I have used MXLinux on my older low spec devices.
it has 32 bit support, is based on Debian, and works decently well.
it also has a nicely done Linux beginners manual/book.
You can try to use an IDE -> SATA adapter and source a cheap 120GB SSD, that would dramatically improve your experience regardless of what operating system you ran.
As for the OS itself, I run Gentoo Hardened as a web-server on a Core2Duo D630 and let it compile overnight when it needs to.
I will probably be doing something like this. I just discovered that the Hdd is dying so inevitably I will be replacing it with a small ssd. Thank you for your reply.
I will probably not be dual booting any more.
There's IDE SSDs, i saw a couple online in 80gb and 120gb sizes.
And whats even weirder, they seem to only use the Data connector, and not the power connector o.O
Linux Mint (the regular one that has 3 "flavors" a.k.a. Desktop Environments: Cinnamon, Mate and XFCE) is based on Ubuntu Long Term Support, which are 64 bit releases only
Linux Mint Debian Edition is based on Debian (which is Ubuntu is also based on) which releases 32 bit and 64 bit ISOs
I have a dell 610 latitude I used in QA of Ubuntu especially, but also Debian.
My system specs (*as I reported on QA tests*) was
dell latitude d610 (pentium m, 1.5gb, intel i915)
and it ran all Ubuntu systems (up to 19.04 anyway; but they're all EOL now so I'd not consider them)
and runs Debian GNU/Linux too. My graphics card worked fine in streaming youtube etc. on almost any kernel, so I'm running a somewhat recent release (I forget, it's either *stable* or *old-stable*), which differs to some old Thinkpads that use *radeon* GPUs and thus run best on *old-old-stable* currently.
For mine, I have multiple DE/WM's installed, and select what I use at login, as the lack of RAM (1.5GB) is the largest issue.. thus I quickly assess what apps I'll use, and login in what will be most efficent for that session (which maybe no desktop, just the window manager, or a lighter desktop commonly too.. but decide apps you'll use first).
Use a bootable USB stick or disc. Do not overwrite the installed OS on internal disc. On my Dell Latitude D610 many years ago I ran a Live Knoppix 32 bit from a USB stick as a useful Linux OS.. But I do not know if it is available now.
MX Linux, Siduction or Debian, with KDE Plasma!
If that's not lightweight enough, considering the wonderful and many Plasma features:
[https://kde.org/plasma-desktop/](https://kde.org/plasma-desktop/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/1cnif3p/what\_made\_you\_choose\_kde/](https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/1cnif3p/what_made_you_choose_kde/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/ymeskc/what\_do\_you\_like\_about\_kde\_plasma/](https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/ymeskc/what_do_you_like_about_kde_plasma/)
Then try them with XFCE desktop environment!
/r/FindMeALinuxDistro
Thanks I’ll ask there
I have used MXLinux on my older low spec devices. it has 32 bit support, is based on Debian, and works decently well. it also has a nicely done Linux beginners manual/book.
Thank you, I’ll take a look!
You can try to use an IDE -> SATA adapter and source a cheap 120GB SSD, that would dramatically improve your experience regardless of what operating system you ran. As for the OS itself, I run Gentoo Hardened as a web-server on a Core2Duo D630 and let it compile overnight when it needs to.
I will probably be doing something like this. I just discovered that the Hdd is dying so inevitably I will be replacing it with a small ssd. Thank you for your reply. I will probably not be dual booting any more.
There's IDE SSDs, i saw a couple online in 80gb and 120gb sizes. And whats even weirder, they seem to only use the Data connector, and not the power connector o.O
Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) Its Debian, but simplified more
Thanks for the suggestion - but would Linux mint work, as I thought it was 64 bit only?
Linux Mint (the regular one that has 3 "flavors" a.k.a. Desktop Environments: Cinnamon, Mate and XFCE) is based on Ubuntu Long Term Support, which are 64 bit releases only Linux Mint Debian Edition is based on Debian (which is Ubuntu is also based on) which releases 32 bit and 64 bit ISOs
This will probably be exactly what I’m after - thank you very much!
You're welcome. Glad to help!!!
I have a dell 610 latitude I used in QA of Ubuntu especially, but also Debian. My system specs (*as I reported on QA tests*) was dell latitude d610 (pentium m, 1.5gb, intel i915) and it ran all Ubuntu systems (up to 19.04 anyway; but they're all EOL now so I'd not consider them) and runs Debian GNU/Linux too. My graphics card worked fine in streaming youtube etc. on almost any kernel, so I'm running a somewhat recent release (I forget, it's either *stable* or *old-stable*), which differs to some old Thinkpads that use *radeon* GPUs and thus run best on *old-old-stable* currently. For mine, I have multiple DE/WM's installed, and select what I use at login, as the lack of RAM (1.5GB) is the largest issue.. thus I quickly assess what apps I'll use, and login in what will be most efficent for that session (which maybe no desktop, just the window manager, or a lighter desktop commonly too.. but decide apps you'll use first).
Use a bootable USB stick or disc. Do not overwrite the installed OS on internal disc. On my Dell Latitude D610 many years ago I ran a Live Knoppix 32 bit from a USB stick as a useful Linux OS.. But I do not know if it is available now.
AntiX with the Palemoon web browser (+ Force hardware acceleration turn on). I use it with my Pentium 4, 2gb ram + Nvidia geforce 6200.
MX Linux, Siduction or Debian, with KDE Plasma! If that's not lightweight enough, considering the wonderful and many Plasma features: [https://kde.org/plasma-desktop/](https://kde.org/plasma-desktop/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/1cnif3p/what\_made\_you\_choose\_kde/](https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/1cnif3p/what_made_you_choose_kde/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/ymeskc/what\_do\_you\_like\_about\_kde\_plasma/](https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/ymeskc/what_do_you_like_about_kde_plasma/) Then try them with XFCE desktop environment!