X31 Linux - PAE Support (What versions don't need this?)

[Brian10161]

Hey guys, just trying to get a later version of linux installed, I've tried a few so far. Just having issues with this new implementation of PAE.

-Lubuntu (works great, 11.10 is the latest I can get to work though)

-SLAX won't boot, I may be making the key incorrectly

-Linux Mint fails to boot up, pretty much any version after 10 for me o_o

-Fedora, haven't tried some of the new ones but 14 was the latest I have. It boots, but lacks a lot of functionality.

-Crunchbang works great, just need a little more desktop for my father lol (so probably answered my question with trying Debian)

There's a few other distros I've played with but they haven't started either. I'm downloading Debian currently. We'll see what happens I suppose. Just wondering what distros you guys have tried. Anyone else with this PAE issue?

[Neil]

Here is a how-to install Ubuntu 12.04 LTS on a non-PAE machine (I'm running Xubuntu 12.04 on my T43). Also, a few other distros besides Crunchbang offer non-PAE kernel options. Puppy Linux and AntiX are the only two I can think of right now. Pretty sure there are others though.

[Brian10161]

Here is a how-to install Ubuntu 12.04 LTS on a non-PAE machine (I'm running Xubuntu 12.04 on my T43). Also, a few other distros besides Crunchbang offer non-PAE kernel options. Puppy Linux and AntiX are the only two I can think of right now. Pretty sure there are others though.

Ooh cool, if 12.04 works I will go that route. I prefer the LXDE desktop on these older computers. Debian worked and is running nicely, but no WiFi. If Lubuntu works out first shot, then I'm done

Thanks Neil

[Brian10161]

Looks like 12.04 will work for this. Thinking I may donate these notebooks to my local school. They are getting pretty old, but still very capable

[ThinkRob]

Debian.

[Brian10161]

Got Debian running, just had an issue with the WiFi card (being the Intel 2100 it didn't load up by default.) had to load the ipw packages and got it running with wired ethernet.

Have 1 of them with Lubuntu for the family and Debian on the other for just some tinkering here and there.

[ThinkRob]

Got Debian running, just had an issue with the WiFi card (being the Intel 2100 it didn't load up by default.) had to load the ipw packages and got it running with wired ethernet.

Yep, the firmware (sadly) can't be shipped by default due to Intel's licensing restrictions.

Personally I'd stick with Debian + XFCE for them, but I'm what you might call "biased".

[Brian10161]

Yep, the firmware (sadly) can't be shipped by default due to Intel's licensing restrictions.

Personally I'd stick with Debian + XFCE for them, but I'm what you might call "biased".

I've always liked Debian I been using the Linux Mint version of it for a little while now too.

[ThinkRob]

I've always liked Debian I been using the Linux Mint version of it for a little while now too.

I'd be a little nervous to do that since (IIRC) they base on testing. Running testing on a production machine is something I'd do only if 1) I knew my way around Debian 2) I took frequent backups and/or didn't value my data that much.

Not that a data-eating bug is likely, but... well... there's a reason it's not stable yet!

[ajkula66]

I'd be a little nervous to do that since (IIRC) they base on testing. Running testing on a production machine is something I'd do only if 1) I knew my way around Debian 2) I took frequent backups and/or didn't value my data that much.

Not that a data-eating bug is likely, but... well... there's a reason it's not stable yet!

I've been using Mint Debian as a default OS on my travel machines - Panasonic CF-W7 until recently and a T43F now - with zero stability issues.

That being said, no serious work is ever performed on a "travel" machine by silly old me...since I'm well aware of the fact that I don't know my way around Debian...

[Brian10161]

lol yeah, these computers aren't used for anything important by any means. Just internet browsing and media usage. So LMDE works perfectly for that

[piledriver]

Mageia 2 & 3(3 now in beta) do not require PAE.
Xubuntu also works.

IMHO PAE support is a ridiculous requirement, and makes installing modern distros a PITA on perfectly capable hardware.
32 bit kernels should NOT require it, 64 bit CPUs have it by default IIRC.

[shepseskaf]

Bodhi Linux is the first distro I've seen that provides a non-pae download for its latest version -- 2.2.0. Hopefully, other distros will follow suit.

The lead Bodhi developer says that it wasn't that much of a big deal to create a separate .iso, and that it will continue to be provided for future versions.