Best xfce desktop for 512mb RAM?

[jakfish]

On a MBook M1 umpc, I'm running a thoroughly-outdated Xubuntu 14. But SSLs, etc can't be updated, so I'm hoping puppy veterans could suggest an xfce-based puppy that I could install on a 3gb ssd partition.

Given the creakiness of the M1, no browser will work beyond xlinks (which is fine), and I doubt a current Thunderbird is viable, either. So as long as there is a puppy that can work with the dreaded Intel GMA 500, has a working wifi module, and an xfce desktop, I imagine the 32-bit M1 will manage.

Thanks,
Jake

[CatMan]

Sounds like MiniOS may fit the bill, Debian based, I have it installed on a Thin Client.

https://github.com/minios-linux/minios-live/releases

[jakfish]

Very interesting. Documentation is pretty limited at github. Do you think it can run with just 512mb RAM? It's not clear to me.

Hmm, just saw a reddit post that says 1gb RAM is the minimum.

[Wiz57]

It's been a few years since I saw it, but I remember peebee releasing a Slackware based 32 bit Puppy with an XFCE desktop add-on
via a "ydrv.sfs". It was an older ScPup32 21.01, IIRC, and the ydrv loads when you boot the puppy. Here's a link to the archived version.
https://archive.org/download/Puppy_Linux_ScPup
If this takes you to the front page of Puppy_Linux_ScPup, look towards the middle right hand side of the page and click on the link
something like "Show all"...then look for ScPup32 21.01, download that and then look at the bottom of the list for the ydrv_ScPup32_21.01.sfs
it's the next to last file listed. Now, you can frugal install this puppy on USB or internal HDD. When you extract the files to install it into
it's own folder copy the ydrv.sfs into that folder, then boot it up. If you need help installing, just ask. Once you get it installed and booting
we can fine tune it for max RAM.

Edited to add the link back...

[jakfish]

@Wiz57 Many thanks for weighing in. I'm a little dense today, so I'm not seeing the link in your post. Could you cite it again for the hard-of-thinking?

Much obliged.

Edit: would this be the page: https://archive.org/download/Puppy_Linux_ScPup

[Wiz57]

@Wiz57 Many thanks for weighing in. I'm a little dense today, so I'm not seeing the link in your post. Could you cite it again for the hard-of-thinking?

Much obliged.

Edit: would this be the page: https://archive.org/download/Puppy_Linux_ScPup

Yes, that's it! Don't know what happened to the link I posted??? Glitch in the matrix I guess.

[peebee]

There is a later Xfce-ydrv for S15Pup32 at:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/spup/f ... 32/addons/

S15Pup32 from:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/pb-gh- ... 2_release/

[jakfish]

@peebee Many thanks. It's an honor to have the actual developer post here.

[peebee]

@peebee Many thanks. It's an honor to have the actual developer post here.

I have now tested and it still works - but it is Xfce-4.16

[Wiz57]

@peebee Many thanks. It's an honor to have the actual developer post here.

I have now tested and it still works - but it is Xfce-4.16

Yep, it does still work! I had tested the older ydrv in an older frugal install of ScPup32 21.01!
The reason I recommended this particular ScPup32 and ydrv combo was the restricted RAM that
jakfish is working with, 512 meg. For myself, I prefer your LXDE ydrvs!!!

[jakfish]

I teethed on Puppy some 17 years ago in the Murga forum, back in the day of the Jemimah wonders (she was one of my hereos) and the dearly departed "noob" whose death shook all the users. It's so nice to be back at a place so helpful.

Today, I start to reacquaint myself with the puppy platform, the pets and .sfs's. That was many Linux's ago, but I still have my Jemimah-built 4.31 in my files. A quick question: in 4.31, I ran a very basic WINE, wine-1.1.28-i486_431.sfs, just for Word 97 and HanDBase. Has the sfs structure changed since then? Or for that matter, are old pets still usable in more recent puppies? Trying to figure out how much I can crib when using @peebee's 64bit-compat-s15pup32-22.12.sfs.

And one more question, "64bit-compat" still means a 32-bit architecture, is that correct?

Thanks again, folks.

[Wiz57]

Not sure about the old pets and sfs, but the few I've tried that were done for like Slacko 6 worked in ScPup32.
Now as far as the 64-bitcompat and 32bit-compat files, these are for like if you used a 64bit Puppy, you load the
32bit-compat sfs to allow the use of 32 bit applications. Similar for 64bit, BUT, the CPU must support 64bit.
This may help to run 64bit software in a 32 bit Puppy.

[jakfish]

@Wiz57 Thanks again. I understand.

Another query: to run the two sfs's, it would appear that I need some kind of ISO to install on usb (I looked inside the sfs and it didn't look bootable). For 515pup32 and Xfce-ydrv, which OS would you recommend? I assume pretty bare bones as the sfs's will cary the load.

Edit: going to try out https://smokey01.com/radky/Woof/dpup32.htm as it apparently has the module for the dreaded gma500 video

[Wiz57]

Yes, those SFS are add-ons. First you pick your Puppy iso and install it. I've not used them, since the old Acer Netbook I use is 32bit
only, including the CPU, only 1 gig RAM. It does boot and run peebee's latest S15Pup32 22.12 well enough. Not sure if having only
512 meg RAM will leave much room. To give just a quick example of using the 32bit-compat.sfs, let's say you pick peebee's 64bit
S15Pup64 22.12 010125 iso, you have grub4dos already setup on the HDD, so you extract the contents of the S15Pup64 iso into it's
own directory, let's say C:\S15Pup64. Edit the grub4dos menu.lst to point the grldr to this directory to load vmlinuz, initrd, etc.
Now you reboot and if all goes well you can choose to boot S15Pup64. Once it loads, you're greeted with a "first time using" wizard
which guides you through various setups, like networking, time zone, etc. What I generally do after this stage is choose to reboot
then you get a dialogue regarding a savefile/folder. I use savefile since the Acer dual boots WinXP and various Pups. At this point
I choose to save my changes, generally first savefile I make like around 512meg. It may take a bit, be patient, let the system do
its saving. When that is finished you'll see the typical shutdown routines, then your PC reboots...choose your S15Pup64 and it will
fire off, loading all your pevious settings and preferences. Now, if you want to try and run a 32bit software, let's say it's that older
Wine version so you can run Word97! Open the file manager (Rox) to the drive you saved the 32bit-compat.sfs, click on the sfs
and Rox will call the SFSLoad. This will load those compatibility libraries to your running Pup. Once this finishes, repeat the
step to find your Wine version, click it and load Wine, run the required setup for Wine, then "install" your Word97 into Wines
directories. Use the Wine menu to launch Word97...if everything has gone to plan, "Bob's your uncle" and you're all set.
NOTE: this is only a brief example of how to use the 32bit-compat.sfs, actual usage may vary based on Pup being used and
targeted software!

[jakfish]

Very grateful for the detailed instruction. It's been so long since I've puppied...

Had to jump back to slacko-6.3.0.6-uefi as slacko7 hung on the module load, probably because of my limited RAM.

Slacko6 kindly provides the egalax .ko for the gma500 video, but xinput needs installing (done), and I found a .deb here for xinput_calibrator (installed), but the calibrator doesn't find the touchscreen. Some forum searching finds 0micko1 (I remember him from the old days) successful with the display, but only playing with 64-bit.

I worry that the person who developed gma500 is thinking of developing something else Goodness, that thing is junk.

[Wiz57]

My old Acer Aspire One AOA150 had issues with Slacko7 as well, most notably the WiFi adapter was not recognized. All thru
testing the Slacko 6.9.9.X candidates I didn't have problems, only solution was to swap kernel and zdrv with one from 6.9.9.9.
The video is kind of bog standard Intel, so no problems there. Anyhow, I do have Slacko 6.3.2 32 bit installed frugally on the
old gal, the problem with that older pup is the web browser situation, few if any, outside the text mode browsers work,
though I did keep an older NetSurf pet that offers a bit of graphic browsing, but with limited JavaScript support, only works
well with somewhat basic web sites, but this forum is accessible in it! The ScPups from peebee never gave me much issues
other than the well known Osmo crashes, which have been patched IIRC, but I seldom utilize Osmo anymore. The more
recent S15Pup32s have also been well behaved for the most part. My "daily driver" is the one from 04-13-2024 which I sort
of made my own with a kernel and zdrv swap from an old ScPup, lol, which doesn't use as much RAM...typically after booting
it only uses 95kb or so, the newer 5X kernels use a bit over 125kb. I also use the "nocopy" option in my menu.lst kernel line!
This way I have even more RAM available though it may take slightly longer to decompress applications when called upon.
(The applications have to be uncompressed before they will launch) but it is not really noticeable, I had to learn to be a bit
patient with that old netbook, hehe!

[jakfish]

I've used Pale Moon browser on old kit, and while ssls wll get you around, the cpu always thinks otherwise.

The ideal, for me, would be a recent recompile of xlinks, but that's above my pay grade.

[Pikaxhu]

Hi Jakfish

If you want to try a more recent {staticaly compiled) elinks or links, among other 32 bits programs check:

https://superbot.me/filetobot/168859#

Hope it helps.

Regards

Pikaxhu

I've used Pale Moon browser on old kit, and while ssls wll get you around, the cpu always thinks otherwise.

The ideal, for me, would be a recent recompile of xlinks, but that's above my pay grade.

[Pikaxhu]

Jackfish

You could use nocopy option, on grub4dos parameters in order to free more ram. Don't forget to use swap partition or swapfile, to improve performance.

Regards

Pikaxhu

Very grateful for the detailed instruction. It's been so long since I've puppied...

Had to jump back to slacko-6.3.0.6-uefi as slacko7 hung on the module load, probably because of my limited RAM.

Slacko6 kindly provides the egalax .ko for the gma500 video, but xinput needs installing (done), and I found a .deb here for xinput_calibrator (installed), but the calibrator doesn't find the touchscreen. Some forum searching finds 0micko1 (I remember him from the old days) successful with the display, but only playing with 64-bit.

I worry that the person who developed gma500 is thinking of developing something else Goodness, that thing is junk.

[Clarity]

Late to this, but curious to ask: What is this to be used for? The UMPC is pictured here.

Is there a standalone app or ???

Use of any browser in today's internet requires some resources beyond the capabilities of these limited RAM systems. So, my thinking is that browser usage is not what this PC is used for.

Last question: Have you thought of visiting your local PC repair shops around you asking if they have old-old RAM to donate to you. Many will be oh-too-happy to rid old stuff. This could address one of the boot problems you hit. BTW: Some would be willing to donate old PCs if you want. But, this PC may not be up-gradable.

Again, assuming it is not a PC used for the internet or youtube, what is this PC to be used for, today?

Curious