Re: What old Linux distro to run on a old Pentium III PC?

Why old Linux distro? Any modern Linux should run. While *most* modern Linux
distros don't provide 32-bit install images, all of the 32-bit libraries and
kernels are in fact available and maintained (people commonly set up 32-bit
VMs for various purposes). You might have to manually create an installer
image, but I don't believe that is partitularly difficult.

I believe there might be 32-bit install images for older releases for some
distros (eg Ubuntu 16.04) and then you could then do successive release
upgrades.

Note: depending on how much memory and/or diskspace, you might have issues
with some GUI desktops.  You might stick to a lightweight desktop like xfc4
and avoid the heavyweight desktops like gnome or kde.

At Thu, 19 Jun 2025 21:37:07 +0200 "Matthew Camilleri" <bunkertoshimatty@gmail.com> wrote:

 
I posted a simmilar question on comp.os.misc, but that was generally for
what operating systems to install on this old thing (a Pentium III, 385 or
so megabytes of ram, 80 gb harddrive).
 
What old Linux distro would be cool to run on this thing?
 
 
                             
 

--
Robert Heller             -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364
Deepwoods Software        -- Custom Software Services
http://www.deepsoft.com/  -- Linux Administration Services
heller@deepsoft.com       -- Webhosting Services