dual boot operating requirements?
 

Hi I'm new here :) and dont really know much about computers so sorry if this is a stupid question!
I want to install linux as dual boot with either windows 95 (if I can get a later version that supports USB) or windows 98.
not sure what distribution of linux yet but i need one thats easy to install.

my question is will the system requirements be more to run both than the highest requirements for one system and if so what will they be?

my computer has
333 MHZ pentium II processor
64MB RAM
12.4 GB free space

thanks
Emi

Generally, when one OS runs, the other doesn't, so it has all the machine's resources for itself (processor speed, ram, video ram, ...).

Except, of course for disk space--you have to add the requirements. 12.4 GB doesn't sound like a lot for a modern GNU/Linux distro--I'm using 12 GB on my /usr partition (that is, installed programs, libraries and data files). When you say free space, I assume you have subtracted currently used space for windows as well as your personal files. In that case, I guess it's quite possible to squeeze in a GNU/Linux distro, but watch the space usage. I suggest the following partitioning scheme:

one partition for your personal files.
one partition for GNU/Linux (that is, '/')
one partition for MS-whichever.

maybe one partition for /boot, in case you have to fight w. windows over being in the first 1024 cylinders.

hth --Jonas

yeah total space is 14.2 GB,
should be slightly more free space when i take windows ME off and put 98 on?
is there likely to be enought space then?

thanks

Emi

Welcome to LinuxQuestions.

Windows 95 USB support is not very good and I doubt you will find any drivers. I suggest windows 98SE.

No, however with only 64mb of memory you should run a windows manager like fluxbox or blackbox instead of the KDE or Gnome desktops. Slackware is a good distribution for older PCs.

True as that may be, I don't think it's a good distribution for a newbie (no offense meant). The problem is that the newbie-friendly distros aren't as `oldbox'-friendly as the harder ones.

To OP: try a distro (such as slackware) and see if it works for you. If it does, great. If not, try running the Ubuntu live CD on a more modern machine to see GNU/Linux from its more userfriendly side.

Just a suggestion --Jonas

thanks for all your replies :)
yeah i do need a distibution thats easy to install and easy for newbies, unfortunately i dont have the option of a newer machine :(
can you suggest any distributions that are easy to install that would work on that machine.
alternatively i could install just linux but only if I can get AOL broadband to work on it (yeah i know AOL sucks but I didnt pick it and i dont pay the bill for it!) would that be possible/ easy to do??

I would say linspire is the easiest to install and use, but again, your machine is older. It's not very expensive either. SuSE is also good I think, but again, you probably need a newer machine.
Seriously though, I don't know how you're getting by with 64 mb of RAM. Because of that you are going to be limited, older linux distributions aren't as newbie friendly as, well, new ones (no pun intended). I guess slackware is OK, but it is not very newbie friendly, I have a friend who runs it on an older PC.
If I were you I would consider a new PC, but I don't know your position. However, 64 mb just doesn't really cut it these days. Anyways, good luck.