Tom's Guide | Tom's Hardware | Tom's Games

Computing.Net > Forums > General Hardware > What OS for a 486 laptop?

Computer Problems? Computing.Net has over 1,000,000 posts about all things technology related! Over 90% answered within 24 hours! Click here to start participating now! Also, be sure to check out the New User Guide.

What OS for a 486 laptop?

Reply to Message Icon

Name: Crazy_Monkey
Date: April 6, 2004 at 17:42:14 Pacific
OS: Windows XP Professional S
CPU/Ram: AMD XP 1900, 256mb ram
Comment:

I have an old 486 laptop with a blank 300mb hdd, a floppy drive (no cd) and a black and white screen. What OS should I install? i like DOS games and would like to sync with my windows xp pro pc (laplink or ethernet) please help.

<Type Funny Comment Here>



Sponsored Link
Ads by Google

Response Number 1
Name: SonicTheHedgehog
Date: April 6, 2004 at 18:04:41 Pacific
Reply:

Win 95 or 3.11

If at first you don't succeed, redefine success.


0

Response Number 2
Name: papa2
Date: April 6, 2004 at 18:06:34 Pacific
Reply:

Win95 would probably run on it.
Minimum System Requirements - Win95
486/33 based PC or better
8 MB of RAM
Typical hard disk space required to upgrade to Windows 95: 35-40 MB. Typical hard disk space required to install Windows 95 on a clean system: 50-55 MB The actual requirement varies depending on the features you choose to install.
Double speed CD-ROM drive.
3.5-inch high-density floppy disk drive


0

Response Number 3
Name: Crazy_Monkey
Date: April 6, 2004 at 18:11:32 Pacific
Reply:

But it doesnt have a colour screen, is that a problem?

<Type Funny Comment Here>


0

Response Number 4
Name: papa2
Date: April 6, 2004 at 18:28:44 Pacific
Reply:

I think so! You `probably' need a special OS.


0

Response Number 5
Name: raincheck
Date: April 6, 2004 at 18:29:03 Pacific
Reply:

If your gonna run 95 on it, you'll need to get the Win 95 floppies, since it doesn't have a CDROM drive.
Have a look here if you're interested:
95 on Floppies

raincheck


0

Related Posts

See More



Response Number 6
Name: egkenny
Date: April 6, 2004 at 19:18:45 Pacific
Reply:

Windows 95 also requires VGA mode or higher.
Does it at least support 720 by 400 text mode?

VGA modes:
Text: 720 by 400 pixels (80x25 characters)
Graphics: 640 by 480 pixels (16 colors)
Graphics: 320 by 200 pixels (256 colors)


0

Response Number 7
Name: jam
Date: April 6, 2004 at 20:48:39 Pacific
Reply:

DOS 6.22 & Win 3.1


0

Response Number 8
Name: Crazy_Monkey
Date: April 6, 2004 at 21:08:31 Pacific
Reply:

What about NT (3.1, 3.5 or 4) my freind has them, are they a good choice as well?

<Type Funny Comment Here>


0

Response Number 9
Name: jam
Date: April 7, 2004 at 05:20:43 Pacific
Reply:

No offense, but you have a Dinosaur there...it'd be best to stick with the operating system(s) that were available in it's time...DOS 6.22 & Win3.1...both are available on floppies. I think DOS 6.22 comes on 3 floppies & Win 3.1 comes on 6. If you don't have them, I think you can find them online for free download. I suppose you can try Win95 or NT if you can find them on floppies...I doubt you have enough RAM to run them smoothly though.


0

Response Number 10
Name: Bobthearch
Date: April 7, 2004 at 21:18:31 Pacific
Reply:

Probably DOS.

I have a 386 'portable' computer with an orange screen. Getting a GUI to look good on a monochrome screen is going to be tough.

You should ask down at the DOS forum if anyone knows of a DOS shell that would work well in black-and-white.

Best Wishes,
Bob


0

Response Number 11
Name: dragonbate
Date: April 10, 2004 at 10:49:31 Pacific
Reply:

DOS, wfw & calmira.http://www.calmira.net/
Don't know how pretty it will be but it will be fast and useful. If you had a bigger HD I'd go right to windows 98se.
Jim


0

Sponsored Link
Ads by Google
Reply to Message Icon

lba, chs, large hdd woreless optical mouse



Post Locked

This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.


Go to General Hardware Forum Home


Sponsored links
Ads by Google


Results for: What OS for a 486 laptop?
Looking for a laptop www.computing.net/answers/hardware/looking-for-a-laptop/16848.html

need a UPS for a laptop www.computing.net/answers/hardware/need-a-ups-for-a-laptop/30952.html

What's a Good Laptop?? www.computing.net/answers/hardware/whats-a-good-laptop/308.html