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Distribution: Haven't Decided, Lean towards; 1 SuSE, 2 Red Hat
Posts: 7
Rep:
Need a small Distro for 486sx
I have an IBM PS/1. It has a 406SX processor , but no coprocessor. 64meg of 70ns memory and a 130mb hard drive. I have an 800mb around but do not know if it will work. I do have a cd drive, but it is either on an SB16 or an external backpack drive. I can use the backpack when I boot from DOS.
I am looking for a Linux distro that will not be too hard to configure, I am afraid of editing config files and do not know how to use vi, but I can learn. I would like it to support the SB16 but it is not manditory, however I would like a minimal X system.
If anyone has any idea where to find one or has one please let me know.
I haven't tried this one myself, but it's said to be the right Linux for very tight systems: http://delilinux.berlios.de/
One word of warning though. The older your hardware is, the more manual tweaking is required. This doesn't mean that it's impossible, it's just not as easy as putting the CD in the drive and click 'OK' a couple of times.
On the other hand, learning how those config files work is very beneficial for your Linux knowledge. You said that you were afraid of editing config files. Well, I make the assumption that the 486 isn't your main computer. Then screwing up the system isn't that much of a catastrophe, is it?
Have fun , learn vi , mess with the config files , see your system refuse to boot . Then either reinstall or come here and ask what to do.
I would like to suggest Vector Linux, I use it with
my 486 with 16 meg of RAM, and I run ICEWN
for my windows manager. And for me it runs
exceptionally well.
Like these other folks said, the older the hardware
the more editing/tweaking you'll need to do.
I didn't have to do any editing with Vector, however
I did have to learn some command line --commands
For instance, I did have to manually launch ppp to get
my modem to dial out to the internet. Vector includes
a webbrowser, file browser, text editor, email, etc...
It is very small in size, and it might be worth a look.
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Need a small Distro for 486sx
, but no coprocessor.
64meg of 70ns memory and a 130mb hard drive. I have an 800mb around but do not know if it will work. I do have a cd drive, but it is either on an SB16 or an external backpack drive. I can use the backpack when I boot from DOS.
I would like it to support the SB16 but it is not manditory, however I would like a minimal X system.
, mess with the config files 
, see your system refuse to boot 
. Then either reinstall or come here and ask what to do.
