OK my mom wants to give up her HP computer, I cant let that happen :rant: !!! Id like to put A linux/UNIX OS on it preferibly LInux...
OK, which Linux, along with a GUI will suite these specs
32MB RAM
3 GB HD
166Mhz Pentium MMX
i think 66MHz FSB
@Constrasutra
Iknow you will come up with a perfect distro for it!
:surfer_dude:
NOT a recent mandrake
i know someone who uses a recent slackware on their 486s
perhaps try google, or distrowatch.com
I have a IBM Thinkpad 380ED, and it has the follwing specs:
Pentium 166 MMX
80mb of ram
And I isntalled Mandrake 9, and it was quite slow, maybe you will be unable to isntall some new linux distros, maybe you need to got to something a little bit older.
OK, Last night I looked on Slackware... Looks good... Bu like my mom finds Widnows even Mac hard to work with... Linux would kill her...
Good thing she wont use it anyway!
Come on I need more ideas!!
I know you'd like to hear about a Unix, but have you considered Win98 SE with 98lite from http://www.litepc.com ?
You'd be amazed how fast it can get 
I tried it and must say it ROCKS for older PCs.
Have fun,
McTrinsic
I highly suggest you get more RAM if you want a GUI. SDRAM is DIRT cheap ($10), and you can probobly put like 256MB in there. Get as much as you can.
If you do manage to get more RAM, you gonna want a light distro and WM.
I suggest Slackware as well, though if your a ****ie your gonna have to learn the CLI (which is a good thing, especially considering you have an old computer.) And be careful with what you install, dont just install everything, because you wont even have room on that drive.
And also, add a nice big swap partition (300MB), since its an old computer.
Heres my suggestion for light Window Managers (the big DEs, are too slow for that):
Fluxbox .92
WindowMaker CVS
XFCE4 Beta ( :own: )
E-16
lol! the computer goes up to 64MB SD-RAM. I have no money to get any RAM either...
OK I know my moms CD-ROM drive reads burned CDs... but it wont read the Slackware CD i burned! Any help? I know I burned it right, cuz my computer and an old laptop booted it... :rant: I Can't stand it!!! I know the drive works and it will boot a CD, I ve to use the Recovery CDs to boot it and it worked!! GRRRRR...
@constrasutra: Ya, i had to look at slackware cuz of everyone getting pissed at me cuz of my favorite linux thread... I wanted a Redhat distro, is there one that supports that kind of system? Prob. 1.1! ill have to pull 1.1 of there servers for the hell of it!
I am framiliar with a UNIX (Heres the tricky part! idk whay to call the CLI sience Linux doesnt have a command line... 
) command line. im just not framilair with the syntax, is it the same as the DOS syntax?
Well, you CAN NOT run a GUI with 32MB. Maybe you can get it to start, but thats about it.
If all you want is a CLI, any distro will do. I dont suggest a GUI based distro though (redhat,mandrake),as they will want to install extra junk.
If you cant boot the Slackware disk, get a boot floppy from the FTP.
idk whay to call the CLI sience Linux doesnt have a command line...
Huh? Proof read man. Anyway, the Linux syntax is very different (but more powerful) than DOS, so you'll have to learn it.
Sorry constrasutra
idk whay to call the CLI sience Linux doesnt have a command line...
idk what to call the CLI because Linux doesnt have a command line...
Thanx for the lesson, maybe I can learn syntax with some heavy google searches!
The KERNEL doesnt have a command line, but Linux (as in the OS) has one. Just call it the CLI, command line, console, etc.
You should get a book. Try "Linux System Commands" by Patrick Volkerding.
If you want a site for reference, the O'Reily page has a whole encyclopedia.
OK, so ive decided on some FreeBSD...
Constrasutra, I hate having to ask you for help! I realize that there is no memory for a KDE or a GNOME enviroment... but is there like a color text based shell (like the DOS shell)? Please for give me for being a total blonde, Im a ****ie to UNIX!
Does the FreeBSD kernel have a CLI, I know Linux kernel does'nt?
Proof read!
I did
:rockband: <----- Rock ON! :rule:
OK, aparantly your not getting this. a KERNEL (any kernel, not just linux, but NT, DOS,BSD) is just a basic set of input/output code to allow you to make the software to hardware connection and to run basic system services. A CLI (or command line interface) is a way to issue commands to a system. Becuase there are no commands you can issue to a kernel (because it does this one job, and nothing else), there is no CLI. Get it? I think im just gonna give up.
You can try FreeBSD if you want to, though the commands are slightly different, so you wont find as much documentation.
Yes, most of the CLIs in Linux/BSD are color, so you should have no problem w/o a GUI.
PS. FreeBSD is an OPERATING SYSTEM, just like GNU/Linux. FreeBSD uses the BSD kernel, as does openbsd, netbsd, etc. Just a heads up.
Why choose FreeBSD? Its a good system, but its different than linux.
heh yea alot of people dont understand exactly what a kernel is constra...
i dont know why you would want to interact with the kernel for what it does.. as constra stated...
a kernel is the core.... and then tehre are tools and programs that surround it to complete the operating system.
-bolero
Here's some advice. How about spelling ADVICE correctly. (Y)
Like, screw you all ! Don't pick on me, there's some ADVICE right there! ok
OK, I decided on FreeBSD 5.1 because I can get a severely powerful Operating System, even though I only have meager resources...
Constrasutra! - Sorry, I am a blonde when it comes to BSD or Linux, The most experience I had with Linux is installing and dual-booting it w/ Windows XP. I like my trusty Redhat distribution.
The best tip I can give you: The MAN command. Type "man command" and it will give you the documentation of that command.
I really suggest you run Linux instead of BSD. Its easier to install and theres a lot more help out there. Though if you learn one, you can learn the other easily, because the only different is in little stuff like system file location,etc.
That said, if you can get your internet working in FreeBSD, you can use PORTS to easily update and install new software, its really wonderful.
Good luck, and post back if you run into any trouble.
@constrasutra...
I have chosen to download College Linux (downloading now... 98% complete and 256Kbs). Any way I want to download KDE 3.1.2 because on the KDE website it didn't list College Linux as having a distrobution of KDE...
http://kde.oregonstate.edu/pub/kde/stable/3.1.2/
On that site it has no folder for College Linux, is one of those distros compatible?
Are all x86 or i386 linux disro apps compatible?
Do I have to complile everything on Linux?
Do most apps come pre-compliled like on Windows?
Do you care about answering my inane questions?
Thanx you guys... especially constra! btw I know KDE wont run on my old computer... i think installing it first on VPC might give me some much needed practice...
i would get an iso of debian 3...click
install only thamain system and then add x11 and xfce...
i tried this on my old laptop...32mb, 133mhz....and fast enough to work perfect...
but dont try to apps like openoffice!
the most apps are ported (precompiled) for debian, so u wont have to compile anything...this will make an easy start...
use aptitude!!!! the most powerfull tool u can get...
best way to install is to get a basic system running and then connect to broadband-internet to download and install the rest...
sting wishes happy days with linux...
First, College Linux comes with KDE.
Second, you sound like you are running around naked, like a maniac. First Slackware,then FreeBSD, now College Linux, pick a system, so we can help you.
Next, I highly doubt a ****ie can install and set up Debian Stable.
Are all x86 or i386 linux disro apps compatible?
Im not sure what you are talking about. Can you run an i386 compiled program on any distro? Yes, most of the time.
Do I have to complile everything on Linux?
No.
Do most apps come pre-compliled like on Windows?
Yes and no. Packages (like rpms, debs) are pre compiled, and source isn't. For major apps and major distros, you should be able to find a package, but dont expect not to have to compile anything.
YOUR SYSTEM CAN NOT HANDLE KDE. ITS THAT SIMPLE. I SUGGEST YOU EITHER GET MORE RAM OR RUN NO GUI.
PS. Your system is i586, so anything compiled for i686 will not work on it. Just telling you so you don't download the wrong packages.
@sting.ray: Hey dude! Thanx for the advice!! Also, Welcome to the board!!
YOUR SYSTEM CAN NOT HANDLE KDE. ITS THAT SIMPLE. I SUGGEST YOU EITHER GET MORE RAM OR RUN NO GUI.
I said in my prevoius post, "I'm going install college Linux on Virtual PC." And Thanx, fo all the help you have been giving me, I am going to try and get some RAM IF I can find it locally, so far I haven't been so lucky. I am going to do a slackware install probably on the old computer, I will heed your advice, I wont install FreeBSD or Debian in that case, because I am a ****ie to Linux and BSD. The computer I am on right now can handle a GUI, I have used RedHat Linux 9.0 on it before.
I wish I could go with Mandrake 9.1 for the older computer because it was really kinda easy when I tryed it out on Virtual PC. But I know I can't because there isn't enough system recources.
Again, Thanks sooooo much! :rule:
whoa....IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
linux running on cd...for testing purposes....if u like it u can install it from a menu with all settings done...
read the info when it starts...u need to choose a different WM ... xfce for example...
Well, its too big to install on his puny harddrive, though its a nice distro.
Its Debian Testing/Unstable as well.
Stingray is on to something imo
Knoppix is a good idea cause you'd get some feeling of what the system is capable gui wise.
Originally posted by contrasutra@Jun 14 2003, 01:54 AMWell, its too big to install on his puny harddrive, though its a nice distro.
Its Debian Testing/Unstable as well.
that's wrong....
u'll need a need 2200mb linux (83) and a 256mb swap (82) partition...
2200 + 256 
but u are right, it is debian unstable...a little preconfigured...
debian was my first linux, i had a book and the install-cd...u will have learned a lot about linux when u finished setting up debian
what about suse 8.2 ??? :bow: :naughty:
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