Hi!

I'm planing install Antix 12 on a ancient laptop (Pentium III 256 MB RAM).
My parents have a Semprom XP 1800+ 512MB

I should install the same on booth computers, to use the laptop as testing before made the same on my parent's computer.

They only need.

-Iceweasel (Gmail, facebook, and youtube)
-Skype
-PDF reader
-MPlayer or similar
-USB Printer

I'm have several questions before install it.

-I'll use antiX-12-base-486.iso, there is no version for 686.
Should I compile a custom kernel version for optimize performance? Any tip to install base-486.iso on P III and Semprom XP?

-Base iso comes with Fluxbox, JWM, wmii and dwm. I don't have experience with linux desktop environments (console rules!).
I need something easy to use and fast, with Spanish translation. Easy to use but that works with 256MB
Don't worry about the configuration/tweak, I'll do it.
DWM is a good choice or I should install Fluxbox?

I can't answer all of your questions but here are a few answers. First, I recommend that you wait for either antiX-13-beta3 (which should be released in the next few days) or the final antiX-13 release which is due out in a few weeks (likely mid-May). Developers will be focused on antiX-13 during this time period so you will get better/faster help from them if you need it.

Should I compile a custom kernel version for optimize performance?

No! The kernel performance is not even close to being a bottle-neck and the gains you might get would be very minor anyway. You will gain nothing by doing this.

Base iso comes with Fluxbox, JWM, wmii and dwm. [...] DWM is a good choice or I should install Fluxbox?

Both dwm and fluxbox are already installed on base. On the antiX-13 LiveCD/USB you get to choose which one to run with the"F6 Desktop" menu in the bootloader (on antiX-12 you will need to type in a desktop=xxx boot parameter) . First use the"F2 Language" menu to get most things translated into Spanish. Once you've booted (or installed), you can change the window manager by simply logging out of X-windows and use the F1 key to cycle through window mangers before logging in again. Use update-default-desktop to make the change permanent. All the pre-installed window managers should work fine with 256 Meg, although if you open up a lot of programs or many browser tabs then you are likely to start using swap. The base system + window manager usually uses less than 100 Meg.

Most selections you make in the LiveCD/USB bootloader menus carry over to the installed system when you install so it is usually easiest to make sure you used the menu selections you want in the bootloader before installing. If usb ports are available I suggest you use the new_usb.sh script to make a LiveUSB because it is much faster than a LiveCD and it also offers you more features.

Thanks I'll wait for Antix 13 final for my parents computer and start testing the beta in the laptop.

I can't use LiveUSB on the laptop because don't boot from USB

Although it may well be unsuitable for your present needs, have a look at PLOP boot manager:


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It has worked for me on most machines that don't support USB booting.

C

Thanks for all your comments, I'm writing from my new antix installation.
I have some minor problems that I will try to solve one by one opening specific posts

Check this too:
speed-up-your-linux-box-t124.html
If yes, and how to change settings in said file further, is beyond me.

I often got a Pentium3 with similar RAM, and it's ok. But i usually don't use the apps you mention
(besides iceweasel, which should work).

You could also install sysv-rc-conf and disable all services you don't need.
If installing"preload" will help or make it worth i don't know neither
But, truth to be told, in my experience with such low hardware no tweaking really helps that much
(it might help, but the desktop-usage-experience is still the same. It's an old machine and works like that. Some can live with it, some can't. ).
Using a minimal environment (like the window managers antix uses) does help, and is quite easy. Disable desktop icons, disable wallpaper. Like said, and no voodoo involved. Or pure CLI. Then a P3 will fly (but i understood that is not of any use in your situation/actual request).

chrispop99 wrote:Although it may well be unsuitable for your present needs, have a look at PLOP boot manager: [...] It has worked for me on most machines that don't support USB booting.

The antiX LiveCD can also be used to boot an antiX LiveUSB. For this to work they both need to use the same kernel. You just need to specify the usb device by device-name, partition label, or partition UUID in the bootloader. Examples: You can set a partition label by using the GUI program gparted, or directly from the command line using"e2label <device> <label>".

In fact, if an antiX LiveUSB is plugged in when you try booting an antiX LiveCD then the LiveUSB will be used. If you don't want to boot from the LiveUSB then you can simply unplug it or you can use this boot code:If you want to get fancy, you can have it check internal drives first, then usb drives and then finally removable media drives by setting:It may seem strange that the default for the LiveCD is to check usb partitions first. The reason for this is that there are several common ways people make LiveUSBs from a LiveCD or iso file that don't involve any changes. Therefore the same iso file must be able to boot as a LiveUSB and as a LiveCD. So we check both by default and we check the usb devices first because it is much faster to check a usb and because you can usually unplug a usb stick very easily.