Many Linux distributions can run just fine on that dusty old computer.
If your computer runs slowly on the latest Windows operating systems, the temptation is to throw the computer away. But most Linux distributions can run on a computer more than five years old. Many Linux developers make it a point to cram as much operating system as possible into a small space, and take pride in building a system that can run on limited resources. Before turning that old computer into a doorstop, try one of the mini Linux distributions. An existing Linux installation can also be fine-tuned to run better on old computers.
Instructions
Running a Lightweight Linux Distribution
1. Discover which Linux versions are most suitable for an old computer (see Resources). Some of the best include Puppy Linux, antiX, TinyMe, Tinycore and Lubuntu. You can install all of these on your hard drive or run directly from the CD-ROM.
2. Download your chosen Linux version and save it to your hard drive. The downloaded file will have an .iso suffix.
3. Burn the .iso file to a blank CD-ROM, using your favorite CD burner software. Burn it as a CD image; otherwise, it won't work. Check under the Tools menu of your burner to find the correct menu entry.
4. Put the freshly burned CD-ROM into the drive bay and reboot your computer. You should then boot directly into the new Linux distribution.
5. Use a partition editor such as gparted or cfdisk to clear space on your hard drive and create a partition.
6. Install the Linux distribution on your new partition, following the prompts.
Fine-Tuning Your Existing Linux
7. Run your existing Linux installation to see what graphical user interface it has. You might have several options; many distributions have more than one interface available. Try one of the lighter ones, such as Fluxbox, LXDE or Openbox.
8. Install Fluxbox or LXDE if your system does not have those. Many CPU cycles are consumed by larger, splashier user interfaces such as KDE or Gnome, and a light interface may make the difference between your distribution running or not. Most of these can be dressed up by adding a photo to the background if the stark layout bothers you.
9. Install some lighter applications: Google Chrome, Chromium and Opera take up less memory than Firefox. AbiWord and Gnumeric are much lighter than Open Office. VLC is a lightweight media player.
10. Write with a text editor. These are much lighter than a word processor and do many of the same things. In addition, a text editor saves files in .txt format, which is better for writing online.
11. Trim the number of desktops or work spaces to two or three. The more applications you have opened, the greater the drain on system resources, and the more work spaces you have, the greater the likelihood you will have many applications open.
12. Limit the number of Web browser tabs you have open.
13. Monitor your system resources, either through the "top" shell command or an on-screen monitor such as Conky. Be prepared to kill any unused applications that are gumming up the works.
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