This post is a Wiki, anybody can edit it and insert the distro name in alphabetical order.
Since Manjaro32 got discontinued many people ask what next and give numerous recommedations for distros repeating themselves on and on - I’m creating a central topic to give reference for distros which still support 32 Bit x86 hardware.
Please, don’t add distros which 32 Bit versions you haven’t tested, having tested them on 64 Bit machines is OK! It is good to add a link to the distro, Distrowatch entry and Homepage would be nice.
[Edit] I would like to only such distros be added which can be a viable alternative for Manjaro. It must be able to run a web browser which can log in to most websites and it must be able to run LibreOffice or similar full-featured office suite. Therefore I will strike through KolibriOS, but leave Haiku as the most extreme case (it’s browser cannot log in to Manjaro forum for example).
An alternative way to search would be Distrowatch search for the 32bit architectures:
https://distrowatch.com/search.php?architecture=i686
https://distrowatch.com/search.php?architecture=i586
https://distrowatch.com/search.php?architecture=i486
https://distrowatch.com/search.php?architecture=i386
But here are some recommendations from the target group (Manjaro community) for the target group (Manjaro commuity).
Arch-based
- Arch Linux 32 - a.k.a. archlinux32
https://archlinux32.org - Bluestar Linux - features Plasma desktop. Might be a bit heavy for most 32bit machines. Download
-
Parabola GNU/Linux-libre - with only free (as in freedom) packages (by default), listed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) as a fully free software distribution
https://parabola.nu - Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre - fork of Parabola, “Hyperbola deviates from its base by aiming for compliance with the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS), long-term support, stability, security, simplicity, privacy, and having release cycle similar to, and corrections/patches based on, Debian GNU/Linux.”
https://www.hyperbola.info
Independent
-
4MLinux - miniature Linux distribution focusing on four capabilities: maintenance, multimedia, miniserver, mystery
http://4mlinux.com - LxPup - Puppy Linux with the LXDE desktop environment
https://sourceforge.net/projects/lxpup -
Puppy Linux - extraordinarily small, yet quite full-featured; different builts depend on various distros!
http://puppylinux.com - openSUSE Tumbleweed - Rolling version of openSUSE. They plan to support i586 as long as the packages can still be built.
-
TinyCore - 12 MB graphical Linux desktop, based on a recent Linux kernel, BusyBox, Tiny X, Fltk, and Flwm
http://www.tinycorelinux.net -
Void - rolling, lightweight, independent, non-systemd (runit)
http://www.voidlinux.eu
Debian-based
-
antiX - dedicated distro for old hardware, among the lowest RAM usage of distros with X (after TinyCore), many persistence features, non-systemd
http://antix.mepis.com -
Bunsenlabs
https://www.bunsenlabs.org/installation.html#downloads -
KNOPPIX - automatischer Hardwareerkennung und Unterstützung für viele Grafikkarten, Soundkarten, SCSI- und USB-Geräte und sonstige Peripherie
http://www.knoppix.org -
LMDE 4 - Linux Mint Debian Edition 4 targeted at experienced users, which provides the same environment as Linux Mint but uses Debian as its package base
https://www.linuxmint.com -
MX Linux - cooperative venture between the antiX and former MEPIS Linux communities
https://mxlinux.org -
SparkyLinux - lightweight, fast and simple Linux distribution designed for both old and new computers featuring customised Enlightenment and LXDE desktops
https://sparkylinux.org -
Q4OS - an user friendly and very lightweight distro based on Debian and Trinity Desktop Envirorment (TDE), that resembles traditional desktop envirorments.
http://www.q4os.org/ Ubuntu-based-
Bodhi - featuring Moksha, an Enlightenment-17-based desktop environment; minimalist approach by offering modularity, high levels of customisation, and choice of themes
http://www.bodhilinux.com -
Linux Mint - to provide a more complete out-of-the-box experience (than Ubuntu) by including browser plugins, support for DVD playback, Java and other components; custom desktop and menus, several unique configuration tools, and a web-based package installation interface
https://www.linuxmint.com - Zorin (Lite edition ) - XFCE, well suited for new users. They claim “Your old computer. New again”, and it’s not a lie - also works pretty well on small screens (it runs fine on an Asus Eee 1005HA )
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Bodhi - featuring Moksha, an Enlightenment-17-based desktop environment; minimalist approach by offering modularity, high levels of customisation, and choice of themes
Gentoo-based
-
Calculate Linux - Live USB, graphical installer, binary packages available, but compatible with Gentoo, non-systemd
http://www.calculate-linux.org -
SystemRescueCD - rescue disk available as a bootable CD-ROM / USB stick for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash
http://www.system-rescue-cd.org
Slackware-based
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Salix - optimised for desktop use, features one application per task, custom package repositories, advanced package management with dependency support, localised system administration tools and innovative artwork
http://www.salixos.org -
Slackel - small, light & simple, fast and easy to use, with stability being a primary goal; also fully backwards compatible with Slackware
http://www.slackel.gr -
VectorLinux - keep it simple, keep it small
http://www.vectorlinux.com
Non-Linux
-
FuguIta - portable live system based on OpenBSD
http://fuguita.org/?FuguIta -
Haiku
http://haiku-os.org -
KolibriOS - fork of MenuetOS
http://kolibrios.org
fyi:
The most (mainstream) CPUs support 64 Bit since 2003!
- Apple PowerPC 970 (2002)
- AMD K8 (2003)
- Intel Prescott 2M (2004)