Laptops :: Teacher new to DSL

Hi,
I'm a schoolteacher working in a small school in South Wales.
We have a couple of old laptops gathering dust.
Compaq Armada 1590DT

Compaq Armada 1590DT
Processor: Pentium (166 MHz)
RAM: 80 Mb
HDD: 4.3 Gb
built in floppy
built in CD-ROM reader
PCMCIA modem
Ethernet via docking station

They currently run Windows 95 and are very unstable.
I'm considering wiping the drives and installing DSL.

2 queries.

1) Their drives are currently partitioned.
How do I re-format the drives to one partition?
2) Does DSL dowwnload as a complete installation package....like Ubuntu, or do you need a higher level of skill to install it?

Thanks,
Phil

Before doing anything else first try booting dsl off the cd.

DSL is first and foremost a livecd, which means you can run it off the cd, without installing.

First check that is boots without hassle and looks ok, then come back to us for more advice - look at the wiki and search the forums also. DSL takes a little work at first if you're new to linux, and even if you aren't. But it will most likely run better on an old laptop than anything else will.

If you want to install subsequently your best bet is a "frugal" install.

for messing with partitions, use cfdisk

DSL is a complete pack, can be installed from the live cd..

I'm not finding any obvious links to the live cd download.
Also, if it is anything like Ubuntu then you have to burn the cd in a certain way.

Help !

Phil

the mirror list is available here :
mirror list

the up to date iso is dsl-3.4.iso available directly here
http://ftp.belnet.be/packages/damnsmalllinux/current/

to know how to burn a cd or find another way to get and boot dsl, have a look to the getting started with DSL area in the wiki :
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

enjoy

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