iB::Topic::Could my old computer handle it...

	Damn Small Linux :: Damn Small Linux Board The DSL Forums

» Welcome Guest
[ Log In :: Register ]

Damn Small Linux Board » Damn Small Linux » HD Install » Could my old computer handle it...

		Mini-ITX Boards Sale, Fanless BareBones Mini-ITX, Bootable 1G DSL USBs, 533MHz Fanless PC <-- SALE $200 each!
		Get The Official Damn Small Linux Book. DSL Market , Great VPS hosting provided by Tektonic

Pages: (2) </ [1] 2 >/

[ Track this topic :: Email this topic :: Print this topic ]

Topic: Could my old computer handle it..., 24 mb of ram on an old Gateway 2000

< Next Oldest | Next Newest >

LeanMeanLinuxMachine Offline

Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: Oct. 2005

Posted: 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 music

So 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.

adssse

Group: Members
Posts: 505
Joined: Mar. 2005

Posted: 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.

cbagger01

Group: Members
Posts: 4264
Joined: Oct. 2003

Posted: 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.

Noname
Unregistered

Posted: 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...

sarah

Group: Members
Posts: 73
Joined: Sep. 2005

Posted: 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) )

--------------
I've been told the best way to learn is to explain it to someone else in front of "experts". People who are knowledgable (and sometimes even if they're not!) on a topic will soon tell you if you're wrong, and love you for the opportunity to either show their prowess or make jokes at your expense!

5 replies since Nov. 29 2005,03:58

< Next Oldest | Next Newest >

[ Track this topic :: Email this topic :: Print this topic ]

Pages: (2) </ [1] 2 >/

Damn Small Linux Board » Damn Small Linux » HD Install » Could my old computer handle it...