Will Linux Lite work on non-PAE (old Pentium M) System?

[gold_finger]

mint 17.1 says there is a non PAE option but I tried it and the install was really broken.
Cinnamon did not have a system tray at all, and other stuff was just off.

Larry,

I didn't realize that you were trying to install the Cinnamon version of Mint on that old machine.  That is just not going to work.  Cinnamon desktop environment needs newer hardware and more graphics capabilities -- that's why nothing worked right.  (Honestly, I'm surprised you were even able to get it installed at all.)

Try again with either Mint Xfce 17.1 (32-bit), or 32-bit version of Linux Lite (using steps outlined before).  Linux Lite uses the Xfce desktop environment, which is why it will be very similar to Mint's Xfce version.  The Xfce desktop doesn't require as much resources to run and should do much better.

If computer doesn't work well with them, then try a different distro like AntiX.


P.s.  Test out Mint first since it's got an easier way to try with "force pae".  If it can boot into the desktop, my guess is that all should be fine.  (Note:  "forcepae" works for some models of the Pentium M, but not all.  Since it sounds like you were at least able to boot Cinnamon, I'm guessing yours is one that it will work on.)It will run slow/sluggish because it's running "live", not from the hard drive, but it should be okay.

When done with Mint, test out LL.  If "forcepae" addition to the boot parameters works, then it too should work fine.  Play around with each one a little, then pick the one you think feels best for you.  Let us know how things go.