Weird Install

Forum: HD Install
Topic: Weird Install
started by: Thanatos

Posted by Thanatos on Oct. 10 2004,00:18

I've got DSL on my Dell Win98SE computer. I would like to install it on an old Duracom 486/SX. It won't let me into setup to change the bios & it won't read the dsl floppy I made or the CD. Any ideas on how to update this old nuts & bolts computer?? Don't have modem or network card in old one yet. Thanks. If it's hopeless? Just let me know.

Posted by ke4nt1 on Oct. 10 2004,01:11

It being an 'SX ' 486, it does not have a math-coprocessor in it.
The DSL kernel requires a math-coprocessor to run..
sri..

73
ke4nt

Posted by Thanatos on Oct. 10 2004,01:15

Thanks. Any idea if some form of linux will??

Posted by skaos on Oct. 10 2004,13:05

If it has 8 MB, try Basic linux: < http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/baslinux/. > As the name implies, it it very basic, but it is about the only distro that will work with 8 MB if you want X-windows.

If you have 16 MB you could look at Vector Linux 1.8 (http://www.vectorlinux.com) or the following thread:
< http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin....;t=2488 >

As for the boot diskette, are sure that there isn't any bad sectors? Also se these threads: < http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin....t=2496. > < http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin....;t=2874 >

Posted by Thanatos on Oct. 10 2004,14:52

I'm going to try some of the suggestions. I checked & the comp has DOS 6.20. I can't get it to even read the DSL or Win98SE CD. Maybe I just redo it to 95 or leave it. I want to get a network card to link it to my newer computer. I'll keep pluggin'. Thanks.

Posted by lostcity on Oct. 13 2004,00:21

You might try Tiny at < Tiny Linux > From the description, it looks like a distro designed for the 386 and 486 processor.

Posted by Thanatos on Oct. 13 2004,01:05

I'm going to check that out. It also has links to some others that might be nice. I am begining to think I'll just leave the old one 3.11 or do it 95. With them & a network card to tie it to my newer one, I can play around in Telnet & HyperTerminal more. I can go anywhere with Telnet. Oh, the fun!! ;~> Thanks.

Posted by ke4nt1 on Oct. 13 2004,05:03

I just found this at freshmeat this evening..

It's a 2 disk floppy distro.. with an X-server..
and quite a few apps as well..

Claims to run on a 386sx with 8MB ram ..

< http://freshmeat.net/releases/175574/ >

73
ke4nt