How to select best OM version for older laptop?

Support
1

Hello,

  • OpenMandriva Lx version:
    None selected yet.

  • Desktop environment (KDE, LXQT…):
    Prefer KDE

  • Description of the issue (screenshots if relevant):
    How to select best OM version?

  • Relevant informations (hardware involved, software version, logs or output…):

Gateway MX6028
Phoenix BIOS says:

BIOS Versipn: 61.2
IDE 0 Master: HTS548060M9AT00- (PM)
IDE 1Master: None

CPU Type: Intel Celeron M processor
CPU Speed: 1400 MHz
Cache RAM: 1024 KB

Total Memory: 1024MB
Slot 1 Memory: 0MB
Slot 2 Memory: 1024MB
Video Memory: 8MB

Insignia sticker on inside surface near keyboard & touchpad says:
AMD Turion 64 Mobile Technology

Hi.
I would like to know what is the most current recommended OM version best suited for installation on this machine.

Thank you.

2

Wow… it’s a oooold PC… Try with a light DM (as LxQt, or Mate), KDE Plasma is too heavy…
And, if possible, increase the RAM memory to 4 Gb at least

1 Like
3

Stefano:
Thanks for the reply and the suggestions.

I want to download the most current version of OpenMandriva that would work on this laptop to make an installation DVD for this laptop.
Which version would you recommend?
Mike

1 Like
4

The current versions will likely work if I can figure out what files to edit to get Calamares installer to install with 1024MB RAM. We did some experimenting some time ago and even had this working with Plasma desktop. None the less it would be better to use something like ROME xfce. LXQt would be a good choice also but there is bug.

To Download something right now it would have to be before Lx 4.0 so maybe Lx 3.03 would work. If not then try Lx 2014.2. They can be found here.

1 Like
5

Thanks Ben.

ROME would be great… I’ve got two desktops running it currently.
I’ll give 3.03 a try for now.
Please keep me posted re: the Calamares installation.
Mike

1 Like
6

@deltakprime
It’s not granted that it will work

Edit

/etc/calamares/modules/welcome.conf
requiredRam:        2.0

replace with:

requiredRam:        1.0

ss_20230305_000544
ss_20230305_0005441440×930 166 KB

After install, in calamares log I see

ss_20230305_005349
ss_20230305_0053491440×900 247 KB

7

That processor family includes both 32 and 64 bit cpu’s. That will matter in choice of operating system.

This is a different brand of cpu. It seems unlikely you would have both.

Edit: It is unlikely BIOS would get this wrong since recognizing the system hardware is part of it’s job. But cat /proc/cpuinfo will tell for sure. Alternatively if you try to boot a 64 bit ‘Live’ ISO and that does not work try one that is 32 bit.

1 Like
8

Test in VBox with mem set to 1024MB and 1 cpu.

With ROME LXQt iso 1761 I tried with required RAM 1.0 and Calamares said that was not enough. Tried with required RAM set to 0.8 and installation was successful. System boots and seems to work OK in very brief test.

Screenshot_20230305_104551
Screenshot_20230305_1045512050×1164 173 KB

For LXQt at present user will want to use tiled windows because of bug 2816 until that is fixed.

But this test suggests this is workable on computer with 1024MB. Xfce4 desktop would be another one to consider for this type of application. The isos are available here. User could dual boot LXQt and xfce4!