Thinking about putting DSL on my old PC

Forum: HD Install
Topic: Thinking about putting DSL on my old PC
started by: lazeeboy

Posted by lazeeboy on Mar. 03 2006,02:22

I have an old 200mhz, 32mb, 2gb PC running Windows 95 and I've recently taken an interest in trying out Linux. I've never used Linux before and I don't know much beyond the basics of using a computer. I don't want to do anything to my "good" computer until I'm comfortable with Linux on my old one, but I have no idea how to put Linux on the thing.

I thought DSL might be good since there isn't a lot of HDD space on the computer, and since it probably isn't as demanding on the old hardware. Can anybody walk me through a DSL installation?

Thanks.

Posted by lovdsl on Mar. 03 2006,07:22

Well..there is a lot to learn..I am new aswell but will give something..I just installed on a dx2 66 mhz with 48meg ram and 400 meghd..it runs slow but like you had the machine available..you will have a little more fun likely..

Are you wanting to keep win95 on the machine?..
there is lots of info in the forum here, do some reading and check the wiki.
.you will need to download the dsl iso and burn to a cd or get someone to do it for you.
Does your machine boot from cd? check the bios..if so boot computer with dsl cd in drive..f2 f3 will list options at the initial dsl screen.
if not you will need the boot.img..you will have to rawrite this to a floppy from a dos prompt ..thisa will boot dsl cd
if you want to install to hd..you will need to create partitions..for this you use linux fdisk or cfdisk..it is included on the cd at runlevel 2 I think.thus decideing if you want 95. I have not done a dual boot yet.
you will need the commands.
drives are devices../dev..they have letters../hda for primary etc
partitions are numbered /hda1,2,3
typeing cfdisk at the run level2 prompt should give help
cfdisk /dev/hda should take you to the drive where you choose number, type, sise and specify boot"a" swap "t""82" etc.
you will have to make a ext2 file system ie:mke2fs /dev/hda1
you will have to make swap and turn on ie: mkswap /dev/hda2...swapon -a /dev/hda2
that should get you thinking at least.. dsl is a nice distro..have fun..hope this helps

Posted by alexxtasi on Mar. 03 2006,22:09

hi there
i red this topic and said... did I posted this??!!!
same thing, I want to set up Linux into my old pc (200MHz MMX, 64MB RAM, 20G HD, no other OP) and i DLS was suggested to me. The main question:
should i install the X interface, or it would be too much for the 64MB RAM?
and then... the questions:
details about the installation...?
some suggestions would be thankfull, and as you said lovdsl , ill try the wili also...
thanx

Posted by lovdsl on Mar. 04 2006,01:49

Thus a swap file..you can run x..I have 48meg ram and now 130 meg swap..suggestions are to make swap twice ram..more is likely redundent..a frugal install to hd is perhaps best..see other posts..I am working on a non frugal hd install without added apt and debian..will add this later as I am learning to install and use..the first thing is the partitions.I gave some on that..for me x is what I want so I am running it..command lines are fine.but gatta love the gui..it is slow for me on 48 but I am 66 mhz so I think you will like what you see..then tweak it..lots of tips here.and frendly folks so far..if you are dumping 95 you have lots of room for the three partitions..you can start with two if you like just to geta feel..thats what I did..fools rush in..once you get going you will formulate specific questions..do not be shy to just try stuff..maby this is bad advice..I am learning myself..any help?..the first thing I did was stick it in the machine and let it boot..ram will be the issue it likes 128 so try running from hd, if you like install.

Posted by JoePritchard on Mar. 04 2006,23:56

Quote (alexxtasi @ Mar. 03 2006,17:09)

Hi,

I'm in the throes of installing DSL to an IBM 3200GL which has a 166MHz processor and 32Mb RAM. The X windows interface is beautiful. Works very well! I'm just wrestling with getting LAN connectivity running - had no joy with the built in CS8920 card so I'm now looking at a USB WLAN adaptor.

Anyway....I'm also running Windows on the PC, and one thing that's worth noting is that the HD Install option doesn't seem to like installing to a second physical hard disc. So I repartitioned my first disc to give a 900Mb partition for DSL, and a 1500Mb partition for Windows. I have a second disc installed, and that is partitioned as 10Gb for Windows data a 200Mb Swap partition and the balance of the disc is available as a native linux partition.

I managed to screw up the installation first time through - not sure how, but I concluded that the best solution was to reinstall.

If you're keeping Windows (and I would, until you've got teh whole system working as you want it) then keep close eye on your partitions whilst you're installing things because you can easily crap all over Windows.

Joe