops. It is based on Ubuntu, but lightweight and stable enough. LXDE is used as a desktop environment, it can work even with the lowest hardware specifications.

All the necessary programs are supplied with the system, but there are much less of them than in regular version Ubuntu, this makes the distribution even lighter and smaller. For normal work Lubuntu needs a Pentium II or Celeron processor with PAE technology. Minimum volume RAM: 128 MB, and hard disk space - 2 GB.

2. Puppy Linux

This is one of the lightest distributions. It is small, but quite powerful and can be used both on new computers and on fairly old hardware. Fresh images take about 300 megabytes, and contain only the OS kernel and a small set of the most necessary programs, such as a browser, player, etc.

Interestingly, Puppy boots and runs from RAM, so the programs start very quickly. Once installed on USB, you can put additional programs and they will all run from RAM too. Puppy Linux uses JVM or OpenBox as window manager by default, which makes it even faster. Minimum Requirements: 500 MHz processor, 128 MB of RAM and 512 MB of disk space.

3. Tiny Core

You've probably already heard about Tiny Core. This is the smallest Linux distribution... Even modern text editors have larger size than this full fledged GUI distro. The image size is only 16 MB. You can install it even on the most ancient machine.

The system only comes with the most necessary programs, but this does not mean that you cannot install other programs you need. Tiny Core currently comes in three versions - Core, TinyCore, and CorePlus. The first is 11 MB in size and contains only the console interface, the second is 16 MB, has a FLTK / FLWM graphical interface, and the third is 116 MB, and this is an installation image with utilities for configuring the system.

4. Bodhi Linux

Bodhi Linux is another Linux distro for an old laptop based on Ubuntu. It is fast enough and not overloaded with applications. It comes with only the most essential programs like file manager, internet browser, text editor, terminal. But you can install whatever you need with apt.

Enlightenment is used as the desktop environment. It consumes little memory and has a very nice and simple interface. Minimum requirements: 500 MHz processor, 128 MB of RAM and 4 GB of disk space.

5. Peppermint OS

Peppermint is based on Lubuntu, which can be considered a Linux distribution for low-end notebooks anyway. It also uses the LXDE desktop environment. But a more interesting set of programs is implemented. The distribution does not include the usual cloud applications, but there are links to Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, etc. Applications open in the pre-installed Chromium browser.

However, you can install all the programs you need via package manager... The minimum amount of RAM for the distribution kit is 192 MB, which is 62 MB more than other options.

6. Macpup

If Puppy Linux looks too simple and ugly for you, you can try Macpup Linux. It is based on Puppy Linux, so it has all its advantages, including running out of RAM.

But the system looks more beautiful, Enlightenment is used as the desktop environment, there are transparency effects, an animated dock bar at the bottom of the screen, and much more. The system comes with everything you need, including word processing software. The distribution kit needs 164 MB of RAM to work.

7. BunsenLabs Linux

This is another lightweight distribution capable of running on the old hardware... It is based on Debian and you can start the system if you have at least 256MB of RAM. Openbox is used as a window manager, which has been specially modified to reduce resource consumption.

8. MX Linux

The latest version of MX Linux is based on Debian 8.2. It is a very fast distribution that can be used on both newer devices and older ones. LXDE is used as the desktop environment, and the distribution also includes programs such as the Whisker menu and the Qupzilla browser.

9. Porteus

This is a Slackware based distribution primarily intended to be installed on removable media, but can also be used on a hard disk. All Porteus data is compressed and file system created on the fly. All additional programs are supplied as modules.

XFCE or LXQt can be used as the desktop environment. To run the graphical environment, 144 MB of RAM is enough.

10. Slitaz

Slitaz can start and run normally on a system with 256 MB of RAM. It uses the Openbox window manager as well as several own instruments such as TazPanel. With TazPanel, you can install programs, change system settings, bootloader settings and much more.

The distribution has several editions, the simplest of them can run on 20 MB of RAM, but only in the console interface. All necessary programs are supplied with the system.

conclusions

In this article, we've covered the best Linux distros for weak laptops. From this list, you can definitely choose what is right for you. What lightweight distributions would you recommend? Write in the comments!

Hello friends. Less and less fewer users today remain on Windows XP. According to the statistical service Statcounter, this is only 1.4% of people on the entire planet. WinXP is no longer supported by Microsoft, that's all more developers third-party software it is bypassed, which is already to say about the moral obsolescence of this version of the system. But what if you have a very old PC or a very weak laptop that can pull on Vista or the 7 with a creak? If the issue of upgrading the device is not considered due to unjustified investment of funds, if some Linux distribution is not considered as an operating system, the industrial assembly of Windows 7 Embedded may help. In this article we will talk about it.

Windows Embedded 7 system requirements:

Processor with a frequency of at least 1 GHz

RAM: 512 MB

Disk space: 8 GB

Windows Embedded family

Windows Embedded is a family of operating systems for ATMs, terminals, other self-service systems, medical equipment, and various production equipment. It is a separate family of industrial operating systems from desktop NT. They are based on desktop versions of Windows, but they have a redesigned system kernel and stripped down functionality. First version Windows families Embedded appeared in 1996 based on Win95. Later it became based on WinXP, Vista, 7, 8.1. There is even an assembly based on the server Windows Server 2008. In the Win10 version, the Embedded name was replaced by the IoT name, and the operating system itself began to come with extended device support.

What is Windows Embedded 7

Like the NT desktop family, each version of the Embedded family has its own editions for a specific consumer segment. For Windows Embedded 7, these are:

• POSReady is a system optimized for operation at terminals and self-service points of the population;
• Compact - a system with support for ARM, MIPS, SuperH processors, 32-bit microprocessors. Designed for weak multimedia devices, industrial automation, and other low-power equipment. Its redesigned kernel requires less than 1 MB of RAM to function. It was this edition that once formed the basis for Windows Phone;
• Standard - analogue of the NT edition "Professional";
• Enterprise is an analogue of the "Corporate" NT edition.

Two latest revisions can be used on more or less productive devices such as: slot machines, powerful media equipment, commercial and medical equipment, video surveillance systems, etc. And, of course, the Standard and Enterprise editions are an option for covert installation on low-power user computers. Although about the secrecy - a moot point. Officially, Windows Embedded is a system for commercial structures, and as if it cannot be used on user devices. But in one Microsoft time I handed out official activation keys for Embedded 7 on preferential terms (within the DreamSpark program) to university students. Those. not to commercial structures, but to ordinary individuals. It turns out that the company itself bypassed its ban.

Windows Embedded 7 looks like a regular "7". This system has almost the same functionality as its desktop editions - control panel, explorer, browser Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, command line, disk management, local editor group policies, registry editor and other system utilities. Even outwardly it is a familiar "Seven" with Aero effect Glass and pre-installed themes. Well, except that Windows Embedded 7 has a different logo and a picture on the welcome screen.

What are its differences from the usual Win7?

Some system components, drivers have been removed from Embedded, some services are disabled that are not needed in the operating system on the declared devices. As a result, immediately after installation, a 64-bit system weighs a little more than 6 GB, and a 32-bit system weighs 4.3 GB.

Will the lack of remote functionality somehow affect the system's performance when it is used on home computers? If we select the optimal assembly of Embedded 7, we will get a fully functional operating system with support for networking, printers, faxes, other peripherals, with support for .NET Framework, DirectX and others. software environments... And most importantly - with the ability to install third-party software. And this means that if the system itself does not detect some hardware of the computer or something from the connected peripherals, we can fix everything by manually installing the drivers. Or automatic with the help of special programs.

In the "Seven" Embedded there is no possibility of adding system components through the control panel (Programs - Enabling and disabling Windows components). But if necessary and zealous, they can still be added using DISM.

Total: Windows Embedded 7 uses less due to the cutbacks system resources than the usual "Seven", it works more quickly and, accordingly, can give a second chance at life to low-powered computer devices... Of course, this is not a full-fledged Win7, and difficulties may arise when using some of its features. But this is a stable environment for office, media tasks, web surfing. These are the main features of the operating system, the use of which is rarely exceeded by the owners of top-end PCs and laptops, using them for common or gaming purposes. In any case, Embedded is an official cut-down assembly of Windows, the result of the work of Microsoft specialists, not experimental assemblers, often supporters of crude "castration" of the system.

How to download Windows Embedded 7

Officially Embedded, along with OEM activation keys, is sold from Microsoft-authorized distributors. And only commercial structures can purchase it. Where can ordinary people get Windows Embedded 7? You can download it in the same place as the usual modified Windows assemblies- on torrent trackers. In the case of Embedded, the risk of becoming a victim of immature experiments by would-be builders of the distribution kit is much lower than in the case of regular desktop versions. First, few people are involved with Embedded builds. Secondly, usually something is added to industrial assemblies, and not cut out, since everything is already cut out.

But there is also official way obtaining a distribution kit of Windows Embedded 7 in the Standard edition. This is a clean distribution, no third-party intervention. It can be downloaded from the Microsoft website at this link:

If you need a 32-bit edition of the operating system, tick all parts of the archive with the name "Standard 7 SP1 32bit IBW" and click "Next".

If you need a 64-bit edition, put a check mark on the files with the name "Standard 7 SP1 64bit IBW" and an add-on as part of the archive. We press "Next".

After downloading, we launch the first part of the archive and wait until the ISO image is extracted. From this image, in fact, Embedded 7 is installed. Its process differs from the process of installing a regular Win7, let's look at it.

How to install Windows Embedded 7

If you friends use modified assembly Embedded 7, the installation process will naturally be great. The official distribution kit of this system allows us to choose the optimal build configuration and add our own drivers.

"Seven" Embedded from the official distribution kit comes with a trial monthly license. It can be extended for another three months by resetting the activation at the end of each of the monthly periods. And so we will be able to use the system for free for 120 days. And then you can also change the activation key and use a special 180-day trial period of the system. In total, a total of 300 calendar days. But we will analyze these nuances in other articles of the site. Well, now let's proceed directly to the installation.

We boot the computer from installation media... And in the first window, click "Build an Image". We press "Next".

We accept license agreement... We press "Next".

Choosing a build configuration. For use on user devices, the "Application Compatibility" option is the best choice. assembly compatible with third-party software. We press "Next".

Next, we select the Russian location for time and money. The Russian-language keyboard layout will catch up on its own. It is impossible to choose Russian as the system language without first integrating it into the distribution kit, it is not provided by default. But it can be easily installed in an already working environment. So we will decide this issue later. We press "Next".

At this stage, friends, Windows Embedded 7 may be modified. In the window we see what components are supplied in the distribution. Below, using the "Modify Drivers" mode, if necessary, we can add drivers for some devices. If they are not critical for Windows startup, there is absolutely no need for this, everything, again, can be done later, inside already installed system... The "Modify Features" mode is the ability to adjust Windows components, remove something, add something. But there is no particular need to adjust something, the assembly is already tuned to the optimal use of components. We press "Next".

After copying the files and rebooting, we will see the usual window for setting the username.

We are warned that after 30 days trial period the operating system will behave impudently - it will unauthorized reboot every 20 minutes without saving our data. We press "Next".

And then we will see the usual final installation steps - choosing the type of update delivery, regional settings, and the type of network. We will be greeted by a standard desktop with Win7 branded wallpaper. But there are still some things to tweak.

Enabling the swap file

"Seven" Embedded in the official distribution comes with a disabled swap file. Before working with other system settings, friends, I suggest turning it on so that the system does not distract us with annoying notifications about the lack of RAM. Press the Win + Pause keys. Click on "Advanced system setting". In the "Performance" column, click "Setting".

Switch to the "Advanced" tab. We see that the paging file has a size of 0 MB. Let's change this. We press "Change".

Directly in the window for setting the parameters of the paging file, put a checkmark “Custom size”, in the lines “Initial size” and “Maximum size” we enter a value equal to the RAM on the device (but not less than 2048 MB). Click "Set", click "OK".

We reboot the computer.

Russification of Windows Embedded 7

To Russify the system, download its special language pack... For 32-bit systems, download it from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26215

Modern popular distributions have immodest requirements for
iron. And on standard computers 7-10 years ago, if they start, then
they will definitely not fly. And such dinosaurs are still preserved in a large number v
government offices, educational institutions, in the closets of geeks. The life of such
computers will be extended right choice and setting up the OS.

To get Linux that runs smartly on equipment of venerable age,
there are two ways: use an existing distribution with low system
requirements, or finish your favorite distro to the desired condition. Every path
its pros and cons. The first way is faster, but the second gives more freedom.
action and experiment :). As a rule, modern distributions need 384 MB of RAM or more
for normal work CPU frequency not so critical, 400 MHz is enough). But
you need to understand that it is worth starting Firefox - and a system with 384 MB of RAM immediately
will go into a swap. So for normal work with the browser, mail and IM, it is desirable
512 MB - 1024 MB. I'll try to choose an OS for a "spherical configuration"
the beginning of the XXI century:

• Processor: Intel Pentium-III 800 MHz;
• RAM: 128 MB SDRAM;
• Video card: built-in or discrete with 8 MB of memory;
• HDD: 20 GB.

Ready-made solutions

Distributions built to run on old hardware appear almost
not every day. Unfortunately, in most cases, they disappear just as quickly.
as they appear. There are very few centenarians in this niche. Usually these are respins
popular distributions with "light" DE and a set of progs.

Perhaps the most famous lightweight distribution is DSL (Damn Small Linux). V
the magazine has already been written about him more than once, so I will not repeat myself. But a long
the lack of new releases and the old 2.4 kernel make it not the best
choice. At the very popular distribution there are two whole options for the old
hardware: xubuntu (by modern standards - a long-lived distribution) and a newbie
lubuntu.

Xubuntu is the official Ubuntu variant with Xfce instead of Gnome and somewhat different
a set of software (Abiword + Gnumeric instead of Openoffice, Thunderbird instead of Evolution, and
etc). Xubuntu can be called a "light" distribution only conditionally -
minimum requirements include 192 MB of RAM (but highly recommend at least
256 MB). However, practice has shown that on 128 MB (with swap) xubuntu is still
starts up (but not in Live mode) and even tries to work, but very thoughtfully.
It is not recommended to run any applications :). Distribution image size
- 681 Mb, and complete installation takes about 2 GB. But the distribution kit has advantages
huge Ubuntu package base and good localization.

Lubuntu is an unofficial Ubuntu-based distribution with LXDE instead of Gnome and
a significantly revised set of software. except standard replacement gluttonous
OpenOffice with Abiword + Gnumeric, Firefox replaced with Chromium (in terms of consumption
RAM is a pretty good replacement, Xubuntu should have done the same.)
At the time of this writing, the distribution is still in beta status, the release is scheduled for October 2010
(along with the Ubuntu 10.10 release). Lubuntu is already "lightweight"
distribution kit, since it is more or less efficient on 128 MB of RAM (and even
runs in Live mode, although with so much RAM it has to be perverted
with installation). The size of the distribution is 521 MB, and the full installation takes about
1.5 GB.

Antix is ​​another derivative, this time of a distribution kit that is not very well known in our country.
SimplyMEPIS with added packages from Debian Testing. At minimum requirements
declared PII 266 and 64 MB of RAM (with a swap of at least 128 MB). True, it is recommended
still 128 MB of RAM. There are two versions: full (485 MB) and base (264 MB). Full
installing the full version takes about 1.5 GB. The latest release is 8.5, came out in
April this year. IceWM is used as DE (although fluxbox, wmii and dwm
also installed). The Russification of the distribution is very conditional, it is included
non-trivial and replete with pearls like "office". But out of the box there is
(thanks to the debian-multimedia repository) most of the necessary for comfortable
life of codecs.

Another fairly well-known distribution kit for old computers is puppy
(constantly hanging in the top10 on distrowatch). Although a new one came out in May of this year
Lucid Puppy 5.0 release (based on Ubuntu Lucid Lynx binaries), 4.x branch (with
the latest stable release 4.3.1) is still supported and is planned to be released soon
4.4. The installation ISO version 5.0.1 takes only about 130 MB, and the OS in
installed form - a little more than 500 MB. Despite its small size, it contains
a considerable number of applied software: abiword, sylpheed, inkscape, gxine (as well as
all required codecs), geany and more. When the browser starts, it pops up
a window asking which browser you want to install (just like in Windows :)).
Although you can run the pre-installed PuppyBrowser based on Firefox.
In general, the distribution kit tries to resemble a small-soft OS as much as possible, and does not
only by the design, but also by the principles of work (for example, work by default
suggested from the root). The OS works fine on 128 MB of RAM as after installation,
and in Live mode, practically without using swap. As a window manager
used written in C and has a minimum of JWM dependencies. Another one
an interesting feature of puppy - when the LiveCD exits, save the modified
data to external media.

Slitaz is a relatively young distribution. Release 1.0 came out in March 2008.
since then it comes out on release once a year, current at the moment - 3.0. Surprises
ISO image size: only 30 MB (less than DSL!). In addition to the distribution itself with
offsite, you can download a separate disk image with all available packages(smaller
1.5 GB). Openbox is used as the window manager, the panel is LXPanel. On
30MB LiveCD fits Firefox, gFTP, transmission, mplayer, leafpad and
many more pleasant little things. There is even built-in HTTP (lighttpd) and
SSH (dropbear) server. Russian localization is available, but not complete (installer,
for example, it is not Russified at all). For start standard version in mode
A minimum of 192 MB of RAM is recommended for LiveCD, it refuses to start at 128 MB
categorically. For those unfortunate people who do not have so much memory, the developers
issued special LiveCD versions: slitaz-loram (80MB of RAM is enough for
launch) and slitaz-loram-cdrom (only 16 MB is enough).

Tiny Core Linux is the most amazing of the "lightweight" Linux systems. Developers
managed to cram a full-fledged OS with X into a 10-megabyte image. For graphics
the FLWM window manager and the FLTK toolkit are responsible. No wonder the software suite
minimal: no browser, no text editor of any kind. But you can
just a couple of clicks of the mouse to put. There is no installer as such either -
it is suggested to partition the disk using cfdisk, format partitions, manually
transfer files and install grub. Tiny core manages to perform well at 64 MB
RAM. Unfortunately, such a small size of the distribution was achieved not only for
by throwing out almost all applications. Many drivers were also excluded.
For example, there is a lot of firewood left behind for wireless cards. So I
would use this distribution only if no other
does not start anymore.

Hand made

For fast work the old PC does not have to be installed separately
distribution kit - you can always finish your favorite to desired state... Here again
there are two ways: use ready-made DEs or assemble your environment piece by piece.
The first way is easier, the second is more interesting :).

Light DEs include LXDE and Enlightenment (yes, Xfce is not the same ...)
LXDE is available in the repositories of most distributions. For example on Ubuntu LXDE
is put like this:

$ sudo apt-get install lxde

This way we will practically get lubuntu (practically because
after all lubuntu has its own additional ppa repository).
Enlightenment is also in the Ubuntu repositories (in 10.04 - only E16, in 10.10 -
both E16 and under development E17) and set accordingly:

$ sudo apt-get install e16

$ sudo apt-get install e17

Once installed, the bootable DE can be selected when logged into GDM. If
collect your graphical environment, then the number possible solutions may be
limited only by fantasy. A conditionally graphical environment can be composed of
following components:

• Window manager;
• Session manager;
• Desktop and file manager;
• Panel;
• Some useful software like a terminal emulator, archiver, etc.
  like that.

The agony of choice

The window manager is responsible for the interface of the graphical environment windows and their behavior.
The choice of window manager is very wide: from the well-known metacity, compiz and kwin to
"light" openbox, fluxbox, IceWM and JWM. I opted for openbox -
because of the speed, convenient configurator (ObConf) and habit :). Moreover, in
unlike many other window managers, openbox is under active development.

Is there life in the console

Far from last place on the list of RAM eaters in the lungs
distributions are x. In some cases, giving up xs will be good.
solution, and sometimes the only way out. Surely life in a bare console
requires some preparation and adaptation. But you shouldn't think that everything is completely
sad - there are dozens of excellent console applications for all cases
life. With the framebuffer, you can even view images and videos,
and with gpm, use the mouse. Here is a small list of good console
programs:

• Browsers: lynx (grandpa text browsers), w3m (there is support
  mice, cookies and a few other useful things), links (in version 2
  supports displaying graphics via framebuffer);
• Mail client: mutt, alpine;
• IM: finch (multi-protocol client, "console version of Pidgin"),
  CenterIM (another multi-protocol client. From version 5.0 there will also be
  based on libpurple), irssi (IRC client), mcabber (jabber client);
• RSS readers: newsbeuter, snownews;
• Viewing images: fbi (and fbgs is a wrapper to it, allowing
  view PDF and PostScript), fbv, zgv;
• Music players: ogg123, mpg123, mpg321, mpd, moc,
  mp3blaster;
• Video players: mplayer, vlc.

The next component is the session manager. This is the kind of thing that is responsible for
start other programs (including the window manager), restart them if
crash, and also provides the ability to save a list of running
applications. The element is, in principle, optional, but nice enough. How
as a rule, each DE has its own session manager: gnome-session, lxsession,
xfce-session. The staybox, intended for launch, stands somewhat apart.
openbox (and other * box window managers). But it is not in the repository, and it is unknown,
whether it will develop in the future. In principle, there are special differences between these
there are no solutions, so I chose lxsession (part of the LXDE project). Unconfigured
Openbox may seem somewhat austere - black background, lack of panels,
the only menu on the right button. Panel choices are probably wider than choices
window managers: tint2, pypanel, fbpanel, lxpanel and many others. Requirements to
my panels are simple: undemanding to resources, the presence of a switch
virtual tables, menu with applications, clock, layout switcher
keyboard. Stopped at LXPanel. Nice bonus: applet support
(keyboard layout, clock, menu ...), the ability to run multiple copies (if
want, like in Gnome - top and bottom), a simple graphical configurator.

As a rule, for drawing icons (and sometimes background image) at work
the desk is responsible specialized utility(like
), or file
manager. Using a standard gnomish nautilus does not fit into
general concept of light environment. There are not so many suitable "light" options
a lot: pcmanfm, thunar, rox-filer, emelfm2, xfe, gentoo (not to be confused with
distribution kit :)). I like pcmanfm the most for the presence of bookmarks and tabs,
automounting flash drives, support for file type associations (applications for
default), and in general, for a pleasant interface. The new environment should be
select accompanying software with low system requirements.

It is better to change gnome-terminal to something lighter: terminator, termit,
lxterminal, sakura. I want a little bit from the terminal emulator: UTF8 support
and tabs. Lxterminal is quite suitable for these requirements. Browser, along with
terminal is my main working tool. Although there are "lightweight" browsers,
for example, dillo, midory or arora - they all do not suit me as
tools for everyday work for one reason or another: lack of necessary
technology or work instability. Therefore, as a browser, I have left
chromium.

I don't need much from a text editor - just to have it (anyway
configs are mostly edited in nano or mc). I'll put leafpad for text
files, abiword - for odt and doc, gnumeric - for ods or xls. In case of
needing syntax highlighting might come in handy geany. As
image viewer, you can use Eye of GNOME, or you can
find an easier alternative, fortunately, there are many options: geeqie (fork of gqview),
ristretto, mirage and others - for every taste and color. I chose geeqie.

It remains to replace network-manager with wicd, and file-roller with xarchiver, and
we get a complete graphical environment. True, somewhat foreign in such
a lightweight environment will look like gdm. Therefore, it is also better to replace it with
something simpler, for example, slim (Simple Login Manager) - this will reduce the time
downloads.

Light monitor

A nice addition to a lightweight distribution would be the conky system monitor.
He is able to monitor any parameter of the system (including using
calling an external script), while consuming a minimum of resources. Set
simply:

$ sudo apt-get install conky

Then you need to create the ~ / .conkyrc file. The program has a lot of parameters,
so it's easier to take the ready-made .conkyrc and edit it to suit your needs.
Examples of .conkyrc files with screenshots can be taken from the official website:
.

Installation and napilling

All system components are now selected. You can set and customize. Everything
the above is in the repositories of almost any distribution kit. I will
describe on example Ubuntu, but I think for other distributions significant
no differences are expected. So, we put:

$ sudo apt-get install slim openbox obconf lxpanel pcmanfm lxterminal
chromium-browser leafpad abiword gnumeric geany geeqie wicd xarchiver

The installation process will ask which login manager to use. We choose
slim.

Since we started apt-get, we can clean out all unnecessary from the system along the way,
for example, uninstall avahi-daemon and kerneloops-daemon. Sane and cups are used (by
at least by me) not very often - they can be removed from startup for
reducing RAM consumption and system start time:

$ sudo /etc/init.d/cups stop
$ sudo update-rc.d -f cups remove

But back to the setup. First you need to teach the login manager to run
correct session manager. Slim can work with different sessions (for the choice
the session is answered by the key in the login window), but somehow strange: I never
managed to get it to correctly launch openbox as a default session. Simpler
register the launch of lxsession in ~ / .xsession:

$ nano ~ / .xsession lxsession -session default

To let lxsession know which window manager to launch, create a file /etc/xdg/lxsession/default/desktop.conf
with the following content:

$ sudo nano /etc/xdg/lxsession/default/desktop.conf
window_manager = openbox-session

The programs that lxsession should run at login are written in the / etc / xdg / lxsession / default / autostart file:

$ sudo nano / etc / xdg / lxsession / default / autostart @lxpanel @pcmanfm --desktop

The "@" sign indicates that lxsession will keep track of the state
running program and restart it in case of a fall. ‘—Desktop’ option
indicates that the drawing of the desktop (icons and wallpaper) will be handled by
pcmanfm. You can specify the path to the picture that will serve as wallpaper either through
GUI:

$ pcmanfm --desktop-pref

or in config.config / pcmanfm / pcmanfm.conf. I recommend to also specify pcmanfm
display the window manager menu instead of your own.

To make lxterminal open from the openbox menu instead of gnome-terminal, you need
enter:

$ sudo update-alternatives --config x-terminal-emulator

And select lxterminal from the list that appears.

Conclusion

Today, when the amount of RAM in new computers is measured in gigabytes, and
single-core processors are already bad manners, a modern OS capable of running on
a computer with the configuration of the beginning of the century seems fantastic. And yet it is
is quite real.

We continue to cover the topic of using Linux for weak, old computers. In this publication - comparative analysis the advantages of the Ubuntu 16.4 flavors. Earlier on our resource was:

Notice for systems with processors without PAE support

Many old laptops often have a processor with the letter "M" in the name, such as Pentium M, Athlon M, Celeron M. At the time of their creation, this was an excellent solution - good performance and energy savings justified the prefix that stands for Mobile. Such laptops have a problem with PAE, because of this, it is difficult to install modern operating systems.

Physical Address Extension(PAE) - x86-CPU RAM control option with 64-bit page table entries, for the processor can address 64 GB physical memory(instead of 4 GB), although separate program can still only address a maximum of 4 GB of memory. This solution appeared in Pentium processor Pro.

I get this or a similar error:

This kernel requires the following faetures not present on the CPU: pae Unable to boot - please use a kernel appropriate for your CPU.

It means that the bootloader asks the processor for the PAE mode, asks for a different kernel. The error sounds scary and repels novice Linux users. What other "kernel", where to get it, how to use it, why does the installer itself offer nothing ?! In fact, there is nothing terrible and difficult.

If, when installing Ubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, use the parameter forcepae then this warning will be ignored. This can be done at the beginning of the installation, where there is an item - Extra options kernels. If there is no such item when loading, then it can be called with the "F6" key.

Xubuntu and Lubuntu

These options are great for weak PCs. At the heart of these editions is simply Ubuntu, with all its advantages and disadvantages. They differ only in the graphic design of the desktop and a set of pre-installed software... As an example, LibreOffice in Xubuntu and Lubuntu has been replaced by the less demanding Abiword and the Gnumeric table editor.

System Lubuntu the most undemanding of the line to iron. It contains a shell LXDE which, along with the rest of the system, needs about 180MB of RAM to boot. On 512, it should work fine.

The installation process should not cause problems - everything is simple there. If anything, everything is very similar.

Generally speaking, Lubuntu has a constant feeling of simplicity and quick response to any action when using the OS. There are some inconvenient points, but the main goal of the community, users and developers is maximum productivity on any hardware. Not everything is beautiful, there are no bells and whistles with tweaks - but everything works, and on old buckets, which seemed to have a place in the trash heap for a long time.

If the RAM is> 512MB, you can think about Xubuntu, this flavor contains the interface Xfce and was created earlier than Lubuntu with LXDE. Accordingly, the project is more logically stable. Xfce shares some similarities with MacOS.

Visually, there is little difference between Xubuntu and Lubuntu. The shell of both is very light and simple. Xubuntu took 214 MB of memory after booting, with 512MB you can work quite comfortably.

Xubuntu in comparison with Lubuntu, as for me, is outwardly more pleasant, perhaps, especially in some detailed little things.

Skype and Dropbox have been added to the basic software suite.

What are the disadvantages of Xubuntu and Lubuntu? Both distributions are not very suitable for multimedia, there are, but, I must admit, troubles with viewing some video formats are successfully solved. Installation is almost the only solution to most of them. ...

The original Ubuntu, in contrast to its "daughters" - is fuller, perhaps, more polished, tested. And the system. and a set of software. There is everything necessary for 95 percent of users of the software is already in the database. There is a fee for this - 460-500 MB of RAM is occupied by Ubuntu 16.4 with Unity immediately after launch.

General in Ubuntu and its varieties for weak computers Xubuntu and Lubuntu:

• The same managers are used to install the software. All programs are unified, have descriptions, screenshots. It is comfortable and reliable. Instructions and solutions to emerging problems / inconveniences are almost always the same for all three branches.
• Unified system of updates, repositories.
• Connecting devices like mice, USB sticks works almost instantly and perfectly.
• Unified user management system, unified services, excellent support.

I hope you found this article helpful. Have a nice day.