How Do I Choose a Linux System For a Computer Already Running XP?

[ChannelZ28]

hello, i dont know where to post this, but i guess if this isnt the correct place it will get moved there.

i recently bought an eee pc with a 16gb ssd and 1gb of ram that came with an xp os. my friend has the same computer running linux, and i think it runs a lot better. it looks quicker, simpler and the linux os takes up less space on the drive. he uses ubuntu. i checked into ubuntu's version of linux for windows and it takes up 7gb of drive space.

where should i look for a smaller, simpler version that i could install instead of the windows os? would i then be able to remove windows? i have a restore disc so i could always reinstall it if i wanted to. thanks, im very new to the linux idea.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

I've read that Puppy Linux works well on them but I've never tried it on anything other than a full desktop machine:

Welcome to puppylinux.org !

I've also heard some good things about Ubuntu Netbook Remix, but again I've not tried it as I don't own a laptop, or netbook:

Download Ubuntu Netbook Remix | Ubuntu

Maybe some eee pc owners will chime in with more for you.

[rokytnji]

Depending on your model number (701,701sd,900,900hd,1000, etc....) Depends on what Linux Distro will run good on your EEE. I own a basic 900 with 4gig/16gig SSD running Xandros 4 on internal SSD. That is what came stock with it but I have customised it to my liking.

For Dual Boot. (Keeping your XP Install Intact). You can try my tutorial for installing a linux Distro to a external SD Flash Drive

I used a Debian Based distro for my instructiions but you can substitute the distro of your choice. When reading the instructions bookmark the EEEpc wiki link so as to see what runs good on EEEpcs. Good luck.

[reed9]

i recently bought an eee pc with a 16gb ssd and 1gb of ram

This is enough to run any flavor of linux you like.

would i then be able to remove windows? i have a restore disc so i could always reinstall it if i wanted to. thanks, im very new to the linux idea.

You would be able to remove windows if you chose. It's a little more complicated to dual boot initially and then remove windows afterwards. If you install Ubuntu in windows via Wubi, then no, you wouldn't be able to delete windows. If you aren't concerned about keeping windows, back up your important files, and just install linux to your whole drive.

You might want to check out Eeebuntu.

[Kieren]

Check out easy peasy. Formally called Eee Ubuntu it works great on the Eee using the Ubuntu Netbook Release as it's base

[ChannelZ28]

thanks for all the suggestions! its going to take me a bit of time to look through those options and decide what i like best, but i will definitely check out eeebuntu. im sure im going to have more questions once i get it set up. good to know about these forums, thanks!

[dmengo]

Give Linux Mint 8 a try.

[GrungeGeek]

I also like Linux Mint, on that atm (tho my prefered is CentOS.) my fiancee has a Eee PC with Ubuntu netbook, and it works fairly well. so i would go for one of those too. (mint or ubuntu)

[beloved88]

. Formally called Eee Ubuntu it works great on the Eee using the Ubuntu Netbook Release as it's base

ditto, that's what I'm using myself with an HP Mini 1101 32gb ssd for about 2 months now. It's really friendly for someone brand new to Linux. I used this girly walkthrough to install and tweak. Ugh, they won't let me paste URL's because i just joined this particular forum, but google "Mesanna weblog install Easy Peasy on EEE" Come back here if you have a hard time installing it or something doesn't work after install, usually there's a fix.
Edit: WHAT!? this is the third time i've tried to post and it's not letting me because of the URL in the quote :P lamo. after you've got it installed, you can use the Ubuntu forums as well for support questions/issues

[Djarum]

xubuntu, I've been told is a great choice for older machines.