UPDATE: Have tried loading MX19, AntiX19, Bodhi and eLive. Even after a deep antivirus scan of HDD and downloaded ISOs, kept getting SARDU bootloader, but no ISO with MX19 and Bodhi downloads.
eLive looked interesting as did AntiX, but upon reboot after install, glitches.
All on the same testbed machine. Loaded Q4OS 32bit and, aside from failing to load drivers for a PCMCIA wifi card, it did recognize a USB WLAN dongle, loaded the intermediate desktop, and then the Windows theme without a hitch. Gorgeous.
ADDENDUM #2: The machines reached the kids in Panama and word has it they are thrilled. They had nothing else otherwise.
Please @q4osteam, your q4os / ubuntu distro is needed in 32 bit. I've got more hardware which is junk here, but gold to kids overseas. Vielen dank im Voraus!