that's the POST (power on self-test)
it's cursory at best and only really detects the size of the ram, not how well it performs.

There may be an option in the BIOS to disable the RAM check, most PCs I've owned have had it.

I was referring to a program named "memtest86+" that is available as a package for several linux distributions. Installing that package will usually cause a distro like e.g. Debian to add a GRUB boot entry (or even multiple entries) so you can boot into the memtest instead of Linux. The thing will then start and perform a real in-depth memory test. It will perform all kinds of tests which take more and more time but you can easily stop the test after a few runs if you've seen enough.

Memtest was installed for puppy Linux, it didn't help, issue still exists.

I decided to go to the Puppy Linux Forum and seek assistance there for the issues on this PC, since it is their OS, they maybe able to give more specific assistance:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=688700

Not much help on Puppy Linux forum for this PC as it is so old I guess. Are tehre any special groups or forums online for folks who old Pentium 1 PCs or so approx ? Most retros are into 8-bit computing, that is far too old. Not many folks had those PCs and I can see how they are compared to the Pentium 1s.

I had the UltimatebootCD 3.2 stored away from those times, this helped me install something called GAG, it installs half to bios or cmos and the other half to hard drive. This is able to start the grub. However, the installed Puppy doesn't load. I spent two hours on this yesterday and my eyes got real tired.I am spending too much time on this, must keep old PCs interest as a hobby and not a practical pursuit. My parrot doesn't like command line but she is ok with me using pen and paper, so I will use this more.

On a different note, this old PC, encouraged me search around my apartment. I discovered an older PS2 keyboard that is working very well with this PC. I also have a PS2 mouse that I mostly will start using in the future.

To add, I am unable to see local sales flyers on this PC. Maybe this is a good thing, I will have to walk to the stores directly which is good exercise or not see them at all, which is good as I will not be tempoted to buy a new PC or other new stuff.

Most of the newer PCs offer better graphics, web-sites are loaded with more eye candy. This becomes quite evident when one uses an older PC with Linux on it.

Regarding the sound issues on this PC, I googled and found some related info.:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=39263

And this also:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/87887...o-card-drivers

Right drivers were not included for linux due to licensing issues. I will keep this info. for now. Will learn more about it later. So apparently, I am not the only one facing this issue and better drivers are needed for this.

Also found this info. on the SIS video drivers:
http://www.winischhofer.net/linuxsispart1.shtml

No wonder there are issues with this also in playing video files. Also, x crashes for several other distros.

On a different note:
Top 10 uses for older PCs. It is a good idea to get all the software mentioned in this link and practise using them at convenience:
http://geekyprojects.com/old-compute...computer-uses/

FreeDOS also seems to be doing good and is a good try on older PCs:
http://zelmanov.ptep-online.com/freedos.html
Apart from games and utilities, there are also windows like software for it now.

Net didn't work on this PC for a while. Rebooting modem, replugging ethernet cable resolved the issue.

The web is getting more demanding, with older browsers one is unable to see certain sites. Guess these needs will increase more with time and are a consideration in using older PCs.

I tried to get the correct ALSA drivers and configure. Got the following error:
# ./configure
checking for gcc... no
checking for cc... no
checking for cl.exe... no
configure: error: no acceptable C compiler found in $PATH
See `config.log' for more details.
#

Link for the driver is as follows:
ftp://ftp.alsa-project.org/pub/drive...0.22.1.tar.bz2

Also, for X, drivers are suggested here:
http://www.winischhofer.net/linuxsispart4.shtml

However, The version of X that I have on my system as per below is not in the above link. So not sure how to proceed here.

# X -version

X Window System Version 1.3.0
Release Date: 19 April 2007
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 1.3
Build Operating System: UNKNOWN
Current Operating System: Linux puppypc 2.6.31.14 #1 SMP Mon Oct 25 23:28:59 GMT-8 2010 i586
Build Date: 13 September 2010
Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
#

Since, I felt that most of my issues were specific to puppy linux, not getting much support on their forum, I went to their chat channel on freenode on irc yesterday. It was fairly quiet there and I got some good support.

#eject -x 8 solved the loud cdrom issue when playing music files. It was verified that I have correct sound card and drivers, however, the software for playing media was for a more recent CPU. So, I tried Puppy 4.3 as suggested and it worked well for mp3 files, however it doesn't have ethernet card modules. Hence, I tried to get Gxine and its dependent library xine-lib into quirky. This failed as two files that dependencies for xine-lib were not available. Knowing all this is a good educational experience indeed. Also, puppy support users chatted freely about other things also in general that was quite enjoyable.

Lastly, I got no support to remove proxy as no one was sure how to do this. So, I was assited to disable the firewall but it didn't help. After much thought and searching the net, I found few steps but they all didn't help. Finally, I decided to make a new pupsave file and this resolved the issue. So, I have two pupfiles to start from, one when I need to use net radio this is smaller and the other when I don't. I was adviced that Puppy Quirky 1.4 was sort of like a trial distro and things on it were experimental, atleast some things, hence perhaps the poor support in these areas. This is understandable and OK as it got to be a learning experience, it is not a paid service where fast, good results are expected.

Lastly, I can download and listen to music etc., on my mp3 player. Learning to use proxy and firewall better, helps to use older PC as router etc., with Puppy Linux.

I spent several hours on this and had to reboot many times, the end result is not worth it, however the learning experience was quite valuable.

I went to salvation army store to see old IT stuff they had. They had food processor, juicer etc., but no PC, these were in storage due to renovations. They had a bunch of floppy disks, some were twisted but they wanted 7bucks for it all. I decided to skip it. I will go there again in a few weeks to see what they have.

I accepted one fact today, electronics is growing fast and the old will mostly be thrown, can't save them all. I can only do my little. Accepting this gives peace.

A lot of thrift stores here won't even take PCs as a matter of policy. To be fair, many of them probably don't have staff skilled enough to determine what's worth keeping on the shelves or how much to charge for it.

From my post that did not show up at Murga Forums. They have a spam filter which I guess did not like my Urls. Just did this since you said

Most Puppy users have newer gear now a days. Me. I prefer AntiX on my older gear when possible.

I sold both so I don't have them anymore. I am a member at LQ and have read your thread but not replied to it though.


http://yatsite.blogspot.com/2009/07/...-old-gear.html

http://yatsite.blogspot.com/2008/09/...indows-95.html

http://yatsite.blogspot.com/2008/10/...on-compaq.html

Like I said. I sold them. The oldest thing I have anymore in a bag is a small netbook circa

http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=...1Bbb5mUQ%3D%3D

That is P66Hz ,12MB of ram, Battery still hulds a charge and everything works that used
to have Windows 95 and is a dialup Netbook. I install Blue Flops since it has a 2.6 kernek
in the hopes of procuring a 16bit etherent or wireless pcmcia card in my area but
decided it could become a antique an d go to a collector eventually instead/

My Oldest working one now is a IBM A22m Laptop I used to run Puppy Dingto on.
A P1000hz ,512MB ram,Floppy,DVDROM . But it runs AntiX 12 on it now. Battery is good and it runs a wireless G pcmcia 32bit cardbus.

I have another IBM A22M that works, (kinda)
Pentium 500hz, 256MB of ram, Bad Battery, Screen lights up white but works
OK with external CRT. I run a Lighthouse 32 bit that I am not sure is available or not plus
supported anymore.

Whew, , Long post for a Friday.

Have you checked out


http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=65544

Happy Trails and Good Luck


Since I posted last Friday. I picked up a Netgear MA401 Wireless B PCMCIA 16bit Card Bus for that netbook in Pictures.
Funny part is. My wireless and everyone else's is WPA encrypted. This 16 bit wireless card is not wpa capable as
far as i know. I used Kill Disk on the 2 (50MB/10MB) drives that showed on the floppy disk.
Blueflops might have another go at it but I don't hold out much hope for wpa less card and dialup 16bit modem card (which I also have)
is not a option either. Still makes a nice working antique on the shelf though.