First, it irks me to end the subject in a preposition, but "For what can I use an old computer?" just sounds awkward.

Anyway, I've got this old computer that I bought so I could try out Linux and see how I liked it. It always was a little slow (especially with X) and crashes when I try to install new distros. Even if I got a new distro going, I think there would be a lot of waiting.

I don't want to chunk it, but I don't know what to do with it. I thought I might use it as a designated firewall/log/router computer, but I dunno. Right now I'm thinking that I might like to use it as a Linux from Scratch computer, but I've got a few things to learn before I'd be ready to do that.

I was wondering if anyone knew of a good use for an old computer.

hmm...

Try smoothwall? www.smoothwall.org

What kind of crashes are you getting? It can't be so bad that you can't install any distro.

well, you didn't say the specs on it so i'm assuming the worst! lol. if you go to www.linux.org you can get a list of mininam distributions that do various functions and will work down to a 386. firewalling, routing, etc, etc, ad nausem...

--cheers

You can read all about my installing problems here:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?postid=458400#post458400