Have aquired an old Compaq 575, 16 OMB RAM, 511 MB HDD. File system and vitual memory are 32 bit. Has a 3.5 floppy and CD-rom. Running Win95 (stripped down). It appears I have about 505 MB of free space available on the HD. I want to begin an education in linux, and will be using RH 7.0 to get my feet wet when I begin. I would like to make this unit totally linux, if it makes sense or is possible, Or should this small system be partitioned for a dual operating system? Please clue me in fellows. What do I do? Where do I begin? Thanks in advance to all.

The system description shows a couple of issues, especially if you are planning to use x-windows (graphical user interface, gui). I believe that it is at least a 486 class system, but you have not stated so. Yes, redhat may run on it, but not all of the other included software, some mandate a Pentium class processor. You should really have a little more ram, at least 32, 64 is better yet. You definitely need a larger harddrive, at least 2-5 Gb. Some of these older parts can be found at www.computergeeks.com (no solicitation or advertisement, just experience). Hope this helps you, good luck

I think RAM is a little short for GUI. I once had a 486/66 with 48M RAM, 500M HD running a Suse 6.1 environment. GUI was slow, but an OK system for a 486. You *can* get something up on your system - do a custom install, and strip everything you *know* you will never use. Suggest you keep a handwritten install log - you may have to do it several times to get it right, and that would be useful. If you *cannot* add RAM, I also suggest an immediate kernel rebuild after you get a system up - and strip the kernel of all functionality you will never need - that could help with the RAM issue. HTH, Guy

It's a Pentium 75, I have a Compaq Deskpro XL 590 and that used to be a 90 Mhz Pentium. 5 for Pentium and 90 for Mhz, it's that simple. I think it will make a nice Linux box if you put in some more RAM and a bigger (extra) HD. -Ozzy

Definitely more RAM - 64 megs if you want to play with GUIs. Also, see if you can poke around Compaq's website for motherboard manuals for your box. It may be possible to drop in a faster chip. I don't recommend Evergreen upgrad chips though, they're not necessarily compatible. -Malada