NEWBIE wants older LINUX for learning the basics

I learned MSDOS and Windows by tinkering and asking questions. I am looking
for an older version of LINUX that I can install and tinker with as a
learning tool. Maybe there's something comparable to MSDOS 5.0 and Windows
3.1. Something that has documentation - like MSDOS always came with a
manual that explained different options for setting up your system and
explained how to use the utility programs.

With MSDOS I learned the commands and syntax, then batch file programming,
response files for programs like DEBUG and EDLIN, programming with
interpreter BASIC, and also about how to configure the system - all from 2
or 3 books. All I needed was MSDOS 5.0 installation disks, the user manual
and a couple of third party books. From there I learned about Windows 3.1
using another couple of books. It was enjoyable and it was a good
foundation for the more advanced stuff that came out later.

Can someone here recommend an older version of LINUX that would be good for
this purpose? Something I can tinker with and learn like MSDOS and Windows
3.1 and that has good documentation or third party books available. I don't
mind if it's complicated as long as there's a good source of documentation
available - and hopefully it's not too buggy. I anxious to get started but
I don't want to waste time.

TIA. Bill S.



.

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