iB::Topic::Installing DSL on 486 sx 25

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Topic: Installing DSL on 486 sx 25, ...is it possible?

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stand

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Posts: 10
Joined: Dec. 2005

Posted: Dec. 19 2005,21:23

I'm trying to get old 486SX with 16 mb of memory in life as a small web server.

I'd install DSL on 1.2gb HDD in P4 computer and move that HDD in old one. Now in process of booting DLS message me:
"No coprocessor found and no math emulation present.
Giving up."

It's really mean that I must give up?

I'll try to find DX, DX2 or DX4 processor, but why not SX?

Also I have 386 DX-40. Will it work on it?

Thanks!!!

cbagger01

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Posted: Dec. 19 2005,23:14

Any 486 system that has a "DX" should work because it has a math coprocessor.

Otherwise for "SX" systems you will need to use a version of the Linux kernel that has math coprocessor emulation compiled into it.

For example, if you try an old version of DSL like versio 0.5.3.1 or older it should work with an SX computer.

Or you could try to manually recompile the DSL kernel for version 2.0 and add in the coprocessor emulation and then remaster the iso or build a special boot floppy (this is not an easy task).

skaos

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Posted: Dec. 20 2005,12:31

If the 386DX-40 has a math coprocessor it should work.

It should be possible to take a kernel from another distro and install it together with corresponding modules, and update lilo/grub to point to the new kernel (I haven't actually tried this ...). Autoconfig may not work but on a 486 there shouldn't be much to configure anyway. If you want to try this, you have to transfer the disk to the other pc and do the installation there. You could try this kernel:
http://mirror.pudas.net/slackware/slackware-current/kernels/lowmem.i/
http://mirror.pudas.net/slackwa....6-2.tgz

stand

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Joined: Dec. 2005

Posted: Dec. 20 2005,13:26

Thanks!
I'll try.....

cbagger01

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Posts: 4264
Joined: Oct. 2003

Posted: Dec. 21 2005,03:54

To my knowledge, nobody has ever got DSL to work with a 386 CPU.

All are 486DX or newer.

But this does not mean it is impossible. Maybe it has just never been tried before?

7 replies since Dec. 19 2005,21:23

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Damn Small Linux Board » Damn Small Linux » DSL Tips and Tricks » Installing DSL on 486 sx 25