However, if youre retrofitting linux on a very old computer, the processor matters much more. A custom edition of alt linux built on top of the old school mate desktop. As i mentioned before, these os are not only for the older pcs but also for the modern pcs. But tiny linux distributions are powerful innovations. Microsoft windows, apple macos, and various linux bsd distributions. Dec 07, 2019 the 5th lightweight linux for old computers is peppermint. Arch linux forces you to get your hands dirty, and its a good linux distribution to try if. Having a linux distribution take the time to get chrome device drivers working makes for a great enduser experience, as a lot of other linux distributions do not do this by default.
As an example, most distributions of linux release iso images of the installation cds. Both of these were later divided into commercial and communitysupported distributions. For old computers, the 32bit version is advisable, whereas a 64bit version is best suited for modern models of computers. The best lightweight linux distributions for old computers. Jul 02, 2017 debian is a great linux distribution and actually forms the basis for ubuntu, which in turn forms the base for many other linux distributions. Mar 17, 2020 the consumer operatingsystem market has largely settled on three platforms. The best lightweight linux distributions for old computers february 18, 2020 matt mills editors pick 0 if you are one of those who have a somewhat old pc and can no longer upgrade to the most modern versions of windows due to lack of resources, or you have dusted your first computer, you may be looking for a way to bring it back to life. The size of puppy linux is very less, somewhere around 300mb. Linux lite depends upon the xfce desktop environment figure 1 and includes the likes of libreoffice, firefox, thunderbird, vlc, gimp, gnome disks, and much more. If you are new to linux and want to install linux on your older hardware then peppermint is a good choice for you. The installation process for arch linux is not as streamlined as it is in other distributions. The bootable live dvd provides an easytouse graphical installer and the distribution sports a wide range of popular applications for the typical desktop user, including browser plugins and. These distributions represent some of the best linux distributions for gaming on linux. Oct 06, 2017 linux lite depends upon the xfce desktop environment figure 1 and includes the likes of libreoffice, firefox, thunderbird, vlc, gimp, gnome disks, and much more.
Jan 05, 2018 its a new year and the landscape of possibility is limitless for linux. Originally created with the webcentric approach of netbooks in mind, peppermint includes the ice application for integrating any website or web app as a standalone desktop app. Linux is a powerful and fully customizable operating system. Apr, 2020 if you threw away your old computer, its time to power it back on. Here, we shall only mention what really stands out from.
Psychos is a freely distributed and opensource computer operating system based on devuan gnu linux, which, in turn, is based on debian gnu linux. I am very interested in collecting old linux distributions prior to 1995. I am going to list the best lightweight linux distributions that you can use on old computers some of the distributions mentioned here are also a part of the best linux. Note that we are primarily interested in whole runnable old systems, not just the kernel source code. Manually download windows subsystem for linux distro packages. It offers an endless amount of distributions that differ significantly from each other, offering complete personalization to.
Top 6 lightweight linux distributions for oldslow desktops and laptops download 2020 edition now i am going to display a list of all of the linux distributions or distros. Apr 03, 2020 why not revive your old computer with linux. So, you might want to check that if youre new to the linux universe. The linux distribution archive is a growing collection of media for the installation of linux on various systems from the past 20 years. Antix, based on debian is a lightweight linux distribution without systemd. Backed by redhat the biggest linux kernel contributor, fedora is one of the fastest and most secure linux distro to use in 2020. These distributions are freely available for download and distribution under open.
Dec 26, 2018 the size of puppy linux is very less, somewhere around 300mb. Ubuntu flavours are backed by the full ubuntu archive for packages and updates. It is based on ubuntu and uses lxde desktop environment to give you a smoother experience. Installation is a minimal base system, the pacman package manager attempts to handle dependencies, but there is a lot of configuration by the user to suit their individual needs. The software is made for old machines and laptops that consume little power and with low specifications. The consumer operatingsystem market has largely settled on three platforms. Below youll find links that lead directly to the download page of 25 popular linux distributions. Iso files, for burning to cd dvd or use it with virtualbox. Kubuntu offers the kde plasma workspace experience, a goodlooking system for home and office use.
If you go to and click any distro you should be able to get the old links to download some old linux. This lightweight linux distro comes for both 32bit and 64bit hardware, which makes sense as its focused on older computers. The best linux distributions for beginners howto geek. Peppermint uses lxde desktop environment that is lightweight and easy to use.
The following old releases of ubuntu are available. Trisquel mini is a small, and lightweight version of a trisquel based ubuntu lts. Head to their official website to download the iso 32bit. With the use of xfce and the inclusion of a full complement of software, linux lite makes for an outstanding distribution for new users, working with old hardware. Damn small linux, a small linux distro designed to run on older hardware. The best usecase for gallium os is for those that are over dualbooting on their chrome os device, and have fully replaced the bootloader to seabios so that any. It can run on a wide variety of hardware, including the old 486 machines right up to the modern machines. Antix a lightweight systemdfree linux distribution for.
These ubuntu variants simply install a set of packages different from the original ubuntu, but since they draw additional packages and updates from the. Debian is a good option if you want a stable environment, but ubuntu is more uptodate and desktopfocused. Aug 03, 2014 one of the most famous linux distributions in the world, suited for old pcs and based on ubuntu and officially supported by ubuntu community, lubuntu uses lxde interface by default for its gui, beside some other tweaks for ram and cpu usage which makes it a good choice for old pcs and notebooks as well. Jan 22, 2020 download linux software in the linux distributions category. Yes peppermint is a cloudfocused linux distribution that doesnt need highend hardware. Lubuntu is an ubuntu derivative that uses the lxde desktop environment. For running linux on an older pc in 2019, ill recommend you to go with ubuntu mate.
Manually download windows subsystem for linux wsl distros. Since its formation in the early 1990s, the open source nature of linux has ensured great variation in the release of distributions, including variations on floppy disk, cdrom, dvdrom and onlineonly. If you run a standard desktop computer or a laptop, youll likely find nearly every distribution works well on your machine. The 5th lightweight linux for old computers is peppermint. Antix is extremely fast even if you run it in a virtualbox. Linux distributions for low resources computers linux hint. There are several scenarios in which you may not be able or want to, install wsl linux distros via the microsoft store. Dec 12, 2019 this linux distro is packed inside a single directory slax. In this section we will briefly cover our favorite choices of linux distributions. So, dump all your worries about lesser storage space on your old pc in. Since its formation in the early 1990s, the open source nature of linux has ensured great variation in the release of distributions, including variations on.
However, it comes with its own package repository which closely mirrors debians upstream. One of the most famous linux distributions in the world, suited for old pcs and based on ubuntu and officially supported by ubuntu community, lubuntu uses lxde interface by default for its gui, beside some other tweaks for ram and cpu usage which makes it a good choice for old pcs and notebooks as well. Slackware was one of the earliest linux distributions around. To help you make the most out of your siliconebased friend, weve picked 5 best linux distributions for an old laptop. This page provides general information about notable linux distributions in the form of a. Some of the distributions mentioned here are also a part of the best linux distributions for beginners. It provides outofthebox solution and include browser,media supports java and lots of other components.
I am going to list the best lightweight linux distributions that you can use on old computers. This article briefly describe puppy linux, lubuntu, lxle, antix linux and sparkylinux. If linux is a great, and maybe the best option for everyone, linux distributions for low resources devices seems to be the only well supported option for old computers. Each distribution is unique, having its own strengths and weaknesses. These images are usually available from anonymous ftp servers.
Apr 14, 2020 linux is a powerful and fully customizable operating system. The ubuntu distribution, from canonical, is a popular linux distribution. Pdf file, links in bold allow direct download of the. A gnu linux distribution that aims to revive older hardware in a unique way with great software. Top 10 free linux distributions linux operating systems are one of the most sophisticated software that has been prevalent from the evolution of oldenday computers. You will find it easy to use and can also install it on your older computers with no issues. Red hat linux and suse linux were the original major distributions that used the. Why you should choose lightweight linux distros to get a few more years out of an aging machine over other operating systems the main reason is, unlike older versions of windowsos x, the listed lite linux distributions get support and timely updates. Long before many other linux distributions tried to do easy to use linux, there was linux mint. Iso images are mainly used as source files from which to create cds. The next generation enterprise linux operating system developed and publish by red hat. Mar 18, 2020 top 6 lightweight linux distributions for oldslow desktops and laptops download 2020 edition now i am going to display a list of all of the linux distributions or distros.
The following distributions match your criteria sorted by popularity. Ubuntu flavours offer a unique way to experience ubuntu, each with their own choice of default applications and settings. It is a market leader in virtualization and also offers strong community support to users. With linux, the underlying kernel may be the same, but the software around it the apps, skins, window managers, and package managers commitment to free and opensource software. This linux distro is packed inside a single directory slax. Its a new year and the landscape of possibility is limitless for linux. Windows 8 may be lighter than windows vista, but its nowhere near as lightweight as these free linux distributions. It was a humble operating system based on ubuntu that took the time to include little things that beginners have a hard time with. If you have an old pc laying around or if you didnt really need to upgrade your system you can still try some of the best linux distros available.
Jan 04, 2020 then lightweight linux distributions would be the perfect choice to resurrect your old buddy. Arch linux is a popular linux distribution among enthusiasts and not suggested for the novice user. Antix a lightweight systemdfree linux distribution for old. These suggestions may help you in choosing the best linux distribution to meet your objective. You download three floppy images and end up with a bootable system. Pclinuxos is a userfriendly linux distribution with outofthebox support for many popular graphics and sound cards, as well as other peripheral devices.
Its one of the smallest linux distros on this list for 2019. It uses the minimal lxde desktop environment and x windows system, which is a perfect alternative to the gnome or kde qt apps. Red hat linux was divided into a communitysupported but red hatsponsored distribution named fedora, and a commercially. Enjoy a trip down linux memory lane as we take early distros for a spin. For those who might be looking to migrate to the open source. It offers an endless amount of distributions that differ significantly from each other, offering complete personalization to all. Red hat linux was divided into a communitysupported but red hat sponsored distribution named. Slax linux distro is available in both 32bit and 64 bit.
If you threw away your old computer, its time to power it back on. Unlike debian gnu linux, devuan gnu linux doesnt uses. Microsoft windows, apple macos, and various linuxbsd distributions. Whereas 2017 brought about some big changes to a number of linux distributions, i believe 2018 will bring serious stability and market share growthfor both the server and the desktop. I have done some hardworks rearranging the resources in linux. Once you download the image, you can use cd burning. This site is a small software museum, which allows you to download old software.
Even we have hundreds of distributions, we have created a list of best linux distro based on popularity, features, and ease of usage i felt its fair to categories top linux distros based on desktop laptop, security, lightweight, enterprise and for developers because each distro have their unique features and you should select based on your requirement. With so many different distributions or flavors of the linux operating system it can be difficult to choose which is right for you. Plus, it is almost automatically updated against bugs and old versions. Then lightweight linux distributions would be the perfect choice to resurrect your old buddy. All of these distros come with everything you need to get started on your linux gaming journey and bring with them all the technology and features to play games from almost anywhere. Oct 22, 2019 devuan linux is a fork of debian that surprisingly runs on the older sysvinit instead of the latest systemd init that is now used by modern linux distributions. Weve already talked about some of the best lightweight linux distributions in details. In order to seperate others from oldlinux resources i put all other stuffs in a directory study. A lightweight linux server operating system for lans, based on the 4mlinux distro. Top 6 lightweight linux distributions for old slow desktops and laptops download 2020 edition now i am going to display a list of all of the linux distributions or distros.
If you have any old distros around on cdrom or diskettes, i would appreciate a copy. If you have an old windows xp pc or a netbook, you can revive it with a lightweight linux system. Antix is a linux distribution that can run on old computers without any problems. It is based on ubuntu lts, its lightweight and easy to use linux distributions. Here is the list of top 10 linux distributions to free download latest version of linux operating system with links to linux documentation and home pages. Best linux distributions for everyone in 2020 its foss. All of these linux distributions can run from a live usb drive, so you could even boot them directly from a usb drive. The biggest advantage with such operating systems is the amount of customizability that can be embedded along with the user interface.
1357 161 719 725 857 311 209 570 985 494 1313 1002 1055 857 987 823 1295 562 674 1425 1055 178 488 761 1442 1498 1340 330 523 889 340