Functional 32-bit OS search for Asus Eee PC netbook

Hello,

In 32 bits:

Debian

https://www.debian.org/distrib/index.en.html

Q4OS:

https://q4os.org/downloads1.html

Q4OS is particularly lightweight, I used it for a long time in the past on an eeepc 1015bx which had specifications quite similar to yours. Since then, Q4OS has gone through quite a few versions and has probably gained a bit of weight, but I think it should work.

Desktop: Trinity, it's a fork of KDE3.5 contemporary with Windows XP.

Bodhi Linux:

https://www.bodhilinux.com/download/
Bodhi is quite original as it has an Ubuntu base and relies on Moksha desktop, a fork of Enlightenment E17; it is very, very pretty and very lightweight as it contains only the strict minimum in terms of software. It's up to the user to install what they want. 

MX Linux:

https://mxlinux.org/download-links/

A Debian base with the xfce desktop, it is significantly heavier than the previous ones.

AntiX Linux:

https://antixlinux.com/download/

As a last resort if none of the others fit. It is the lightest of all but also the least ergonomic.

Of course, there are others, I am only talking about those I have already used.

Hello,

Formally and in order to try to find a solution, we need to have the model of the eeePC.

The problem is not so much finding a lightweight 32-bit Linux distro as it is the hardware aspect, as there is a risk that some parts may not work. Therefore, it is necessary to choose one that is suitable for this model based on what experiences report (mine will not be useful, I used a 701 long ago, I assume that's not the case, and it originally came with Xandros).

Hello,

thank you for taking the time to respond to me! I am sending you a photo of the PC hardware taken from the BIOS:

Hello

You have no risks trying out live (without installation) small operating systems that run in RAM and in French to start familiarizing yourself with getting started and the small things necessary at the beginning.

It’s about experimenting with the OS on a USB stick, with a simple folder on a Windows partition (but still live) that allows for faster speeds (hard drive instead of USB for most files), small partitions on hard drives in dual boot with Windows...

Not yet Linux with mandatory codes everywhere, and you are always in root, to simplify when coming from Windows. And a lot of things can be done with the mouse, not too many commands at the beginning. How to install programs and their names, which are all in "Linux repositories". But you’re already doing things that are not possible with Windows. The naming of disks and partitions under Linux, the "everything as files" characteristic of Linux...

Also get familiar with the Linux documentation in French... or not translated with its Linux jargon.

https://www.moulinier.net/

Hello everyone,

thank you for replying to me,

to add a bit more to my post, I already somewhat master live USBs and also Linux distributions in general, I'm not an expert at all but I use Linux daily on other PCs.

I think I'll try Puppy Slacko as suggested above, and if that's not conclusive, I'll try Debian AntiX.

I will keep you posted as soon as I have done the test!

Thanks again :-)

Moulinier started as early as 2010 with a slacko version from 6.3 of easy os 64 or 32 bits for the more recent ones, and he uses small French-localized operating systems from various English websites.

The oldest ones could run on floppy disks even live, or even without a hard drive, and were designed to work without USB keys. There are tricks to boot from many different situations and facilitate the installation of anything, even very hefty if one wishes, but that probably won't be the case.

Here are some bones for Atom, and it dates back to 2022, a Linux enthusiast:

https://www.journaldufreenaute.fr/8-distros-linux-legeres-ideales-pour-les-pc-a-processeur-intel-atom/

Hello,

I would say linux mint

i686 Distribution

Hello,

First of all, you should know that the software is generally the same from one distribution to another, so what makes the difference is more about what is pre-installed and the underlying package manager (for example APT for Debian).

Normally, for general public users with a small machine, I would have tended to recommend Lubuntu or Xubuntu, but unfortunately, these distributions no longer exist in 32-bit (= i386/i686/x86).

Thus, I would go for Debian, or alternatively one of the other distributions mentioned by various sources. But before choosing Debian, you need to weigh the pros and cons:

• The advantage is that it is an extremely well-made distribution (that’s why Ubuntu, Mint, and many others are based on it) and that you can install exactly what you need.
• The downside is that the installation is not straightforward for beginners (especially regarding wifi support). It is therefore better to have some basics in command line if you opt for this choice. It is strongly recommended to have a means of connecting to the Internet other than wifi during installation (for example via ethernet).

If you choose Debian, I recommend opting for a network installation (netinstall) (link to the current iso). Prepare a USB installation drive (see for example this link).

At the end of the installation, choose which graphical interface you want to install:

• Not GNOME or KDE, as they will be too heavy
• LXDE or XFCE should be fine. If these options are not offered, do a graphical-less installation, you can always install it later provided you have access to the Internet.

Once the installation is done, follow this tutorial to set up wifi. Let us know the model of your wifi card for more details.

Good luck