[SOLVED] Test Computer or Door Stop?

[Coastie]

I found my first computer hiding in a closet. Not sure how old it is but it is very old. It came with DOS then Windows 3.1 was added later. It only has an inputs for a phone lines for dial up internet access which I no longer use. (Probably there is a 56K modem buried in the closet too.) No USB ports. It has a CD player but computer will only boot from either A or C drive. Could not figure out how to set it to boot from D drive in BIOS if it can. Also it does not even recognize a live Linux DVD in it when in Windows. I was thinking about using it for a distro test machine but can't figure out how to install Linux on it. It also has one of those large soft floppy disk drives.

Not sure what all this means but BIOS shows:

Base memory:          640K
Extended memory: 7168K
Other memory:        384K
Total memory:      8,192K

Drive C: 386 Mb

Is this computer usable for a distro test computer or something else or worth donating to a computer club than fixes up old computers for charity or is it just a door stop?  :-\

(Not sure this is correct place for this so won't mind at all it is moved to correct place)

[Valtam]

Moved to 'Other'

[Wirezfree]

I think with only 8MB of ram you are pushing it for LL
Possibly the CPU may also be an issue.?, Disk space.?

You may get one of the niche ultra compact distros on it..??

[avj]

From the stats listed i would say the computer is at least 20 yrs old. I don't know of any linux distros that could run on it except maybe DSL and even that is probably unlikely.  Only 8mb of ram means it is probably 486 to original pentium  processor. In my opinion unless you just have a lot of time to waste it is probably not worth the effort. Most original pentium based pc's in my experience, could only upgrade the ram to about 64megs, finding 20 year old 72 pin simms that work may also be a challenge.
My advice is make it a door stop or find a person or organization that collects old hardware. 

[Coastie]

... My advice is make it a door stop or find a person or organization that collects old hardware. 

Thanks guys. Probably is every bit of 20 years old. It was retired for a computer that could run Windows 98 because it couldn't.  ;D

Is any good for parts or backup drive? Not that I know how to use it for a backup drive.  :-[

[newtusmaximus]

I have an old pentium 75 desktop. No USB or LAN  But CD Rom and Floppy A drive  However Soundblaster 16 - superb sound card.  Running on Puppy Linux 1.5 with boot floppy.  Can't remember how much RAM  . Bought nearly 20 years ago and cost a fortune; shelved over the Millennium Bug scare.  Not tested recently, but sad to part with it.  Was thinking of trying to get a PCI LAN card and use as a sound centre???

[Scott(0)]

Hi Coastie,
I'm not sure what you'd do with it if you were able to get it to boot, on the other hand getting it to boot could be a fun challenge/project.
I suppose the PuppyLinux forum is a good place to start looking for a small distro
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/index.php
The first two posts in Puppy Deriviatives section has lists of the different Puppy distro's
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/index.php?f=35

[avj]

One of the biggest problems I can think of with an old computer that came with dos is the bios not being plug and play compatible. Plug and play came out around 94 or 95 to the best of my knowledge. A lot of the systems that came out around that time had to have software drivers for the cd drives to work, I don't know if that will be an issue with your machine but it could be depending on the age of the bios.

[rokytnji]

This Sounds almost like my Blue Flops laptop. Not a doorstop. But it sits on shelf.

http://oi44.tinypic.com/1t3fk7.jpg

Not a test computer for me. I have lots of those. More of a antique that I hope makes me some money eventually.
It runs Windows 95 alright also. No CD drive. Just a floppy drive and older 1 slot pcmcia that takes a Wireless B
non WPA wireless capable netgear cardbus. The ball on the dash is the mouse wheel and the buttons on the side are r/l click.

Runs in cli mode OK and surfs with Links OK when I turn off wireless security on my router.

Some other old gear I blogged/posted about also. I sold that one believe or not with Linux on it.

http://yatsite.blogspot.com/2008/09/comp...ws-95.html

http://www.techie7.com/threads/damn-smal...0dm.57933/

If you decide to get your hands dirty and learn something the hard way like I did. Because I am self taught.
I suggest you bookmark

http://video.linux.com/categories/how-tos-and-tutorials

My advice. If wanting to install something. Like MenutOS or whatever. Pull the internal hard drive. Install it in a another laptop.
Then install. I have a couple of ide interface laptops that serve that kind of function.

If not available like I suggest.

https://kmandla.wordpress.com/2007/09/14...-computer/

I grew my wisdom teeth reading his blog on a daily basis.
Once you get it working.
Then I guess you can donate it.

[shengchieh]

Tiny Core ?

http://www.tinycorelinux.net/
(not for the faint of heart)

Sheng-Chieh