Distros Compatible with Linux kernel 2.2.x

I agree that Linux kernel 2.2.x is too old to use on latest computers. Linux kernel 2.2 series don't have support for USB storage or wireless LAN. However, a 2.2 kernel works fine with the problematic hard drive in my Compaq laptop (Presario V5306US). Most of the recent distros don't allow you to boot with a 2.2 kernel, not even 2.4 kernels. Following are some Linux distros known to work with Linux kernel 2.2.

• Debian 3.1 “Sarge” release 8
  
• Ubuntu 6.06 “Dapper”
  
• Fedora Core 3
  
• Haansoft Linux 2005
  
• Mandriva 2006
  
• SuSE 9.3
  
• Slackware 10.1
  

To Download Debian Sarge 3.1r8

I prefer using jigdo-lite to assemble ISO images of Debian 3.1. jigdo-lite is contained in the package jigdo-file, so I installed jigdo-file first. Then, I typed jigdo-lite in a gnome-terminal and was asked for the location of a .jigdo file.

mkdir sarge
cd sarge
jigdo-lite

I searched the Internet for debian-31r8-i386-binary-1.jigdo and only found 2 locations. I picked the Japanese site and typed the following in response to the question:

http://hanzubon.jp/debian-cd/3.1_r8/i386/jigdo-dvd/debian-31r8-i386-binary-1.jigdo

Next, I got the prompt “Files to scan:” but just ignored it by pressing Enter. Then, I was asked for the URL of a Debian mirror, so I typed the following:

http://archive.debian.org/debian

jigdo-lite started downloading Debian packages. The MD5 checksums of Debian 3.1r8 DVD ISO's are as follows:

f2344c160a7ae6f54310111e50de84a7  debian-31r8-i386-binary-1.iso
d72ef7d74c77669db0abc42a530fbdfa  debian-31r8-i386-binary-2.iso
5ad701912599ad985369d028d993acbc  debian-update-3.1r8-i386-DVD-1.iso

After downloading and burning the ISO files, insert the DVD and run apt-cdrom to use them with apt or dselect:

apt-cdrom add

To Download Fedora Core 3

I want to try Fedora Core 3. But since Fedora Core 3 is an old release, I had difficulty finding an ISO image of Fedora Core 3 DVD edition. After searching the Internet for a long time using the term fc3-i386-dvd.iso, I found the DVD image at the following locations:

• http://archives.fedoraproject.org/pub/archive/fedora/linux/core/3/i386/iso/FC3-i386-DVD.iso
  
• http://ftp.hostrino.com/pub/fedora/linux/core/3/i386/iso/FC3-i386-DVD.iso
  
• ftp://ftp.man.poznan.pl/pub/linux/fedora/core/3/i386/iso/FC3-i386-DVD.iso
  
• ftp://ftp.riken.jp/Linux/fedora/core/3/i386/iso/FC3-i386-DVD.iso
  
• ftp://ftp.kddilabs.jp/Linux/packages/fedora/core/3/i386/iso/FC3-i386-DVD.iso
  
• ftp://ftp.ccu.edu.tw/pub/linux/fedora/core/3/i386/iso/FC3-i386-DVD.iso
  

The correct md5sum of Fedora Core 3 DVD is ca49964739f84848ca78fc03662272fb.

To Download Mandriva Free 2006

Mandriva is said to be a very easy-to-use Linux distribution. Download Mandriva Free 2006 DVD at the following locations:

• http://mirrors.kernel.org/mandrake/Mandrakelinux/official/iso/2006.0/i586/Mandriva-Linux-Free-2006-DVD.i586.iso
  
• ftp://ftp.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/mandrake/official/iso/2006.0/i586/Mandriva-Linux-Free-2006-DVD.i586.iso
  
• ftp://carroll.cac.psu.edu/pub/linux/distributions/mandrivalinux/official/iso/2006.0/i586/Mandriva-Linux-Free-2006-DVD.i586.iso
  
• ftp://ftp.free.fr/mirrors/ftp.mandriva.com/MandrivaLinux/official/iso/2006.0/i586/Mandriva-Linux-Free-2006-DVD.i586.iso
  
• http://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/linux/MandrivaLinux/official/iso/2006.0/i586/Mandriva-Linux-Free-2006-DVD.i586.iso
  
• ftp://ftp.surfnet.nl/pub/os/Linux/distr/Mandrivalinux/official/iso/2006.0/i586/Mandriva-Linux-Free-2006-DVD.i586.iso
  
• http://mirror.fis.unb.br/pub/linux/MandrivaLinux/official/iso/2006.0/i586/Mandriva-Linux-Free-2006-DVD.i586.iso
  

The correct md5sum of Mandriva Free 2006 DVD is c7a0a1b8ccc2d81206c0ff4e48ef3057.

Use a downloader like aria2 to download from multiple locations.