I understand some of what you don't understand so I can't help you.
That's a kind of logic I don't understand. *?

Are you sure you mean MB rather than GB here? I remember getting a computer in (IIRC) 2003 with something like 512 MB of RAM, and it wasn't even a high-end computer.

Gigabyte or GB, of course. I have now changed this.
Thank you very much!

Out of curiosity, as far as you are aware, is that 2 GB of RAM a hard limitation for your motherboard?

One of my older computers had an absurdly-low RAM restriction, until I had updated the BIOS version (downloaded from the web site of the original equipment manufacturer).

No. I removed 2 GB of RAM because I needed it for another computer. 2 GB RAM is enough for me.

You're not going to be accomplishing much with a mere two GigaBytes, unless you want to use Links or w3m.

You could probably do some simple things with graphical browsers, plus many games and emulators, particularly emulators or older games, don't have particularly high RAM demands. (The main thing with emulators is CPU usage, but even then, even with the emulation overhead, it still tends to be less taxing than many websites.)

Alternatively, do use links/w3m, or for that matter, lynx.

There's also programs other than games or web browsers that will run just fine. You could use it for a low-traffic server, for example. (For example, maybe a file server for your home network?)

If it was built in 2007, it should also support 64-bit just fine opening up your options... But with that said, the 64-bit binaries probably take a bit more RAM, so I understand the want for 32-bit.

Your statement that 2GB is enough for me when it is causing this amount search and time, doesn't sound like it is enough. Just sayin. Especially in a day in age where you can buy 8GB (assuming DDR2) for $10: https://www.amazon.com/408854-B21-HP-Compaq-PC2-5300-Registered-HP/dp/B00W4F8PLU

I'm just going to drop in and say it's infuriating when someone asks for advice or help for something they want and they're told they should want something else instead. That is all.

I guess my previous message might have been confusing, so I’m giving it another try.

Your experience with the Debian installer is the polar opposite of my own experience. This means at least two things:
- We do not have the same expectations about what a system installer should do or not do;
- We do not use software is a similar way.
To be able to help you, I would have to spend a lot of time understanding your expectations and your habits, so I can stop thinking using my own experience. After that maybe I could help you, but even that is not sure. Assuming I managed to understand your approach correctly.

I am not willing to do that kind of effort to help a random person on a games store forum (nothing against you specifically), that’s why I said I can not help you with Debian installation. I you asked for help using the Debian installer on a forum dedicated to that kind of discussions, I would probably not have had the same reaction.

And this is even assuming you really want to install Debian on your computer, something that has no be said in the current thread.

So it was not a « I won’t help you because I don’t care about your problem. » but more a « I won’t waste time with that on GOG forums, sorry. ».

I have no doubt that you are a good one. ;-)

Please read what I wrote in my posts.
I can play a lot of games here on GOG with 2 GB RAM.
My favorite desktop is XFCE, and it works fine with 2 GB RAM.
I use the Firefox internet browser. It also works well enough for me.
Although I don't have it installed at the moment, I know that
the latest version of OpenOffice works fine even with 1 GB RAM
on the computer I'm using. Also LibreOffice in the version 6.2.3.2.

If anyone knows one of the Linux distributions I mentioned
and can give me good reasons why I should use it or
can give me a recommendation for another distribution,
please feel free to do so.


Kind regards
Janko Weber

I haven't used a 32bit system for ages, outside of a few niche cases.
That said, MX Linux still retains the same Snapshot features, it also have a cool feature to make a backup list of all your programs and packages to be able to setup a new version very fast. I've only used the 64bit version though, currently have version 23 on a computer that used 21.3? previously, wich BTW was unusable with controllers due to a "bug".

Was running 64bit Bodhi Linux for a while and really like it, very configurable desktop although not always intuitive, was running fine on a dual-core 2008 laptop. I did try a live session of 32bit Bodhi on a very old laptop (~2004 pentium M, 1GB RAM) just to see if it runs ok and it was decent.
It's currently my go to when a lightweight distro is needed.

As others point out, Debian is as easy to install as any other "mainstream" distro with a automated graphical installer. If you don't need a cutting edge, always updated with the latest stuff system, is actually a great choice if you don't use the default Gnome Desktop, wich for me it has been very slow and RAM demanding but lately is very responsive, even on low end hardware.
Back to 2005-2010 when every internet solution to a computer problem was the unavoidable "buy a new compuuter".

I assume that was posted at me. But alternative solutions are nice in my opinion. Maybe something that they haven't thought of. Maybe they didn't know RAM was that cheap. If you are sticking with 2GB of RAM, I clearly said I can see the want.

Anyway, don't get all excited about it. It is not the intention.

This was brilliant. That is all.