User Feedback :: 16MB was not enough :(

Hello all!

First, I would like to thank the creators of DSL for giving me my first ever GNU/Linux experience. Thank you :)

Now, the problem:
After playing with DSL LiveCD on my newer pc (AthlonXP 256MB RAM) I decided to test (and do a HD install) on my ageing PentiumMMX with 16MB RAM. However, after the system booted I couldn't do much except move the mouse and watch the cursor move 5~10 seconds later.

My question:
Is there any way to increase performance? I would really like the graphical GUI to stay tho. On my other PC it looked great! And the apps to. FYI, I've been running Win98SE on the pc before this and although slow, it worked just fine.

There's something else too. After running the LiveCD on my old box, my msdos.sys file got damaged. I really don't think this was due to DSL but if it is, I hope I gave you guys a heads up. That's all, I thank you all in advance for any help you can give me.

Try booting with:

fb800x600 base noicons

and see if performance is improved.

The little dockapps in the slit and the pager and the desktop icons take up memory and they will slow down a computer with 16MB of RAM.

You can still start programs by using the Right-Click Fluxbox "Start" menu.

Dillo should work fine but Firefox will choke on that computer.

Extra RAM is strongly recommended.

or adding a swap partition...

and cbagger: your suggestion will not work as he is running from cd. you would need to add it to the lilo.conf, but i dunno where.

Well then if that is the case I would recommend 32-64Megs of RAM, if you cant add a swap then have a minimum of 32Megs RAM, DSL takes approx 14Megs ram just to have its version of X going.

Add RAM is the only viable option you have, with any MMX processor it will go slow, but with any linux the more RAM you throw at it the faster the response you will get...

Brian
AwPhuch

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