Save A PC With Linux

Adler · Post by **Adler** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:00 pm

Hi All,

I'm sort of the PC guy here, and have helped a lot of people with their PCs. That means correcting Microsoft issues, then making suggestions, and doing that Linux install.

I've just been handed an IBM Notebook, which was shipped with Win95! This antic looks great, and you can imagine there's not much to work with in regard to power.

I've tried all of the distros out there e.g. Freespire, PCLinuxOS, Damn Small Linux (DSL), Ubuntu 7.04 (alternative), Mint everything, but no luck.

I'm really disappointed with DSL. The Forum there is not helping.

Any ideas?

Adler · Post by **Adler** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:41 pm

codesplice,

The Notebook is an IBM 2635 Thinkpad.

It has a 30GB drive, and I think 256K RAM. The CPU is Pentium II.

nick · Post by **nick** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:52 pm

Hi

Not sure if you are determined to run Mint, but have you tried Etch?

You could try the Network Install CD, (assuming it has a broadband connection)

Nick

nick · Post by **nick** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:04 pm

Hi (Again)

Is this it:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... JJR-3RVK73

If so its a 166Mhz with max of 96Mb ram

Nick

carlos · Post by **carlos** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:16 pm

You might want to run something like "damn small linux" and I'm pretty sure "Vector Linux" will definately work on that machine. Its meant for very old hardware.

Looking forward to seeing if it can be saved.

Adler · Post by **Adler** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 4:45 am

You might want to run something like "damn small linux" and I'm pretty sure "Vector Linux" will definately work on that machine.

carlos,

I have tried DSL, but once loaded the screen colors make it unusable. The screen is not readable, and the color is sort of a bluish green. Ugly!

I'm going to try Vector Linux next. I'm also going to try older versions of Ubuntu that are available on Linux Tracker. 'd prefer to stay with a .deb based distro, if you know what I mean.

[/quote]Is this it:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... JJR-3RVK73

Nick,

I actually think this is an earlier machine. LOL! Probably shipped around 1995. And, the only Internet connection would be with a LinkSys PCMCIA WiFi card G-Card. I've always had better luck with D-Link cards.

I'll keep every one posted here as to what happens.

scorp123 · Post by **scorp123** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:13 am

Adler wrote: The Notebook is an IBM 2635 Thinkpad.

It has a 30GB drive, and I think 256K RAM. The CPU is Pentium II.

256 K RAM ?? You mean 256 MB, right?

I have an old and slow Sony VAIO with only 192 MB RAM and now use it as my MP3 jukebox. The distro on it is Ubuntu 7.04 (installed via the "Alternate" CD) ... After the installation finished I apt-get removed everything I didn't want or had no use for, now the machine works tip top. And it's still Ubuntu and *.deb based.

I could imagine that e.g. Debian should still work tip top on that old machine of your's.

Adler · Post by **Adler** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:07 am

scorp123,

The machine has 100K of memory.

The problem that I have is that nothing installs.

If you have any further ideas let me know. I've been trying everything.

I am -- of course -- posting in several Forums. The most disappointing has been with Damn Small Linux. I'll be trying Vector Linux next.

Thanks for your post.

BTW, perhaps Mint has an offering to save all those old systems.

nick · Post by **nick** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 11:43 am

Hi

Puppy?

How to run Puppy on 75mhz with 40 megs of EDO RAM

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 137#101137

Nick

Adler · Post by **Adler** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 12:37 pm

Puppy?

nick,

I've downloaded the ISOs of puppy-2.14-seamonkey-fulldrivers.iso, VL-5.8-std-Gold.iso (Vector Linux), and deli-0.7.2.iso. I've also done another download of DSL just in case I did a bad one before.

I'll burn them to CD later today, and I'll keep every one posted.

arjaybe · Post by **arjaybe** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 1:54 pm

Try PCFluxboxOS, also known as TinyFlux. Very promising distro for older machines.

Adler · Post by **Adler** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 2:08 pm

Try PCFluxboxOS, also known as TinyFlux.

arjaybe,

Thanks. I've just started the ISO download based upon your post.

scorp123 · Post by **scorp123** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 4:34 pm

Adler wrote: The machine has 100K of memory.

Are you really really sure about the unit there? With only 100K of memory not even MS-DOS will boot.

Adler · Post by **Adler** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:43 pm

scorp123,

The BIOS tells me that I have 98304 Kb of installed memory.

scorp123 · Post by **scorp123** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:12 am

Adler wrote: The BIOS tells me that I have 98304 Kb of installed memory.

Which equals to 96 MB (98304 divided by 1024 == 96) ... that's a big difference. With 100 K memory (that's what you wrote up there several times!) you wouldn't even be able to get into a DOS prompt. 96 MB memory however are another story. With this it should be possible to get one of the smaller Linux distros installed; maybe even with a GUI (e.g. something like fluxbox, fvwm or xfce).

Adler · Post by **Adler** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:27 am

scorp123,

I thought I had stated 96Mb of RAM. Believe me I've burned all those smaller distros out there, and may have been mis-leading in my posts.

And, have been going @ it for the last few days. I was favoring Damn Small Linux, but can never seem to get it to Boot after the install e.g. partitioning, changing VGA modes, trying the Frugal install, etc. I keep getting errors.

My favorite is the Vector Linux installer. Better guidance, but don't know what will eventually happen as I am right now doing it on the Notebook that I am trying to save.

Thanks for your sanity check. This has been a really good learning experience.

It has humbled me in regards to the work done before I went to Linux about 4 years ago. And, the more or less, easy install. Still lot's to know.

Adler · Post by **Adler** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:12 am

Hi All,

It looks like Vector Linux works on this old system.

I think I'll join the Forum there to get this PCMCIA card running.

I would have preferred Damn Small Linux, but no joy trying to post to the Forum, although I am registered. Strange....

Vector Linux does have the right installer, and guided all the way along. Of course, I did have to do a few tricks, but at least it does boot to a useable Desktop.

Adler · Post by **Adler** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:46 am

Hi All,

I prefer the .deb Distro, and will try what Debian has to offer.

I'm pulling down a bunch of ISOs from there right now.

Stay tuned...

scorp123 · Post by **scorp123** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:48 pm

Adler wrote: I prefer the .deb Distro, and will try what Debian has to offer.

Debian can be installed as a total "minimum" system. And the text based installer should work OK even with as little as 96 MB RAM.

Adler · Post by **Adler** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 2:44 pm

scorp123,

I've got these to burn to CD - debian-40r1-i386-businesscard.iso, and debian-40r1-i386-CD-1.iso.

As it stands Vector Linux is loaded, but just need to get that Linksys PCMCIA WiFi card going. Wireless has always been a Linux issue.

I've got a work around for that in emergencies with Linuxant.