Linux on an old PC

[RobB]

I've been nothing but a Windows user for years, so after reading the XP vs Linux thread, I have been messing around with Fedora for a few weeks now. So far I've only had it running on a Virtual Machine or two, but have liked what I've seen/learned so far.

Last night I thought I'd try installing it on one of my old PC's to give it a proper go. The PC in question is about 10 years old, 333Mhz CPU, 96Mb RAM, and a graphics card of some sort. The install failed with a strange error. Minimum hardware requirements in the documentation I then read are 192Mb RAM for graphical mode, and a 400Mhz CPU too. Bugger. Most annoyingly, Windows 2000 worked on this machine, albeit slowly.

So, I'd like to know if there's a graphical version of Linux anywhere, made by anyone, and that is free, that will install and run on my aged PC? Or should I just be looking to dig out some old RAM from somewhere and get this one up to speed?

I'd like to think that I'd eventually get the hang of the text version (I love DOS), but to begin with and learn from I'd rather have some sort of pointy-clicky-helpy thing.

Cheers
____________________
- Yeah, you know the type, loud as a motorbike, wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight.
- The only thing I learned from love, was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you.
- If I don't meet you no more in this world, I'll meet you in the next one, don't be late.

[NSR Mick]

stick 256mb in it and it should run fedora fine. Older distributions of Linux would run ok as is but i assume that you are planning on using it as a desktop?

redHat 7 would be as old a version as i would use if you are using the machine as a windows desktop replacement.
____________________
If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[RobB]

[Suzuki]

If you're going the server route, then install linux without the GUI.

Will need far less resources, and you'll learn how thing *really* work, which will enable you to fix them remotely via SSH when required.
____________________
<Simple> no I'm shaven Jon
<Simple> it is a big enough hole.. I'll leave it now
Ride: 1999 Suzuki GSXR600 (yellow/black) IRC: Stats - Relationship Map

[NSR Mick]

What sort of server services are you looking to replace?
____________________
If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[iCraig]

[RobB]

@gsrmick, firstly to replace my FTP server. If all goes well, file and printer sharing would probably be the most of it. I don't have a domain at home, and my router does all the DHCPing and so forth. Was also hopeful of having it as a web server, just for internal purposes. This box was really just supposed to be the test, and if it all went well, I'll probably try and replace two other, better spec'd machines with an uber Linux one.

@Craig-, nice one , I'll give Vector a try.

@Suzuki, I think you're probably right. I'll enjoy the text way of doing things more in the end (make me feel like a hacker, using telnet and whatnot ). The GUI way would just be far easier to see if it can do everything I want to replace, and for me to learn how to do it. Reccomend any good books for me? Or is the web my friend in this case?

Cheers y'all.
____________________
- Yeah, you know the type, loud as a motorbike, wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight.
- The only thing I learned from love, was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you.
- If I don't meet you no more in this world, I'll meet you in the next one, don't be late.

[NSR Mick]

As long as you dont intend on trying to implement a domain using the linux box you will be fine, as a web / ftp server you cant go far wrong with a linux box and the only issues i've had with file sharing using linux boxes is if you use access databases or other software that uses lock files as sometimes they can remain in place requiring manual deletion. apart from the points i mentioned, go for it.
____________________
If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Suzuki]

[NSR Mick]

[Suzuki]

[NSR Mick]

same thing these days you dont get one without the other

Yes it can emulate an nt4 domain but thats not much use these days

linux is very good at what it does well, web, ftp etc..., which is'nt trying to be a Windows box.
____________________
If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Suzuki]

[map]

[NSR Mick]

[Suzuki]

[NSR Mick]

I'll re phrase that Limited Domain Controller Functionality

Show me a samba instalation that can handle group policies.

like i said limited functionality

I'm not defending windows over Linux, both have a place within a network.
____________________
If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Suzuki]

And like I said ... "yet"


____________________
<Simple> no I'm shaven Jon
<Simple> it is a big enough hole.. I'll leave it now
Ride: 1999 Suzuki GSXR600 (yellow/black) IRC: Stats - Relationship Map

[NSR Mick]

____________________
If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[iCraig]

This book I have in my possession might be of use to someone wanting to learn or start with Linux:

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=892502#892502

[RobB]

As an update. The old machine in question has had some issues. Not enough memory for graphical install, so I started the text based install. Also, it wouldn't boot from the DVD I had, so i had to get the 4 CD's burned. This machine's on a switch box, so I wasn't watching the install, and during the 2nd CD it just rebooted itself. Switched the monitor over, and it was booting. Failed to start from HDD, so obviously something weird has happened somewhere during the install, and it crashed out. Gave up on that one, log files to read at some point.

Have now got fedora installed as dual-boot on a 3Ghz machine. I'm learning how to do everything via a shell, and have a lot of weird questions that are slowing getting answered. The update process was painful via the GUI, but worked like a charm through a shell (yum yum ). It's nice to have a Windows-esque interface for the desktop stuff, but I'd rather learn the text way as I WILL get Linux of some sort installed on the old machine at some point.

Craig-, I'd take you up on that book, but I've managed to find the 5th edition in .chm format. The internet is destroying the second hand market I'm afraid.
____________________
- Yeah, you know the type, loud as a motorbike, wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight.
- The only thing I learned from love, was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you.
- If I don't meet you no more in this world, I'll meet you in the next one, don't be late.

[iCraig]

Tsk, book piracy is bad M'kay.