I’m new to Linux and am attempting to download a workable (gui) system on a Dell Inspiron 2650 (256 Mb/ 30 Ghz) laptop. After having considerable problems installing Ubuntu and Lubuntu (these are the only Linux installs I’ve ever tried) it was recommended I try antiX because it could handle the lower RAM/harddisk configuration of the Inspiron 2650.

Questions:
1) Is the install process similar to that of Ubuntu (Download appropriate iso file; Create a CD startup by burning an ISO image using Infra Recorder; Start up disk and start install.)
2) As with Ubuntu, can antiX be experienced by running it directly off the CD?
3) As with Ubuntu, can antiX be mounted as a dualboot (Windows/antiX)?
4) Finally, I am on
========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://distro.ibiblio.org/mepis/released/antix/"
linktext was:"http://distro.ibiblio.org/mepis/released/antix/"
====================================
. Which download is the appropriate/stable antiX version most appropriate to the Dell Inspiron 2650?

Thanks

1. Yes. I use Image burn and md5sum downloads before burning cd. Burn at slow speed on good cdr disk.
2. Yes. It runs as a live cd.
3.Yes. I have a dualboot install on a IBM t23 with Windows XP. I recommend defragging windows till the blue bar is all the way to the left as possible in the defrag window before running a install also.
4. I would go with

antiX-M11-686.iso 2011-May-02 15:30:54 680M
antiX-M11-686.iso.md5sum

since you are going to be a new user of AntiX. I also recommend during install to make a /swap partition of at least 512MB during the installation process. There is a open gparted button.

My how to

antix-11-eeepc-900-install-finished-t3104.html

this is just to give you a general idea of how the installer looks and works.

I burned the iso recommended, mounted the demo...am impressed.

Q1) In comparing this experience with my Ubuntu experience, I notice that (the application) GParted exists in both places. Does this mean that different Linux platforms share the same programs (rather than re-invent the wheel)? Which (types of) programs do most of the Linux flavors tend to share?

More to the point of my install:

GParted: I configured my disk partitions as follows:
sda1 fat16 31.35 MiB
sda2 ntfs 17.75 MiB
dev/sda 3 (extended partition) 10.16 GiB
unallocated 9.72 GiB
sda5 linux-swap 300 MiB
unallocated 149 MiB (I was going to move this tiny slice next to the other unallocated sector to combine them, but GParted posted such dire warnings that I decided to let it be)

Q2) I understand GiB to be Gi-gabyte. What is MiB (Mi-gabyte??)

Defragmenting: Next I was looking for a defrag program so that I could follow the advice that said to defrag as much as possible.

Q3) Is there a defrag program available in the CD-based antiX"demo" mode?

Q4) Finally, what is the difference between Fluxbox and icewm? And when I decide to install, do I have to choose between the two?

MiB is just mega bytes.

Defrag is done in Windows. There is no defrag in AntiX cd for Windows. I used
========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://download.cnet.com/Smart-Defrag/3000-2094_4-10759533.html"
linktext was:"http://download.cnet.com/Smart-Defrag/3 ... 59533.html"
====================================
and when done. Used the default Windows defrag program to just look at the results.

Booting goes into default Icewm Rox Pinboard on a live session. After a Install. You can select Icewm, Icewm rox-desktop, Fluxbox, Fluxbox rox-desktop, using the F1 key at SLIM login window where you enter your username and password.

Gparted is Gparted. Whether in Debian, Ubuntu,Fedora, etc...........

Same same for other linux applications like geany,gedit, etc..........

Iceweasel = Firefox in Debian
Iceape =Seamonkey in Debian

Windows should be installed first. Then AntiX. I guess you don't have windows installed looking at you partitioning layout.
Swap should have been twice the size of ram also.

Nope, Windows (XP) is already installed and was part of a not very memorable (too little RAM) Ubuntu-then-Lumbutu dual boot. If it comes to it, I'll not mind just scrapping Windows from this machine but for a first try I decided I'd try a dual boot. The disk partitioning scheme was what Ubuntu decided when I did the dual boot. I just got rid of all the Linux specific space, leaving one Linux swap space (that I'll increase to 525 MiB). I thought AntiX would automatically allocate itself a suitable swap space.

Since there is no longer any dual boot on the machine, there's no way to boot into Windows so I'll have to just skip the Defrag until later. (I suppose I can dual boot with AntiX then bring it up in Windows; defrag; and, if necessary, reinstall AntiX.

I thought AntiX would automatically allocate itself a suitable swap space.

Ubuntu has spoiled you. Everything as far as the installer in AntiX (but at least you get a gui) is done manually.Maybe you just need to do in live session

sda1 fat16 31.35 MiB
sda2 ntfs 17.75 MiB

Leave that alone. Do not touch in gparted.

dev/sda 3 (extended partition) 10.16 GiB
unallocated 9.72 GiB

Unallocated 9.72 make a ext3 partition, label it as /
Flag it as boot.

sda5 linux-swap 300 MiB

delete that one. Then you should have

300 MiB + unallocated 149 MiB = 449 MB of Unallocated space. This should be OK for your swap partition.
Then make new>linux swap>apply for that 449 MB unallocated partition.

Install grub to mbr. Look at my link on my install in case you get lost.

Shoot. I know you are off to do what I suggested. I should have told you delete the /swap 300 MB.

That would leave you 10 gig of un-allocated space. Then make a 512MB /swap first out of that. Then use the rest left over as ext3, /, boot.

I had to take a leak when I wrote that post. So I was doing the pee pee dance.

I thought I had posted this reply last night, but apparently it didn't (post) hmmmm. It said:

I (actually WE) did it!!! antiX is installed and running...
and with a bonus (one I wasn't able to get happen with (L)Ubuntu)
The Dell Inspiron 2650 keyboard/mousepad works!!

Thanks for all the help! (the rokytnji install post was very helpful)

Should I/is there a way/is it necessary to indicate that this thread's problem has been solved?