What graphics card or chipset? It sounds like it is using a plain vanilla
driver. Have you tried System, Administration, Hardware Drivers to find a
proprietary one?

Laptops particularly older ones are hardest to configure because of the
amount of proprietary hardware in them and the lack of cooperation from OEMS
in days gone by. They are better now, but we still have a way to go.
Depending on the graphics card you should be able to find a graphics driver
to work.

Sorry that you are having so much trouble. It looks like you are trying your
best under trying circumstances. This might be one of those situations where
you will have to try several things before you get a fit. Sorry if I cannot
be more encouraging.

Other distros to try might be MiniMe from PCLinuxOS (know to work on much
hard to install hardware), Vector Linux, Zenwalk Linux and Arch (which is
very fast but do it yourself).

re: antiX

Have you seen this: http://antix.freeforums.org/post13987.html

They advise that you enable unstable in the sources then installing from
aptitude. This person seems to share your problem. There is some comfort in
knowing that you are not alone.