Damn Small Linux 2024 or Tiny Windows 11? A choice for the old PC

This small Linux distribution can handle old PCs running like new

2 min. read

Published on February 15, 2024

published on February 15, 2024

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If you’re a PC old timer like me, you probably remember DSL or Damn Small Linux. I installed it just for fun long time a go, to get a feeling of how you can install a 50 MB system and everything would still work.

As spotted by Betanews, the Linux distribution is back: Damn Small Linux 2024 and it’s got the same purpose, to run a system on old PCs without bulk and problems. However, not long ago, NTDEV created Tiny Windows 11, which proved that the new OS from Microsoft can also be small and bloatware free.

Damn Small Linux 2024 vs Tiny Windows 11

Well, actually, that’s not an actual fight between the two. Tiny Windows 11 is still Windows 11 and it has the same hardware requirements as the full fledged OS.

The only difference is that the tiny version will only occupy 400 MB instead of the standard 20 GB. That means it can completely load into RAM, and obviously, run a lot smoother than the public release.

Otherwise, Tiny Windows 11 still requires the 64 bit environment and it’s limited by processor compatibility and security systems.

Instead, Damn Small Linux 2024 is totally different because it can run on 32-bit X86 systems.

Of course, the new DSL is not 50 MB as the old one. However, the developer has fit a lot of apps, features and drivers into the 700 MB Linux distribution.

It comes with three web browsers, a full set of productivity apps, including a word processor, spreadsheets and PDF viewer, plus media software and other useful tools.

Of course, that’s just the Damn Small Linux 2024 installation package you can download right now for free but you can install anything else you might like after.

I’m not saying you could ditch Windows 11 for Damn Small Linux 2024, but this distribution is yet another reason to salvage that old PC that was running Windows XP years ago and make it work perfectly with only 2 GB of Ram or even less.

Are you going to try Damn Small Linux 2024? Let’s discuss that in the comments section below.

Claudiu Andone

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Oldtimer in the tech and science press, Claudiu is focused on whatever comes new from Microsoft. His abrupt interest in computers started when he saw the first Home Computer as a kid. However, his passion for Windows and everything related became obvious when he became a sys admin in a computer science high school. With 14 years of experience in writing about everything there is to know about science and technology, Claudiu also likes rock music, chilling in the garden, and Star Wars. May the force be with you, always!