Install Linux on a old computer
 

Hi
Manage to go through a whole lot of my old computer hardware and got a system up and running with windows NT but dont like it
but i really wanted to do linux on it but was wondering how to do it

like i did try a boot version of linux on knopix but did not load it said linux needs at least X amount of RAM (i forgot) but ive got 96MB + 120 paging
yet then it says i only have 96 (and its prob got a really bad processer)

but i was wondering what should i do if i want to install linux should i format my disk drive (and how do i do this for linux) and then what should i do to install linux? Are there any small versions of linux that dont need alot of resources?

Um yeah if anyone could give me a tutial or a great site it would be greatly apreciated (im new to linux)

Thanks
Nathan

Check out VectorLinux. It's a Slackware-based Linux distribution designed to run well on older computers. As long as your computer can boot from the CD-ROM drive the install shouldn't be too difficult if it hasn't deviated too far from the Slackware install. It includes a tool to setup partitions for the install and that shouldn't be too difficult either; you really only need two partitions: one main and one for swap. Just make sure to do your reading during the install and pay attention to what's happening. Also, knowing your hardware would help. If you have any other questions feel free to ask. :)

I hope to get Linux installed as a dual boot on my main computer next week once my broadband is here and i can download it. This is an AMD Athlon 2000+ with 512 and 80 GB HD. Everything should work fine


I see this "Vector Linux" will run on a 386. Right now i have an old IBM laptop. Its specs are:
PII 166, 48MB RAM, 4GB hd.

Right now its just really lying around doing nothing because i HATE windows 98. Maybe i could install Vector on it? Does anyone have expierience running an older computer with Vector?

It would be great to have a Linux machine that was portable and that i could mess around with more, not haveing to worry about messing anything up since it would just be a 'toy' computer.

Thanks,

Nathan


Oh yeah, not the same nathan as above... :cool:

knoppix desktop=icewm Use specified WM instead of KDE
from the Knoppix-cheatcodes might be what you need.
There is also fluxbox available and Knoppix 2 for text mode.
Good Luck.

hi
thanks nis > but i was wondering should i unistall windows first?
Thanks
Nathan

thanks 2damncommon

Vector is made to be run on an older computer.
Check out the Vector Linux forum and their website.

If you don't plan on keeping Windows the installer will overwrite everything there. If there is anything you want to keep, however, you'll need to back it up someplace. Now if you want to dual boot Linux and Windows you'll need to resize the Windows partition to make room for the Linux partitions. That's not too hard but might not be worth it if you just want to get rid of Windows.

hi
great thanks nis

I've seen this question before 'resize the Windows partition'?

Can I ask, what method did/do you have in mind?

Is this possible on a system with one Windows drive?

Here's a mini HOWTO that talks about this, read the part about partitioning. http://en.tldp.org/HOWTO/Install-Strategies/index.html
I haven't used this method as my distro came with its own partitioning program (which btw said for one of my drives that it couldn't be resized).
- Joel

Hey nis
i tried downloading it from http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/dis...linux-4.0/iso/

got the iso file on cd but what eles do i need it seems not to boot onto the computer (yes my computer is set to boot from cd rom first)
is there something im missing

Thanks
Nathan

Maybe you didn't make the cd bootable when you burned it?

Try makeing the boot disk and root disk. The img files should be on the cd under 'disks' directory. If you're using windows, get 2 floppys, format them so they are empty, then use rawrite to copy the img files.

Rawrite is included under the directory 'dosutils\rawrite\'

I made these 2 disks and used them to instal vector on my ibm 380ed. Many old computers cannot boot from a cdrom so try using the floppy method.

HTH,

Nathan S

Also, forgot to mention

Do you plan on getting rid of windows all together?

If so, use the second option for the partition tool when you are doing setup. I forget what its called, but its the second in the list.

Use that to delete all partitions, then make a swap partition, there is an option for that type (Linux Swap), and then make the main partition, there is an option for that type as well. (Linux) Make the main partition bootable, and don't forget to go down and to 'Write' to write the partition table to disk. I forgot to do this step and i couldn't understand why my partitions weren't showing up.

I just installed vector yesterday so its still pretty fresh in my mind if you need help.

Do not just copy the iso file to the CD.
Your CD burning program needs to write it as an image to the CD.
When done correctly there will not be one huge iso file on the CD but many files of an installation CD.