Could my old computer handle it...
Forum: HD Install
Topic: Could my old computer handle it...
started by: LeanMeanLinuxMachine
Posted by LeanMeanLinuxMachine on Nov. 29 2005,03:58
I'm a budding geek and I wanted my own computer mostly to do homework (typing papers etc.) and maybe listen to a bit of musicSo I went to the dump and got a computer. Gateway 2000, 24 mb of ram. Currently running windows 95. While windows 95 works, I've been wanting to run linux on it. I've been looking for a good distro to run on it (just as long as it can run abiword or similar, something with which to play music and hopefully a windows manager. I've had sucess running DSL as a live cd on the families main computer.
Will DSL work on this machine?
Do you have any other suggestions?
I'm keeping my eye out for a better comp at the dump b/c funds are low. My friend says he might have some extra ram (if I could get it up to 32 megabytess....)
thanks in advance and I hope this isn't in the wrong section of the forum.
Posted by adssse on Nov. 29 2005,05:16
Some more of the system specs might be helpfull, but I would tend to say that dsl would run alirght. The 24mb or ram might limit what programs you can use (not sure what abiword needs), but you could use things such as the minimal cheat code and other tweaks to help save ram. Also the new window manager in 2.0, jwm is supposed to use less resources than fluxbox.
Posted by cbagger01 on Nov. 29 2005,06:24
Assuming that the computer is a 486DX or Pentium-type computer, it is a good candidate to try DSL.Assuming that your CDROM drive is not a standard IDE/ATAPI and is one of the old types that are controlled from a soundcard, then you will need to do a "Poorman's Install" to the C:\ drive and then create a boot floppy:
< http://damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index.php/Boot_Floppies >
Then try booting with this command at the boot prompt:
lowram
Last, but not least, you should create a DOS swapfile or a Linux Swap Partition because you will need some extra virtual swap space since you only have 24MB of RAM.
If Firefox is too slow, you can always install Opera from the myDSL repository.
Posted by Noname on Dec. 03 2005,13:54
Hi,I have it currently running on a Gatewal solo 2000. It's a P 133MHz and mine has 48 of RAM. My only problem is that I can not start the PCMCIA...
Posted by sarah on Dec. 04 2005,05:20
Noname: That's weird! You might want to consider registering and starting a new thread so you might be able to get some suggestions to help you out. You'll need to include information on the card you're using too I would think.LeanMeanLinuxMachine: One boot option I have found is to add the switch "mem=24M" - I kept getting seg faults until I did that, but my machine is only P75 / 16M. I am currently testing 2.0, but I've managed to get DSL 1.5 (with X) running from a parallel zip drive on that little laptop, so you should be able to get it going on yours I would think. As mentioned, not all the apps work though, so if you can scrounge a little extra RAM from somewhere it will make life a lot easier for you. The HD install will also ease things, at least mine runs much better from the HDD than from zip! (Odd that.. ;o) )
Posted by daklander on Dec. 06 2005,04:52
Post what you have in ram sticks. I might still have a couple of sticks laying around. Those have, what, 72 pins? Been a long time....Shout out what you have and I'll look around.I do know I have 4 16meg sticks with 72 pins so if you have 4 slots available on that pc you'd have 64meg, if that's what they take.