• From: New Amsterdam, U.S.
  • Registered: 2010-06-13
  • Posts: 425

Topic: Evil Computer

I'll make this brief. Old Computer. P5SS-Me motherboard. Might not even be 32-bit. Want to put Linux on it. I'm certain that It'd run Windows 98 since I found a pamphlet for it but since I don't have drivers for it I can't just burn an ISO and put it on the PC. Here's a run-down on the PC:

-Probably from 1998-2000
-Between 16 and 32 bit
-Super 7 CPU Slot
-P5SS-ME Mobo
-CPU is less then 500 MHz
-Uses DIMM RAM, probably less then 128 MB
-Can boot from CD Drive

Edit: I'd like to know what Architecture it is and what OS I should put on it. It's not my PC, it's an old persons. I wanted to give 'em Linux b/c it's more old-people friendly (No viruses or defragging).

Last edited by CrunchyFree (2010-07-24 14:42:21)

XFCE User ~ Linux Abuser ~ Rubbish Refuser
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  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 1,858

Re: Evil Computer

A quick google search for "P5SS-Me motherboard" reveals it "supports a wide range of Pentium and Pentium-compatible processors" and up to 1GB of RAM.

The i486 version of Statler Alpha might be worth a try...

  • From: New Amsterdam, U.S.
  • Registered: 2010-06-13
  • Posts: 425

Re: Evil Computer

I tried an i386 of Debian Xfce and the computer froze at the partman-partition part (46%). I guess I'll try booting it though. For all I know it could be a Hard Drive issue.

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  • From: Nagoya, Japan
  • Registered: 2009-01-07
  • Posts: 1,722

Re: Evil Computer

Maybe try one of the low-RAM live dists - Puppy, Slitaz or DSL? If you can get one to boot you might then be able to get some more info about your hardware. How much RAM you have could be the major sticking point. Even those distros I mentioned might need 128MB or so.

John
------------------------
( a boring Japan blog , and idle twitterings )
“There is more Unix-nature in one line of shell script than there is in ten thousand lines of C.” - Master Foo

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  • From: New Amsterdam, U.S.
  • Registered: 2010-06-13
  • Posts: 425

Re: Evil Computer

DSL is 24 mb but it's i486. I'll try it but I want to look for another i386.

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  • Registered: 2010-03-25
  • Posts: 14

Re: Evil Computer

I love slitaz. Check it.

  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-12-29
  • Posts: 330

Re: Evil Computer

Yep, slitaz should be on top of your list. DSL is no longer developed. My opinion is that you could eventually try even debian, just the ncurses install (non-graphic) and may be try to put somethingl really lightweight as window-manager - may be something lighter than openbox - icewm, etc. smile

  • From: New Amsterdam, U.S.
  • Registered: 2010-06-13
  • Posts: 425

Re: Evil Computer

Isn't Slitaz a live-only environment? Remember this is an old computer for an old lady so ease of use is most important.

XFCE User ~ Linux Abuser ~ Rubbish Refuser
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  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 1,858

Re: Evil Computer

CrunchyFree wrote:

Isn't Slitaz a live-only environment? Remember this is an old computer for an old lady so ease of use is most important.

SliTaz can be installed.

If "ease of use" is priority #1, a hardware upgrade is in order. A decent 2nd-hand computer (say, pentium 4 with 512mb ram) will easily run #!, Ubuntu, Mint, etc. and shouldn't set you back more than US $100 or equivalent.

Linux on decade-old hardware is a fun side project for geeks like us, but it's not going be much fun for a old-timer without much Linux experience.

  • From: New Amsterdam, U.S.
  • Registered: 2010-06-13
  • Posts: 425

Re: Evil Computer

That's the problem, she's really poor and can't afford a good computer. If I can't put Linux on it then I have to do Windows that that's even more complicated because of viruses and defragging and such.

XFCE User ~ Linux Abuser ~ Rubbish Refuser
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  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 1,858

Re: Evil Computer

CrunchyFree wrote:

That's the problem, she's really poor and can't afford a good computer. If I can't put Linux on it then I have to do Windows that that's even more complicated because of viruses and defragging and such.

Is she paying you for your time? smile

Check Craigslist, Freecycle, Goodwill, yard sales, etc.
For example (no commercial affiliation, this is just the first ad that came up when I searched): http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/sys/1863537487.html

If your time is worth $30/hour, and the computer above saves you a couple of hours mucking about trying to install Linux on ancient hardware, that's $30 profit. wink

Not that I am advocating throwing old hardware in the trash, of course! Here is an interesting web page of projects for really old computers: http://kmandla.wordpress.com/

If her current hardware is too old to run CrunchBang, I'm not sure it will run Windows well either.

(edit) ps if you try SliTaz, make sure to read up on the "loram" flavor: http://slitaz.org/en/get/flavors.html

  • From: New Amsterdam, U.S.
  • Registered: 2010-06-13
  • Posts: 425

Re: Evil Computer

I'm doing it for free. I'm not geeksquad. Loram won't release the CDROM btw, that's kinda a problem. Like I said, Win98 if all else fails.

XFCE User ~ Linux Abuser ~ Rubbish Refuser
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  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 1,858

Re: Evil Computer

CrunchyFree wrote:

Loram won't release the CDROM btw, that's kinda a problem.

That's only for a live CD session; once it's installed to hard drive, she'll be able to use the CD.

(ps did you ever figure exactly how much RAM the computer has?)

CrunchyFree wrote:

Like I said, Win98 if all else fails.

sad

  • From: Nagoya, Japan
  • Registered: 2009-01-07
  • Posts: 1,722

Re: Evil Computer

Win 98 will be OK if she doesn't want to use the internet at all. Otherwise the computer will be virus and trojan-infested in no time. MS dropped support a long time ago (the reason I switched to Linux) and antivirus software and firewalls will only help so far, apart from having to be regularly updated.

To repeat Snowpine - how much RAM there is, and/or whether it's possible to add a bit more, might be important.

Last edited by johnraff (2010-07-27 04:02:24)

John
------------------------
( a boring Japan blog , and idle twitterings )
“There is more Unix-nature in one line of shell script than there is in ten thousand lines of C.” - Master Foo

johnraff's Website

  • From: Bleeding Kansas
  • Registered: 2009-11-09
  • Posts: 178

Re: Evil Computer

I have an old HP Celeron mini tower of evilness that I used to record Stereo audio of band practice to for a couple of hours at a time without a hiccup. When I got the HP it had Win95 on it. The only thing I got to work was Puppy Linux. DSL didn't run correctly on it. Puppy with the XVesa video driver and I was off.

Either way, I'd try Puppy Linux or maybe even Tiny Core.

|My Band: 12 Honest Men| |My Screenshot Gallery on Minus|
  • Registered: 2010-03-26
  • Posts: 79

Re: Evil Computer

you're not a member of a local LUG are you CrunchyFree?  LUG's are great for this type of thing becasue geeks usually have basements full of old gear they are willing to give away if they know it will be put to good use.

  • Registered: 2010-07-18
  • Posts: 5

Re: Evil Computer

stork wrote:

I love slitaz. Check it.


+1 

Try slitaz smile)))

  • From: Leeds
  • Registered: 2010-07-16
  • Posts: 12

Re: Evil Computer

Hi
The problem you seem to be having is configuring the hard drive.
I love GParted, easy and safe(ish). What more could you ask for. However it's not doing the job for you.
If you google some slackware install guides ( I know we're out of easyland) you will find some guides for FDISK, a low level (easy for basic/crap computers to use) disk partitioning system. There are caveats, ie it may destroy other partitions and data. BUT you can set up new partitions. When you install #! (or other) OS you can use the new configuration. NB don't forget to configure a swap partition.
Hope this helps.

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