Updating packages on older machine (Newbie Question)

Tim Slackware · 02-04-2006, 01:48 PM

Hi! I'm just getting into Linux. I've installed Slackware 4 on an older computer (it couldnt handle newer versions), and it's working great so far. I've downloaded some smaller programs from the net I've been wanting to try out, but I've been unable to build them with the GCC compiler or Python interpreter versions that came with Slackware 4.

I have the slackware 10.2 CDs. What would be the best way to update to newer development packages on my slackware 4 machine? Or is that not possible?

Thanks,
Tim

XavierP · 02-04-2006, 02:52 PM

What's the spec of your machine? Slackware 10.2 will run on very old machines - some members of LQ have reported running it on a 486 with 16mb of ram.

As far as upgrading goes, it would be far easier for you to start from scratch and install 10.2 as fresh. Since v4 there have been many changes and a straightforard upgarde would probably break your system.

Welcome to LQ

MS3FGX · 02-04-2006, 03:05 PM

I don't see any way you could safely go from 4 to 10.2 either.

There is no reason 4 would run any better than 10.2 on your machine, other than the fact that as time has moved on, some of the programs have become more advanced and now have higher hardware requirements.

But assuming you have 486+, the core system should not be any less efficient.

Tim Slackware · 02-05-2006, 08:28 PM

It's a Pentium 200 (Mhz), 32 megs of ram. Originally I tried installing 10.2, but it didnt seem to be able to handle it...now looking back I think I made mistakes in installation. It was working well with Windows NT 4, so I figured a Slackware version from closer to that era would be better. (I guess I was thinking like a Windows user, not a Linux user...)

I will take both your advice and try installing 10.2 again. With what I've learned getting sw4 to work, I should be able to install it better.

Thanks,
Tim