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I have a very old computer. 60 MHz to be specific. And it is currently running MS-DOS. When I boot up the computer, it shows the Windows 95 starting screen but then just clears it and goes into DOS mode. So I check what's on the computer. There's just one file in my hard drive called command.com
I have no idea what it is but that's the only thing there. So now i want to install Windows 95 in it. The problem is the CD-ROM drive recognized by the computer. What should I do to get the computer to know there is a CD driveso i can install an OS.
llbbl
10-30-2002, 07:30 AM
Originally posted by sunv
I have a very old computer. 60 MHz to be specific. And it is currently running MS-DOS. When I boot up the computer, it shows the Windows 95 starting screen but then just clears it and goes into DOS mode. So I check what's on the computer. There's just one file in my hard drive called command.com
I have no idea what it is but that's the only thing there. So now i want to install Windows 95 in it. The problem is the CD-ROM drive recognized by the computer. What should I do to get the computer to know there is a CD driveso i can install an OS.
If you want to install 95 then you will need a 95 boot disk. Just make sure beforehand that the CDROM is pluged in fine and then pop in that boot disk. It iwll load all the necessary drivers and you should be good to go.
I would install FreeBSD instead!
What's FreeBSD?
I'm willing to test out new OS's because this comp has just been a waste of time and effort to fix. My dad wants to just toss it out and buy a new one.
llbbl
10-31-2002, 12:21 PM
http://www.freebsd.org/
What is FreeBSD?
FreeBSD is an advanced operating system for x86 compatible, DEC Alpha, and PC-98 architectures. It is derived from BSD UNIX, the version of UNIX developed at the University of California, Berkeley. It is developed and maintained by a large team of individuals. Additional platforms are in various stages of development.
Cutting edge features
FreeBSD offers advanced networking, performance, security and compatibility features today which are still missing in other operating systems, even some of the best commercial ones.
Powerful Internet solutions
FreeBSD makes an ideal Internet or Intranet server. It provides robust network services under the heaviest loads and uses memory efficiently to maintain good response times for thousands of simultaneous user processes. Visit our gallery for examples of FreeBSD powered applications and services.
Run a huge number of applications
The quality of FreeBSD combined with today's low-cost, high-speed PC hardware makes FreeBSD a very economical alternative to commercial UNIX workstations. It is well-suited for a great number of both desktop and server applications.
Easy to install
FreeBSD can be installed from a variety of media including CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, floppy disk, magnetic tape, an MS-DOS partition, or if you have a network connection, you can install it directly over anonymous FTP or NFS. All you need is a pair of blank, 1.44MB floppies and these directions.
llbbl
10-31-2002, 12:26 PM
Although buying a new computer is always good. Probably a good way of deciding in this case is with the following logic.
1. Spend as much time as you can trying to get FreeBSD to work.
2. See If you can handle the interface.
3. Buy a new computer.
4. Keep the old one with FreeBSD installed, just to say that you can do it. You can always turn it into something.
LinkDJ
10-31-2002, 01:12 PM
Originally posted by vindisco
4. Keep the old one with FreeBSD installed, just to say that you can do it. You can always turn it into something. [/B]
Yeah, like a plant holder.
llbbl
10-31-2002, 01:46 PM
Or a firewall that doubles as a plant holder.
I don't understand how you get the whole Operating System onto two floppy disks.
And where do you download it?
----------------------------
Would I have to know any Linux commands to operate this system or is it like windows with the mouse and icons?
llbbl
10-31-2002, 04:44 PM
I hate to break it to you but windows is bloated, buggy and for the most part less stable than Linux or in this case Unix.
How you can get a whole OS onto two floppy disks is through the power of Open Source.
You will need to know how to run Linux / Unix from the command line because to my knowledge FreeBSD has no graphical interface. No worries tho my friend. We are here to help. With a little help from the web.
Just start a new thread for every major question that you have.
This is not your main computer right?
No this isn't my main comp.
Usually it's kept in my closet
llbbl
11-01-2002, 06:49 AM
Originally posted by sunv
No this isn't my main comp.
Usually it's kept in my closet
Well if you want to learn about Unix than this is the mahine to do it on!
With FreeBSD, can you browse the internet like with internet explorer? Or is it all text.
Ioman
11-01-2002, 08:27 AM
Originally posted by sunv
With FreeBSD, can you browse the internet like with internet explorer? Or is it all text.
SunV, this sounds over your head bro. I would just install Windows 98 on the system. Use a floppy disk as a boot disk with the Windows 98 CD in the CDROM drive and setup Windows that way.
llbbl
11-01-2002, 08:36 AM
Originally posted by Ioman
SunV, this sounds over your head bro. I would just install Windows 98 on the system. Use a floppy disk as a boot disk with the Windows 98 CD in the CDROM drive and setup Windows that way.
quit trying to discourage him!
--
sunv,
FreeBSD should have a txt browser installed called lynx so you can surf the web.
Ioman
11-01-2002, 08:43 AM
Well for someone as young and as inexperienced, FreeBSD is probably not the best idea....
llbbl
11-01-2002, 08:51 AM
Originally posted by Ioman
Well for someone as young and as inexperienced, FreeBSD is probably not the best idea....
Well its not like Mandrake or 98 is going to run all that fast.
I certainly don't want to answer every little question that he might have about BSD.
Send the machine to me sunv if you don't want to install Unix. What happens when you have 98 installed what good is the computer going to be then. Just a slow crappy unstable M$ machine.
Ioman
11-01-2002, 08:53 AM
Originally posted by vindisco
Well its not like Mandrake or 98 is going to run all that fast.
I certainly don't want to answer every little question that he might have about BSD.
Send the machine to me sunv if you don't want to install Unix. What happens when you have 98 installed what good is the computer going to be then. Just a slow crappy unstable M$ machine.
He lives in Germany man!! You gonna pay for the shipping bill!?:D
llbbl
11-01-2002, 08:55 AM
A 60 MHz should be made into a computer that does a simple task like serving a webpage or acting as part of a firewall. You shouldn't be using it to surf the web or do anything on it besides trying to Install and Run FreeBSD or ClarkConnect.
llbbl
11-01-2002, 09:00 AM
Oh I guess not. Nevermind Sunv. I don't want your old machine> :)
I have a Red Hat 6.2 and I think i'm going to install it into the old comp. The thing is the CD-ROM drive doesn't work for the old comp (i have no idea why)
So i'm going to take out the HD and put it into a removable case and use it in my sony comp. Then from there install Redhat from the sony comp. Then i'll take out the HD and put it back in the old comp and hopefully it works. The question is "Will Redhat 6.2 be able to work with a comp running a 60 MHz processor?"
Also will it match up? The sony comp has a CD-RW drive and 266 MHz CPU and the old comp has no cd drive and a 60 MHz CPU. So if i install redhat with the requirements from the sony, would it work on the old comp? Probably not. Oh well, gives me something to do over the weekend.
Hey yall guess what !
I found a Redhat 6.2 boot disk in a drawer and stuck it in with the Redhat CD-ROM. Then I started to install redhat. I chose the GNOME workstation and got all the way to the user name and it was starting to format my comp for the OS but then an error occured and it had to kill the installation. It said there was something wrong with my hard drive. Also when I was installing it, my hard drive was giving off this weird very loud scratching noise.
I tried to install it about 3 other times and it still doesn't work. I think im just going to give up on linux. :brick
BUT, I did find a floppy also that seemed to be a linux emulator. It has all the displays of linux but you don't have to install anything on you HD. I tried it out and it seems sorta like DOS. i don't see what you can do with it but im new at this.
llbbl
11-01-2002, 02:04 PM
How come it had to format your drive after you had already got to the GNOME workstation. Maybe this was one of the options in the installation process. If you can't format your drive I would have to suggest that you try another one.
Installing on one machine and then transferring the drive to another machine is bad and will only cause you problems. Switch CD drives or buy a faster cheap one. Try to avoid doing the HD swap.
When I was installing Redhat, I was installing it on my old comp, it didn't have anything to do with the Sony comp. Somehow the boot disk got the CD drive working so i popped in the cd.
Anyways, on the old comp's HD, there's a file called command.com. I tried "del command.com" but it says Access Denied. I tried "C: format" but the file's still there. How do I get rid of the damned file !?
quote:
------------------------------------------
How come it had to format your drive after you had already got to the GNOME workstation
------------------------------------------
Well it said on the screen to choose what type of setup you wanted. It listed stuff like: GNOME Workstation, KDE Workstation, Server, etc...
then after I chose GNOME, I added a root password, then a username then it started installing. It did something and an error occured and automatically killed the installation.
BTW, which is better, GNOME or KDE Workstation?
Tomorrow im going to ask my dad if I can use a Maxtor HD I found lying around the house. It has Windows 2000 on it and works perfectly fine but I don't know if i should format it just to test out Linux.
llbbl
11-02-2002, 05:13 AM
OK I asked my friend who is Linux certified. So he knows what works and is the best to install on a certain set of Hardware. Here is what he had to say.
Basically, here is the scoupe. The installation that they guy has is quite old. I would suggest using somethign a little more up to date, like redhat 7.3.
He will NOT be able to efficiently run GNOME Sawfish on a 60mhz machine. He can, however install blackbox, or icewm. Bothe of those Window Managers are great for slow machines w/out a lot of ram. I would suggest not loading a GUI, period. XWindows is a memory and resource hog. Things will be a lot faster w/out it.
I am not sure if blackbox or icewm comes with RH 7.3 but I am sure that if you install just the command line than you would be able to go out and find it, complie it and run it on your machine.
I found a good site for you to visit if you have other Linux questions that we can't answer.
http://www.linuxnewbie.org/
I like KDE over GNOME, but I think its a matter of preference. It doesn't matter tho cause you shouldn't install either of on that old system.
Find a HD that works so you can use it for the old system. If you get too many errors on that old HD than scrap it and get a new one, like the Maxtor.
I found something called fdisk on a floppy and tried it out. Then i erased all my partitions and started clean. I installed MS DOS 2.66 and then upgraded it to Windows 95. Now im at WIndows 95, my CD drive still doesn't work and I can't connect to the internet! I am SO MAD!!!
Now the main problem is connecting to the internet. That's my first priority. The CD problem is second. Anyways, i have a linksys router, "ethernetfast cable/DSL router" to be exact. And it's connected to two machines already. Somehow, i can't connect the WIn95 machine to the router. i added the TCP/IP protocol and tried to get the settings to match the ones on my WIn2000 machine but it still doesn't work.
Any suggestions or questions to help would be greatly appreciated.
Hey vindisco thanks for that site linuxnewbie.org
I like it cause it has a beginner attitude and those NHF are pretty straightforward and understandable to me.
llbbl
11-02-2002, 02:02 PM
Originally posted by sunv
Hey vindisco thanks for that site linuxnewbie.org
I like it cause it has a beginner attitude and those NHF are pretty straightforward and understandable to me.
Not a problem. Glad I could help. I was sorry to hear that you gave up and installed 95 :).
I don't have a Router so I am not sure exactly what problems you are expirenceing. Is your NIC card recognized in the mahince? No little yellow question marks I hope.
Make sure you set the machine to have a different IP than the w2k machine. Uhh not sure what else. You might try posting in Icronic, they have a bigger forums and other people might have better ideas than I. Where as here you prolly won't get your advice right away.
Now that I have Win95 working, I would like to install stuff like Word or games. However, without a CD-ROM drive, I would be constrained to small 1.44 MB games on floppy disks. I would like your help to fix the CD-ROM drive. The drive used to work fine but then it stopped so we bought another one and it worked for a while, then stopped, and kept going through drives like that for about 2 more times. So, in the end, we have about 4 wasted CD-ROM drives sitting around and I don't know why they won't work anymore. Does anyone know what's is wrong?
Since Win95 couldn't hook up to the network (spent all afternoon and evening try to get it to connect to internet) I decided to do a full format and install Linux 6.2 again. Back to square one.
Anyways im running the installation now and have about an hour left. I had to use the custom install to get it to work. I was wondering if linux could play mp3's and could it hook up with printers through the parallel ports? When I get the Redhat installed, im probably going to need your guyses help configuring stuff and installing stuff.
BTW,
vindisco, what operating system do you have installed on your computer?
llbbl
11-05-2002, 07:51 AM
I dual boot Win2k and 98. What can I say. I am the most comfortable working in Windows. I want to switch to a dual boot XP and RH machince in the future, when I get around to it.
llbbl
11-05-2002, 07:52 AM
http://cslibrary.stanford.edu/107/
Stanford CS Education Library: a 16 page introduction to the use of common Unix programming tools. Introduces the overall edit-compile-link-debug programming cycle and the explains the basic usage of...gcc, make, gdb, emacs, and the shell. The goal is to describe the major features and typical uses of the tools and show how they fit together with enough detail for basic projects. We use a version of this handout at Stanford to help our students get started building programs on Unix.
http://cslibrary.stanford.edu/107/UnixProgrammingTools.pdf
Hey!
I just installed Redhat. It was in the post installation part when it asked to idenitfy my monitor, refresh rate, vid card mem and stuff like that. Well I make some educational guesses about the correct answers and the Xconfiguration is testing it and boom, my monitor goes to a gray color. I'm like WTF?! I can't see anything so I just turn off the comp without finishing the monitor thing and whatever is behind it.
So I start the computer back on and im greeted with the Unix login screen, not the windowed GNOME. i login as root (because I didn't assign a usr name) and type ls to see what's on my HD and there's nothing. Now what am I supposed to so this empty comp? Im so mad. I installed GNOME for nothing. I want the windows screen back. What am I supposed to do???
llbbl
11-05-2002, 12:55 PM
My guess is that you fragged the installation and will have to start over. If you want some more specfic help. It would be very useful for you to run a program called Belarc advisor on that machine you are trying to install RH on. This will give my Linux expert a better idea of what should be done to get the install to work correctly. I know its a pain, but in order to run the program you will need to have a windows OS installed. You can find the program here.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Again, I am sorry for the hassle! Just do a quick 98 install, run the program, send me the info and then we should be able to get a good answer back you shortly after that.
It is a round about way of getting all the hardware info for the machine. I am not sure how else you want to do it, unless you can type something up nice in .doc or .txt format that lists everything that comprises the machine in the greatest detail that you can manage. That would work also and would prevent you from having to reinstall.
:)
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