Old Computer

Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: Old Computer
started by: John_M

Posted by John_M on Feb. 02 2005,07:12

I have an old computer that I'm looking to put Linux on. Several people have mentioned DSL one of the best distros to use on it. The computer I have is around 10 years old. Its a Compaq Presario CDS 520 - 486SX2/66 /20MB RAM/420MB HDD. Currently it has Win 95 on it, which will be obliterated once I decide to install Linux.
I'm looking to install it with a GUI.
Would this computer be able to handle DSL? Which version should I use?
Thanks.

Posted by BillH on Feb. 02 2005,12:21

Hi John_M.

Take a look at this page < http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/486.html > and see if that answers your question.

You should use the latest version as I think that the requirements haven't really changed. (I may be wrong).

Good luck,

BillH

Posted by skaos on Feb. 02 2005,16:20

I don't think the kernel that comes with DSL supports 486sx. Search the board for "486sx" and see if you find some workarounds.

Posted by Luke Demi on Feb. 08 2005,02:46

Hey,

Just remember that although DSL is a great choice for older computers, it is not always the best idea. DSL is very lightweight, and is often good for very old computers. But I'm sure if you search around and look at some other distros (Deli, luit, puppy, amigo) they might be a little bit better for that computer. I would almost recommend sticking with 95, if it works well. You would be able to run 5 times as much on windows 95 than with linux on 20 MB of RAM.

I would HIGHLY suggest upgrading the RAM though. I have a computer very similar to yours, but mine only had 8 RAM. I got a little more from my uncle (check out ebay, it's cheap), so now I have 57 MB, so I am able to run DSL minorly well (great little server with a gui ;) )

I wish you luck on your adventures!

Luke

Posted by noclobber on Feb. 09 2005,18:56

I recently worked on a Compaq Presario 633 with a 486SX/33MHz CPU, 24MB RAM, and 210MB HD. A year ago I installed Windows 95 OSR2 on it in a compressed FAT16 partition. It was awfully sluggish, though, and it was too easy for the kids to screw up.

Thought I'd try DSL. I took skaos' custom recompiled no-math-coprocesor-required kernel and remastered it into DSL 0.7.3, the last DSL version which used that kernel (all DSL versions after 0.6.x require a math coprocessor). Since the Compaq couldn't boot from CD, the HD was transplanted into a newer PC long enough to install my DSL "0.7.3 SX".

In the Compaq, DSL booted up fine except for X, apparently because the mobo's built-in video was not VESA-compliant, but after installing an old version of XFree86, I got X working as well. It ran, but was awfully slow.

I tried out some other lightweight versions of Linux with GUI - which you might want to check out - like Grey Cat Linux, Feather Linux, and MiniLin, but again had too many problems with X on my funky video.

I ended up installing Windows NT 3.51 Workstation with NewShell 2 (gives it that Win95 look) in an NTFS partition with the Opera 5.12 web browser, nPOP email client, tons of Windows 3.1 games, and today it's reasonably snappy and works great.

Posted by Rob on Feb. 21 2005,21:19

I have a 486 laptop with just 8meg of RAM, and deli was a mission to install. I recommend windows 95, sad as it may seem, because it really was snappy back then, and as mentioned above, there is much more software. Its only later that windows became bloated.

Posted by neo_trio on Feb. 22 2005,15:28

Hey, I have an old 10-yr-old laptop, too! (I am planning on getting it running, but it ends in a kernel panic. [Gotta get LILO to run mem=16M.] My old teacher gave it to me, and it runs MS-DOS 7.10 on it. [Trashed the hard drive I think, like 20 times!] :cool:

)