Where Can I Download Linux?

OK. Thanks, i'll try that.

TrikyTrevor

also, why do you keep signing stuff "Bob", seeing as your name is "Robert"

Why sign off as Bob? Simple, same answer as why most cartoon characters have 4 fingers. Or I'm called Bob?

Bob

huh. just wondering.

trikytrevor

uh... so many... getting dizzy... which one do you suggest?

TrikyTrevor
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It's what I call a zero install. Boots from CD and works. Lets you look around.

From there, most move to Suse, Mandrake, Fedora, and so on.

Bob

OK Thanks.
one problem... its so old it only has a floppy drive. will it fit on a floppy?

TrikyTrevor
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It's about 10 bucks on sale, CDRW will run 10 to 20 bucks.

FTP or WEB install may be one method if you refuse to have a proper machine, so here's how. No, I can't tell you if it will work for you.

Read http://www.computing.net/linux/wwwboard/forum/25205.html

Looks to me that your machine isn't ready for linux.

Bob

*SIGH*

I have seven, but I opened up the case and the cable had two plug thingies on it. one was really weird and only fit into the motherboard, the only other was for the HD. and no, there wasn't another socket on the motherboard for another cable.

So I have 2 options:
1. a CD drive and no Hard drive
or
2. a Hard drive and no CD drive.


TrikyTrevor
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At least Knoppix could run. Until you learn about IDE cables. You are now about 1 buck from a proper machine. What will you do?

Bob

Some machines came with an IDE cable for just one drive. For about 1 dollar I can get a computer store to give me a cable with all three connections.

Sorry, but something is amiss. Wish I could toss you the right cable.

Bob

I have lots of spare cables, but none have the weird connector on them. i think i will just divide the file up and put it on multiple floppies and move it to the HD.

TrikyTrevor
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You've neglected the forum tip and the result is evident.

"Tip:
If you are asking for help to troubleshoot a computer-related problem, please be sure to include all the necessary information (ie: operating system, model number, hardware, software, etc) that will help others identify your problem for a speedy resolution."

No where have you detailed what that machine is.

I would like to help you more, but you have to work at this too.

Bob

If the other (hard drive) end of that cable has 50 pins, then you have a Sun based SCSI system. Enjoy the frustration.

Google it

See second mention in particular


PDF about older SCSI systems, cables, configurations

1 minute while I go open it up....

TrikyTrevor
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It is an ancient HP macheine. its really full of dust.

is it possible to install windows on a mac macheine?

got to go i just got a norton antivirus virus alert (39th today. i must be really infected.).


TrikyTrevor
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Thanks, but that isn't it. no frustration today.

aren't Mac cables 50 pin? i have about 20 of those.

TrikyTrevor
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While it seems everyone wants this to be easy, it is possible to get a custome mother board with a non-standard header. PC standardization happened around the Pentium timeframe, so you could find all sorts of alien boards back on 486 systems. Your controller may not even be able to control a slave device at all or have the cable capabilities of indicating a slave device off the same cable run. The prices of buying the extra parts these days will be far outweighed by the fact that the system isn't worth the money you would have to put into it.

If you want a good basic Linux to run on this and it has a network card, try Slackware, it was the original floppy based distribution (well this isn't really true, SLS came before it and there were other base level floppy distros but Slack survived the times) and it still has a floppy option for installing the basic tools.

There are also tiny distros that can be used to bootstrap another distro but it still needs networking for this to work. One of the issues you are likely to find though is poor or non-existent support for you network device and hard to configure support at that. I have limited myself to Pentium based systems with PCI cards only. ISA was torture and when I finally could afford to no longer have ISA systems around I was a very happy camper.

I was reading this forum. I couldnt help but want to ask what bob did. What kind of processor do you have? Is it even possible to hook up a 15 pin, 3rows color monitor already? By this I mean, Right now without adding an adapter board. If not, I think I think you could invest 10 dollars somewhere and get a pentium one already equipped with these things. Because if it is not equipped with these things already. It is probably a 486 or lower and not worth the time.

Not sure who they are, but I disagree. I have had Red Hat 9 for over a year, Fedora Core 1(Red Hat 10) for about 6 months. Bought both retail. They were both okay. Kept running into problems with programs, and especially hardware, needing something else to work. Find that , and it needed something else. Never ending. I'm talking about this as someone who was( and is ) trying to learn Linux, not as someone who has been using Unix for years. Anyway, I tried Mandrake 10 on a download(you'll need Broadband) and have been impressed. Later versions of programs and hardware supported. I would highly recommend this distro to a newbie. You are still have to do your homework, but with less hassles. For what it's worth.
chuck

You will be looking at distros that are very small. 16Meg is the death call for it running any modern distro.

Maybe you should just get a LOAF? (Linux on a floppy) and use that?

You don't want to know I tossed an i200mmx with 64M and some CDROM, HD in the trash bin last week. You can't give them away here. Have you considered looking for another machine?

Bob

you threw 64 meg of working ram out, and a CD Rom and HD. Must be nice. .

That is a probably the best immediate solution for you.
How many floppys would it take for Mandrake ?

Mandrake 10 would take 1500 floppies. As Robert(Bob) said, the computer you are using is 256mb short of memory
to successfully run any modern Operating System from either Windows or Linux. That is "successfully", not bare minimum. Sorry. Try using an OS you boot from disc instead of installing. Good luck. chuck

hehehe ....yeah I was going to say"floppys ?........I think Bob meant to say "discs".

peace
Chris

http://www.chrisgardner.com

My old computer doesn't have a CD drive, and no space for one either.

TrikyTrevor
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