hardware compatibility??<---noob question

sexy_pe/\/guin · 01-12-2004, 02:03 PM

I just got an old 233 mghz compaq presario out of storage and i want to remove everything on it and install slack. How can i find out if my modem, sound card, and all that will be compatible with slackware?

How do i even check what the hardware is, cause the manual that came with the comp is long gone according to my grandpa. I think i know how to check the latter. Maybe run compaq diagnostics on it and also check the system info in control panel.

Any help and advice is much appreciated here.

Thanks.

Tinkster · 01-12-2004, 02:22 PM

Well, if it still has any version of winDOHs
installed, go to control center, System,
device manager ...

If it doesn't, grab knoppix and look at the
output of dmesg ;)

Cheers,
Tink

Misel · 01-12-2004, 02:30 PM

Well, install slackware and use lspci, isapnp and the other system tools to identify the hardware

Though knoppix would be easier just for the identification task

nesware · 01-12-2004, 02:35 PM

just download and create the root and boot disks..

run them.. don't worry you won't install anything or erase anything by just booting

when the kernel messages pass you can see if it supports most of your stuff..
if that all goes to fast... after login with root type dmesg (with shift PgUp you can scroll up)
or lspci and you see the board types... then check if linux supports those cards... probably it will...

sexy_pe/\/guin · 01-12-2004, 02:36 PM

System Requirements
An easy Slackware installation requires, at minimum, the following:

Table 3-2. System Requirements

Hardware Requirement
Processor 386
RAM 16 MB
Disk Space 500MB
Floppy Drive 1.44 MB

Thats from the Slackware site. My compaq is 233 mghz i think, guess that means im screwed ? Might be a good idea to switch the compaq for a 555 mghz emachine out of storage, heh. Anyone here run under a 386 processor?

DeadPuddle · 01-12-2004, 02:39 PM

386 isn't a processor speed, it's an architecture. That processor will work.

grizzly · 01-12-2004, 02:45 PM

If you don't want the O/S on it, and don't care if you wipe out the hard drive, just try it. I have several old computers here that I run slack on. My e-mail server has a 233 mgz intel processor in it. But just to be sure, you can always open up the box and look at what's in there. I just learned the joy of Knoppix yesterday, and I would second that idea also.

sexy_pe/\/guin · 01-12-2004, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by grizzly
If you don't want the O/S on it, and don't care if you wipe out the hard drive, just try it.

I was curious about that. I was wondering if i could just delete EVERYTHING including Windows and then install slack. I dont want any traces of microsoft in that comp or anything that was ever on it. I have never removed an OS from a comp and reinstalled another. I appreciate any advice.

DeadPuddle · 01-12-2004, 10:00 PM

When you use cfdisk to partition the disk, delete all partitions first then create new linux partitions. After the partitions are made and written to the disk, no trace of Windows will exist.