LinuxQuestions.org
Visit Jeremy's Blog.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Red Hat
User Name
Password
Red Hat This forum is for the discussion of Red Hat Linux.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 10-06-2003, 06:42 PM   #1
SMB3Master
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 32

Rep: Reputation: 15
red hat for an old computer


i have an old computer that i want to use something for. it has a 2gb hard drive and 30mb of ram.

i've tried a few other disributions, but they all freeze while booting the installation.

I'm going to try using red hat, what version would work?
 
Old 10-07-2003, 08:42 AM   #2
aqoliveira
Member
 
Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Portugal
Distribution: /Red Hat/Fedora/Solaris
Posts: 622

Rep: Reputation: 30
Howzit

Any version Linux will run on a 386. When installing try not using the graphical mode but text mode and see what happens. It may be a problem with vga and X can't run. If u want a GUI install try using low res for the install. If still no go then when u boot and get to the install prompt type in noprob this will not prob the hardware and allows u to specify what hardware u want. Also using ALT - F1, ALT - F2, ALT - F3,ALT - F4, ALT - F, this allows u to view what the install is doing and where it is hanging.

Good Luck

chow
 
Old 10-07-2003, 01:49 PM   #3
SMB3Master
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 32

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
i tried red hat 8, when it was booting to a the text install it stopped at this errror:

Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 09:02
 
Old 10-07-2003, 01:54 PM   #4
aqoliveira
Member
 
Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Portugal
Distribution: /Red Hat/Fedora/Solaris
Posts: 622

Rep: Reputation: 30
Howzit

R u booting from a CD if so try booting from a linux boot disks instead it may be a problem with the cdrom. Under linux goto the cdrom to the dir that says images and cat bootdisk.img > /dev/fd0 if u donīt have a linux box under windows goto linux cdrom under dosutils use the rawrite cmd to create a lunix bootdisk.

chow
 
Old 10-07-2003, 02:11 PM   #5
SMB3Master
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 32

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
i've done a successful installation with it on another computer.
 
Old 10-07-2003, 02:24 PM   #6
aqoliveira
Member
 
Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Portugal
Distribution: /Red Hat/Fedora/Solaris
Posts: 622

Rep: Reputation: 30
I don't mean problem with cd but the drive might be an old one either way why not give it s shot see what happens
 
Old 10-07-2003, 07:19 PM   #7
misc
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2003
Distribution: Red Hat + Fedora
Posts: 1,084

Rep: Reputation: 54
For installing it on older computers or computers with less RAM than required, check out the RULE project.
 
Old 10-10-2003, 05:53 AM   #8
SMB3Master
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 32

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
i used the rule installer, but it didn't start an installion...

when boot: came up i pressed enter. then all it did was boot to a # prompt, how do i continue installing from there?
 
Old 10-10-2003, 06:48 AM   #9
misc
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2003
Distribution: Red Hat + Fedora
Posts: 1,084

Rep: Reputation: 54
Question

Which one did you try exactly?

The RULE project page also has a "docs" section with step-by-step instructions.
 
Old 10-18-2003, 09:07 PM   #10
divinesnail01
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Oct 2003
Distribution: Redhat 7, 8, and 9
Posts: 3

Rep: Reputation: 0
I've gotten similar errors on older machines that followed old memory map specifications.

Try the following:

1) figure out how much ram is actually in the machine
2) at the first installation screen type:
linux mem=exactmap mem=640K@0 mem=xxxM@1M where xxx = the amount of ram installed (in megabytes) -1.

For instance, on a machine with 96mb, you'll use:

linux mem-exactmap mem=640k@0 mem=95M@1M

if you've had to do this to install, you'll probably have to go into /boot/grub and add it to grub.conf like this example from a machine with 208mb installed:

default=0
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-8)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 ro root=LABEL=/ mem=exactmap mem=640K@0 mem=207
M@1M
initrd /initrd-2.4.20-8.img
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
red hat for a really old computer darkangel29 Red Hat 2 05-03-2005 08:38 AM
Red Hat 7.1- Computer Freezing Problem badger311 Linux - Newbie 2 07-15-2004 11:38 PM
Optimizing Red Hat 9 for an older computer mike400hp Linux - General 2 02-13-2004 10:42 PM
Could the Red Hat Linux install on the computer of DELL's P4? darlin Linux - Software 2 10-19-2003 05:58 AM
Red Hat for old computer jrpretz Linux - Distributions 3 07-25-2003 11:49 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Red Hat

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:30 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration