Seven Linux distros fight over one old ThinkPad (DesktopLinux.com)

Seven Linux distros fight over one old ThinkPad (DesktopLinux.com)

Posted Oct 6, 2006 19:08 UTC (Fri) by horen (subscriber, #2514)
In reply to: Seven Linux distros fight over one old ThinkPad (DesktopLinux.com) by hein.zelle
Parent article: Seven Linux distros fight over one old ThinkPad (DesktopLinux.com)

Use Ubuntu's server "alternate" install-image for a really minimal installation. Of course, you don't install any of the server software; after all, we're aiming for a desktop workstation, right?

Then run "apt-get update", followed by "apt-get install jwm|fluxbox x-window-system-core xdm xterm". Reboot. At this point you've got a barebones, windowed OS. To sweeten the deal, run "sudo apt-get install synaptic", then "sudo synaptic" and you're on your way to adding/removing the components to do/don't want.

Hint: there are lots of Xorg drivers which are automatically installed, which won't match the cards you do have. Off with their heads!

You'll be surprised how little room this OS and installation procedure takes-up, as well as how painless it is. My Toshiba Tecra 8100 (PIII/700 w/512MB RAM and a 20GB hard drive) runs like a champ, especially without the overhead of KDE, GNOME, or XFCE.

I like JWM, and also recommend a program called Torsmo (Finnish for "something something system monitor" (got turned-on to both, from DSL).

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