Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Computers and Peripherals : Operating systems and ram usage

[mesobob]

I have an application to run, which is quite happy on both Windows and Linux operating systems. The problem is, it`s quite a resource hungry piece of kit, particularly on the ram.

I`ve got a spare 850mhz/512mb ram PC with windows XP and the application installed, however I`m pushing the extreme limits and before long I hit the ceiling with the ram.

I`m quite happy to lighten the operating system on this PC. I have the option of keeping XP, or installing one of the lower versions of windows such as 2k or 98 (yes they`re all legit!). That said, I also have Fedora core versions 3 and 4, and Mandrake 10 disks laying around.

Out of all those operating systems which one would likely be the easiest on resources, thus leaving me extra juice to run my greedy application?

[Jorophose]

Mandrake, 2K, and Fedora Core are all a bit too outdated.

You could go for Xubuntu, or go for Vector or Zenwalk. They're all pretty light. If you want a seriously light OS, you could go for Damn Small Linux, or a Debian installation with FluxBox/IceWM.

[mesobob]

Can Xubuntu be installed to dual boot with XP easy enough?

I`m tempted to install it on my main machine and put it on my second hard drive. Just didn`t fancy any problems with the boot loaders etc and finding windows won`t load!

[Jorophose]

It should work out fine. Last I checked, if (K/X)Ubuntu (They're all the same, just a desktop environment) will automagically mount your windows partitions (Giving you reading abilities) and it should adjust GRUB to let you boot into windows.

As always, make a backup before installing or doing anything risky.

[mesobob]

Thanks,

I`m downloading the Ubuntu image right now!

Only one disk huh? Must be considerably lighter than FC (4 disks) and Mandrake (5 disks).

[Jorophose]

Yeah, the thing is, unlike Mandrake/Mandriva and Fedora Core, Ubuntu only comes with one application to do each task. And there's only 1 DE in Ubuntu, GNOME. Kubuntu was designed with KDE, so there's lots of K apps, and Xubuntu was designed with XFCE, lighter GNOME and XFCE-based apps. In the end, I guess it ends up being the same, at about 3-4 disks once you start apt-getting things.

[transops]

What do you guys think of slackware? I find it light but it is not as easy to use as Ubuntu is though.