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I have a 486 dx2, 4 megs, 5oo meg hard drive.
My intent is to reformat the machine with Linux and be able to surf the internet with a linux supported browser and modem drivers.
Is this reasonable or should I stick with my IE 3.03 on Windows 3.1?
Oh yea. I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to operating systems. I thought this might be fun.
Yes there are small distributions even with Xwindows that can run on configurations like that. You could try this one: http://www.spsselib.hiedu.cz/monkey/
But there are many more so do a search on the web for small linux distributions.
Good Luck
Mik
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Yes.
Red hat minimum install = 195 MB.
+ Netscape = 30 MB
+ Xfree86 = 10 MB
+ thinkfree = 10 MB (word processor)
Boot from bootable floppy or CDrom if
possible.Do regular install.
Must setup partitions manually.
0nly setup one partition, root (/)
and click on button to a-locate all
disk space for this partition.During packages install process
Deselect everything and click select
internal packages.Select only netscape-browser, xconfigurator,
xfree86-16, and Xfree86-mainfile.set root password and at least one other
user.I assume your isp is setup for DHCP
otherwise you must set the ip.During the install the program
will find any other packages
it seems to need for the total install.
select yes if they need more packages.After install,
login as user
> su - root
type root password
> startx
after Xwindows starts,
netscape
after netscape starts,
www.thinkfree.com
install thinkfree.
...
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Wow!
This Web Rocks!
Thanks for the advise.
I hope you don't mind if I come back with a question or two.
I'll give it a try.
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Got a question for you already.
Which version of linux should I use and will it cost anything?
I'm just a poor college student.
0
I've got mandrake 6.1 which is redhat with some goodies added and it won't run on my 50 meg 486. I've also got redhat 5.2 and it runs very well on the 486. Shouldn't cost you very much for linux. You can download it for free. Unless you have a phone modem in which case it would take about 11 weeks to download...heh, heh. I'll bet if you put up your mailing address someone will send you their old CD.
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G'day,
This will probably sound like me trying to put down linux again but hear me out.
I have an AMDk6-2 500mhz, with 64mb RAM. Although not the quickest machine around, it is certainly much, much more powerfull than a 486DX with 4mb RAM.
Linux with X running, is certainly not all that quick with my computer, it quite often seems to be lagging and struggling. With that taking into account, aren't you guys being a little too leanient saying he won't have any troubles?
I mean Win95 outperforms Linux w/GUI , and win95 struggles on those specs.I really think you need to warn him that it won't be running aswell as his Win3.1 IE3 computer as it is now, instead he will have a slower machine.
Just my opinion, but I'd really think twice before deleting a purpose built home user OS, for a OS made to be a server, with no user friendlyness to speak off.
Robbo
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Robbo,
Installing Linux with all the latest software and all the extras does require a powerful machine. But I don't think it's fair to compare that with running Win95. Try running Win 2000 on the machine you described and you will also notice that it will struggle because of the lack of power in your machine.
Linux is free to adapt to any kind of need. So there have been a lot of versions of linux distributed for very old computers. If you install one of those linux packages with just the basics to browse the web he could be running faster then you would on your AMD K6 500Mhz.Mik
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robbo you hardly answered his question. but
you do make a good point about the home user
situation and I'm glad you finnally did not
bash linux as a server! But maybe he wants to
try it? no harm in that right?? give the guy
a bit of a break don't try to scare him off.
I had linux 5.2 on a 486 with 16MB of ram and
it ran fine (I still have it but it's in the
attic now got a better computer!) actully
better than win95 did.there is a version of
mandrake on there site that is specially
desinged for older 486's maybe read up a bit
on that one (make sure you don't get the
pentium enhanced one!)also just use a basic
Xwindows window manager.
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Use REdhat 6.2. A typicall install with all the options you need for Desktop inviroment is max 370 MB. the Enlightment might respond slow to changed , bu lates gd libraries , Make file changed should to wonders.Don't expect a monster speed from your PC , but it will work
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Robbo2 yeah a 486 can run Linux, I'm worried about the 4mb RAM bit. X on those specs is going to be about 320*200, in 16colors (at best). This guy wants to browse the web, not run a server, hence I think he should be running a homeOS not a server OS, is that too hard to understand?
MIK your comment is ridiculous, yes win2000 won't work on a 486 w/ 4mb RAM. Win2000 is a server designed OS, he doesn't need that, nor ask for it. And besides I'm sure NT3.x would be just fine on those specs, thoug I am not 100% on that.
I just think IE3 on win3.1 is much better suited to this guys machine, and the specs he has. Using Linux is going to downgrade his exerience with computers, and you people, for no other fact than " you don't like bill gates" are going to use this guy as a labrat just to get a it back at Microsoft.At least admit to me, Windows (home versions) are brilliant at what they do, they take out all the reliability, only leaving enough for a weeks uptime, to create the most powerfull, fast, and user friendly OS for that purpose. From his Q, that is what he wants, not a hard to use, infact, overly hard to use, OS, that will be slower for his needs, and less powerfull for what he wants.
Robbo
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first.....mik....a 486DX will never, ever, never, ever, ever run as fast as an AMD k-6 2, you are out of your freakin mind. At least act like you know a thing or two. And I like the guy who recommended Red Hat, ya real smart, the girl would have her computer all screwed up! Mandrake, mandrake, mandrake, easiest, easiest, easiest!!!
Jim is right though, you can get it for free, but it'd take a week to download. You can pick up the boxed version of mandrake-linlux 7.2 for about $25. It's well worth it to purchase the boxed version, you get a whole slew of applications, ie word processors, games (even though they're a bit cheesy, but hey they're free!, spreadsheets, etc) You also get a nice user's manual, especially helpful for beginners. Definitely, spend the $25 and pick up the boxed version.
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I don't know if you read my post properly Mike but what I meant with all that was. A 486 with a very minimal install. Could work faster then one of those faster computers with a full install and a bunch of extras.
Mik
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Thanks for share your bad day with us Mike.If you are into Mandrake , don't push aside comments or suggestions for onther operating system . Redhat was tested on 486 machine , together with SUSE , Slackware and other flavours , redhat came out second best beside slackware , but slacware had no X windows. Redhat 6.2 is so easy to install , WITH GUI and all , custom installations and everything , I UNDERSTOOD YOUR COMMENT MIK.
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He has 4mb of RAM people.
Mate Win3.1 is what you need for this, Linux is for networking not for the desktop.MIK, no a 486 really can't out perform an AMDK6-2, unless maybe he wants to run lynx, but that is slightly different to IE3.
Robbo
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Try one of the "slim" distros......
You can try TINY, a slim distrobution available as a multiple floppy install.
http://tiny.seul.org/en/index.html
Go visit a friend who has cable/ADSL and bring a few floppies along!
Try Linux out, it's good fun and free!
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Sup y'all..
I've got a 486 dx2 50mhz laptop w/4 ram.. I ran slackware 3.4 (screwed it up and downloading 3.9 atm) on it perfectly well. I used tinyx (lil version of X) with the aewm++ window manager.. While it did run a little slow, it ran a hell of a lot better than when I had IE3.03 on win3.11..
My suggestion is to get an older version of slackware from ftp.slackware.com.. It'll take some tweaking to get it installed, but this should be no problem if you know linux pretty well already..
-Dan
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