Next Previous Contents

---

4mb Laptop HOWTO

Bruce Richardson <brichardson@lineone.net>

25 March 2000

---

How to put a "grown-up" Linux on a small-spec (4mb RAM, <=200mb hard disk) laptop.

---

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Why this document was written.
• 1.2 What use is a small laptop?
• 1.3 Why not just upgrade the laptop?
• 1.4 What about 4mb desktop machines?
• 1.5 What this document doesn't do.
• 1.6 Where to find this document.
• 1.7 Copyright

2. The Laptops

• 2.1 Basic Specifications
• 2.2 The Problem
• 2.3 The Solution

3. Choices Made

• 3.1 What to use to create the initial root partition?
• 3.2 The Distribution
• 3.3 Which installation method to use?
• 3.4 Partition Layout
• 3.5 Which components to install?

4. The Pre-installation Procedure

• 4.1 muLinux Preparation
• 4.2 Prepare the installation root files.
• 4.3 Create the partitions.

5. The Installation

• 5.1 Boot the machine
• 5.2 Floppy/Parport CD-ROM Install
• 5.3 Network/PCMCIA Install
• 5.4 Set-up
• 5.5 Pre-reboot Configuration
• 5.6 Post-reboot Configuration.

6. Conclusion

7. Appendix A:

• 7.1 A - Base Linux System
• 7.2 AP - Non-X Applications
• 7.3 D - Development Tools
• 7.4 E - Emacs
• 7.5 F - FAQs and HOWTOs
• 7.6 K - Kernel Source
• 7.7 N - Networking Tools and Apps
• 7.8 Tetex
• 7.9 Y - BSD Games Collection
• 7.10 End result

8. Appendix B: Resources relevant to this HOWTO

---

Next Previous Contents