My older (third computer) needs a new operating system, and I don't want to pay . I will be giving this computer to someone who doesn't know much about computers, and the specs are as follows:

Intel Pentium III @ 866MHz
40GB Hard Drive (Not sure of brand nor speed)
128MB SD-Ram
(Model Sony VAIO #PCV-RX360DS)

I want to try to get a distribution of Linux on the computer, and since the computer is not currently running an operating system, and I'm not skilled with Linux (usually in the CPU or Vid Card section of this site so...) I need help. Thank you for any help.

I've always found that the Ubuntu distribution is a good choice for this sort of computer. It's based on Debian . . . very stable and proven.
Try a "Live" copy first if you like.
Nothing is installed to the hard drive . . it runs completely from the DVD ROM.
To date I haven't had a problem getting it to find any hardware on laptops nor set-top boxes.
Good Luck

You should upgrade the amount of RAM to 256MB at least for a pleasant desktop experience. Taking some 30MB per browser window on a "modern" webpage, that 128 will run out pretty quickly.

I don't currently have the rescources to do so, although I can add a 36MB stick of sd-ram (which I have lying around evev though it won't make a big difference).

It's a 25% boost, sure it will make things better

Try xubuntu, it works better for lower system specs.

Thanks, I will try that as well.

I was just wondering, I have a computer from the mid-1990's sitting around with a Win95 issue, and was wondering if there's still a Linux out that the computer could handle. Here are the specs:

133MHz Pentium (I)
~64MB Ram
1.5GB Hard Drive

Old, I know :hotouch:

Well, that thread is even more extreme and doesn't really apply to anything Pentium..

You can run pretty much anything on a Pentium. You would have to forget about pretty desktops like Gnome, KDE or Xfce of course. If you are OK with no GUI or something lightweight, then that machine will be just fine. Mind you, many modern applications are hogs and may be too much for that thing.

You probably want to make that box some sort of a specialised machine like a router or a print server or make it run some specific program like P2P..