Antique machine BIOS problem
 

I have an ancient Pentium 133 and a 420MB HDD.

I can't recall if I installed Red Hat 6 using this pc on this HDD or not, but it runs fine.

I want to upgrade to a more recent distro, and I tried Red Hat 6 (again), RH8, RH9 and FC2, but all seemed to fail to boot from CD-ROM vomitting the following:


ISOLINUX 2.08 2003-12-12 isolinux: loading spec packet failed, trying to wing it ...

isolinux: Extremely broken BIOS detected, last ditch attempt with drive = FF


FYI, my BIOS is 51-0411-001771-00111111-071595-82439. I gathered that the MB was manufactured by Toyen Computer Co. Ltd. which could have folded long ago, otherwise I hope to flash it. As it is, I can't seem to read HDD of at least 2GB.

Is there anyway that I could upgrade the OS?

If I successfully connect the pc with RH6 to the Internet, would I be able to upgrade?

All help is appreciated. Thank you.


L8R

Jason Tan Boon Teck

Use slackware. I have set up a 166 MMX with 10.0 but 10.1 should work as well if not better. Make the slackware boot and root floppies and then you can install from the cd.

It's a bios problem, not a processor problem. The installer / kernel is trying to read settings in the bios. The information either isn't there because it is too old or it is just unable to read what it needs. Sounds like it is assuming certain values (winging it) but is still unsuccessful.

A big fallacy these days is that Linux can extend the life of old hardware. Heck, any OS can do that. But, if you want a decent experience with linux you should throw some nice hardware at it. If you are techy enough you can get it to purr.

I tried slackware 10.1. I received the same error message when I boot with CD.

Linux supporters advocates that Linux can run on old hardware. Hope to prove them right.

Well, this is my 3rd pc with leftover parts. Even if I wanted to, I'm won't be able to throw in much sexier hardware because that darn BIOS is so limiting. :mad:

that's why I said try the floppies instead.

******that's why I said try the floppies instead.

Can you believe he's that stupid?

I think that was uncivilised and uncalled for!

I do not have a working floppy drive and have not used floppy for more than a year, with the widespread use of broadband and CD-RW. I will attempt it when I get my hands on one.

Until then, I suggest better civility in public forums.

It's certainly not a fallacy. You can still use up-to-date, featureful (and secure, supported) programs much more easily with Linux on older machines than most proprietary systems. With Windows on older machines, for example, you're left with using older, less secure, unsupported OSes when you want to use old hardware or have few available resources. Lightweight window managers (like xfce or ICE) also give you a great, modern, powerful GUI even on older PCs. This doesn't even count all the great functionality you can get without a GUI. Most of this holds true for the BSDs as well.

Most definitely. You could run a web server on a 386 if you were that way inclined with linux. Now show me a Winblows that could do the same. You might just about manage it with DOS but can you imagine how hard that would be?

SOMETHING PRACTICAL -maybe....
 

From your description your only real hope with that motherboard is to contact the AWARD people, the ones who have written and re-written 90% of IBM clone motherboard BIOSs.

There is probably a newer BIOS that you can get for $10 in the mail on a CMOS chip.

Other than that, the motherboard can probably only handle DOS 3.3. or Windows 3.1...

Yeah, I know you want to recycle as many old parts as you can, but sometimes this can only be done by spending an extra dollar or two. Another tactic might be to rummage through a surplus bin for another slightly newer and almost as cheap motherboard. Good luck.

P.S., I tried my floppy, and it stiffened right up. I think I need to lubricate it. I also noticed it was too small for a standard size slot.

timoab - this sort of commentary is unnecessary and pointless. As the LQ Rules state, "Do not post if you do not have anything constructive to say in the post." To say it another way, if you have a suggestion or recommendation that you think may assist in solving the reported problem, you are encouraged to share it, but otherwise let's not fill the boards with random comments. Thanks -- J.W.