I'm thinking about installing Linux on my old machine...

[admiral_danielsben]

My intent: to split my HD into two partitions, one Win98 and one of either Linux or some other free UNIX. BeOS is a very marginal alternative to either, although i would love to use it. Heck, put OS/2 in that category. Linux is selection number one, though.

Here is what i have:

1. A computer, 1999 vintage, M-2 systems (read: brand X)
500 mhz AMD K6-2 processor
188 megabytes RAM (SDRAM in slots 0/1 and 2/3)
11 gigabyte hard drive, 4.0 Gigabytes used. Currently all part of an FAT-32 partition.
40x CD-ROM drive
3.5" HD floppy
Belkin Optical mouse
56k modem (connected at present to nothing).

Windows 98 operating system (1st edition, although IE has been upgraded to version 5.5)

2. One (1) copy of Linux for Dummies, about a year old. comes with 2 CD-ROMs containing a version of Red Hat Linux. Could not find tool on CD-ROMs carrying tool to create boot disk - nor did i find the soft-partitioning tool so i don't have to trash my Win98 partitiion to use Linux.

3. One(1) CD-ROM i got somewhere. Appears to be OpenBSD. Zero instructions came with it.

4 One(1) human being, moderate computer knowledge (is not a newbie), has used command-line before (once owned DOS computer). Installed software before (including DOS software lacking AutoInstall wizards) but never an Operating System. Only minimal UNIX experience; extensive experience with Windows and DOS, some with Macintosh. Not good with hardware. Slight programming experience in Pascal and Java (maximum experience: once wrote text-only tic-tac-toe games in both); basic HTML knowledge. Zilch understanding of assembly language. Would prefer to use X-Windows for most (ie brainless) tasks, although not especially afraid of command line.

5. A 2003-era HP computer, connected to internet via cable modem, Windows XP, will not be getting Linux anytime soon. Has CD/DVD writer.

6. All of Win98's tools to identify hardware specifics, IRQs, etc.

I would like to split the HD so that Windows takes up 6 gigabytes, Linux 5 gigabytes. I don't know how many cylinders my hard drive has.

Any idea what i should do, or should I give up now?

[Sea Skimmer]

Unless you can think of a reason why you want to have a computer running Linux right off the top of your head, don't bother with the hassle.

[Pu-239]

Um, maybe because he *likes* tinkering (notice the BeOS and OS/2)? I think what was implied was whether what he has was good enough.

[Pu-239]

My intent: to split my HD into two partitions, one Win98 and one of either Linux or some other free UNIX. BeOS is a very marginal alternative to either, although i would love to use it. Heck, put OS/2 in that category. Linux is selection number one, though.

Here is what i have:

1. A computer, 1999 vintage, M-2 systems (read: brand X)
500 mhz AMD K6-2 processor
188 megabytes RAM (SDRAM in slots 0/1 and 2/3)
11 gigabyte hard drive, 4.0 Gigabytes used. Currently all part of an FAT-32 partition.
40x CD-ROM drive
3.5" HD floppy
Belkin Optical mouse
56k modem (connected at present to nothing).

Almost better than my main computer, but not really- I have a P-II 450 with 512MB of RAM and 40GB hard drive... should run fine though.

Windows 98 operating system (1st edition, although IE has been upgraded to version 5.5)

Any way you can back it up? Anyway, split the partition after doing so with the Linux installer, or if installing from scratch, partition first, install Windows, install Linux.

2. One (1) copy of Linux for Dummies, about a year old. comes with 2 CD-ROMs containing a version of Red Hat Linux. Could not find tool on CD-ROMs carrying tool to create boot disk - nor did i find the soft-partitioning tool so i don't have to trash my Win98 partitiion to use Linux.

One year is ancient for Linux. Get a fresh ISO off the internet and burn it. See http://fedora.redhat.com, http://www.mandrake.com, or http://www.suse.com for newbie distros (Fedora is easier to keep up to date, but is bloated, cannot comment on others).

For the advanced user, try http://www.gentoo.org or http://www.debian.org (I recommend Debian if you don't want to spend forever installing and willing to put up with lots of questions (hit the default if you don't know).

As a compromise, there's http://www.mepis.org

Gentoo, Fedora, Debian, and Mepis (based off of Debian) are easier to keep up to date and install software.
You bastard w/ a cable modem... I still have dialup dammit...

3. One(1) CD-ROM i got somewhere. Appears to be OpenBSD. Zero instructions came with it.

Useful for a router/firewall if up to date. Otherwise useless. Less bloated than Linux though.

4 One(1) human being, moderate computer knowledge (is not a newbie), has used command-line before (once owned DOS computer). Installed software before (including DOS software lacking AutoInstall wizards) but never an Operating System. Only minimal UNIX experience; extensive experience with Windows and DOS, some with Macintosh. Not good with hardware. Slight programming experience in Pascal and Java (maximum experience: once wrote text-only tic-tac-toe games in both); basic HTML knowledge. Zilch understanding of assembly language. Would prefer to use X-Windows for most (ie brainless) tasks, although not especially afraid of command line.

Good enough. Using command line is preferable if you want to be able to use the less bloated faster distros.

5. A 2003-era HP computer, connected to internet via cable modem, Windows XP, will not be getting Linux anytime soon. Has CD/DVD writer.

Use to fetch Linux ISOs.

6. All of Win98's tools to identify hardware specifics, IRQs, etc.

Write everything down, but shouldn't be needed on newbie distros. Probably on advanced distros.

I would like to split the HD so that Windows takes up 6 gigabytes, Linux 5 gigabytes. I don't know how many cylinders my hard drive has.

You don't need to know how many cylinders, since the partitioning tools should do it for you (unless you use raw fdisk, and even then it should tell you).

[darthdavid]

You should be able to do it. I got Suse 9.0 to run (abysmally i'll admit) on a P1 133 mhz system with 64 megs of ram (simms), and a 20 gig 5400 rpm hdd. I even got it to connect to the net through my cabel modem and a router. Then it died. I think it was the PSU. But it did run for a while.

[admiral_danielsben]

Unless you can think of a reason why you want to have a computer running Linux right off the top of your head, don't bother with the hassle.

Simple. It's almost a 'plaything' computer; I already have a newer computer for work and for internet. Sometime soon, i'll either install Linux or a similar OS or i'll get rid of it.

Any way you can back it up? Anyway, split the partition after doing so with the Linux installer, or if installing from scratch, partition first, install Windows, install Linux.

The only way I can back it up w/o buying anything is to use floppies - even just counting data files and programs which don't have cds or floppies, that's several hundred floppies. Counting all programs, several thousand.

What i'd like is some sort of connector (has to be USB, parallel, or serial, old computer lacks ethernet) - so all of the old computer's software goes to the new computer, to either be stored in the oodles of free hard disk space the new computer has, or to be burned to a CD-R or -RW.

Or i could just wipe out MS Office (hate to - new computer lacks PowerPoint), 1602 AD, and all the other stuff i accumulated w/o a disk or cd, and use fdisk (to eliminate and re-establish windows partition) and whatever Linux installer is around.

Um, maybe because he *likes* tinkering (notice the BeOS and OS/2)? I think what was implied was whether what he has was good enough.

I'm kinda someone who has more book knowledge than experience. One of the reasons I want to get Linux is to get more practical experience. And from what I've heard, BeOS is a kinda cool OS. A shame nobody buys or writes software for it. And the 'good enough': i hope i am. Like I said, i've done a lot of installing - just no operating systems.

One year is ancient for Linux. Get a fresh ISO off the internet and burn it.

I don't care all too much, really. Besides, the old computer has no internet access.

[darthdavid]

For Chriss sakes man, get an ethernet card for 4$ and a router for 26$
There. You've got a home network for 30 dollars. Now you can keep linux up to date and access the net form two different places. Plus you can back up all your old shit.

[Pu-239]

One year is ancient for Linux. Get a fresh ISO off the internet and burn it.

I don't care all too much, really. Besides, the old computer has no internet access.[/quote]

Trust me, you need to, and you can download on your fast one.

[admiral_danielsben]

One year is ancient for Linux. Get a fresh ISO off the internet and burn it.

I don't care all too much, really. Besides, the old computer has no internet access.

Trust me, you need to, and you can download on your fast one.

Haven't really seen much need for the internet on the old computer - the new computer has it, in runs much faster, and besides, fewer hassles. For one thing, just try to hack my old computer without actually breaking into my house.

BTW, the version the CD-ROMs have is Red Hat Linux 8 'Publisher's Edition'. I'm more interested in beginner's versions, at least for now - Red Hat, Mandrake, that sort.

At this moment, i've cleaned a lot of stuff (on the order of 300-400 megabytes) off the machine - most of it is either date files i don't use much or rarely-used software (much of which has cd's to re-install from). Maybe this Linux thing won't fly, but if nothing else i got rid of a lot of junk.l

Also, be aware that I'm just a 17 year old kid. A cheap one, at that. And one who doesn't want to mess with the new computer because it's not really mine (although it seems like i at least have half of it - dad having the other half, mom rarely uses it).

[Pu-239]

No, I meant download and burn the CDs on the new one- newer distros are more user friendly. If you don't have internet on the older one, get Mandrake.

[admiral_danielsben]

No, I meant download and burn the CDs on the new one- newer distros are more user friendly. If you don't have internet on the older one, get Mandrake.

Isn't Mandrake just Red Hat with an easier installation procedure?

Plus, I don't want to buy a CD-R for the task unless I can't get this "Red Hat Linux 8 'Publisher's Edition' working (yes, I am that cheap - consider my biggest expense day-to-day is lunch money). And i assume that it can't be too difficult, it came with the 'For Dummies' book. Plus, I want to use the For Dummies book... cheap me paid $20 for it and I don't want to waste it. Meaning, I'm most likely to use Red Hat.

Although I'll probably buy or use a bunch of CDs or floppies anyway (Have a bunch of old floppies to burn, no CD-Rs. I have a DVD-R but my old computer lacks a DVD-ROM... ). I'd like to back up a few data files and some programs which lack a CD. (meaning: a game i got called 1602 AD, as well as Microsoft Office 97 - or at least Powerpoint).

Wipe Update (slimming the HD down for eventual back-up and re-partitioning): got my old computer down to 3 gigabytes. Half the remainder is in the 'Maxis' Folder... seems a full gigabyte taken up by the Sims and a half-gigabyte by 2 versions of SimCity (2000SE and 3000 Unlimited). The Start Menu is a lot barer than before... got rid of AOL and all the old useless internet tools, as well as a bunch of rarely-used games like 'Starship Creator'. Next, i'll get rid of the Sims; it's been a while since I played it on the old computer and it takes up a third of the hard drive. This'll leave me 1602 AD, Simcity, and Starfleet Command to play - until i start pruning further. Eventually, it'll be pretty bare - ready to back up the remnants with less than a few thousand floppies.

[phongn]

Mandrake was once an easy-fied RedHat but its since diverged quite a bit. In particular, it is KDE-centric while RedHat/Fedora are GNOME-centric. I personally prefer Fedora, YMMV.

[admiral_danielsben]

(wacky metaphor)

Status Report: Project Dixon Hill

Sub-Project Diet is almost complete. The 350 lb man now weighs 140. The sainted files have boarded Noah's 3.5 fathom arks, while others burn into nothingness. The rest will hopefully ride out the apocalypse intact. At present, the juggler is re-arranging things into order. The final part is to read the mind of God, finding which cards are of the whole.

Sub-Project Earthquake is next. The red sea will part along San Andreas fault, with the eleven becoming six and five. and the five will be a void. It is hoped the rest survive on the six. Spif may be crucial.

Sub-Project Hatrack is the final stage. A well-dressed gentlemen will fill the void. Hopefully, the coiffed one of the five will peacefully co-exist with the bannered soldier of the six. No schizophrenia. Bugs or Oill? Keds or dwarves?

[Drooling Iguana]

Actually, if you have at least 500MB free on your Win98 partition, you can install BeOS without repartitioning your drive. It basically creates one large file on a FAT filesystem that houses the BeOS filesystem, and has a DOS utility to boot into it.

They used to offer it as a free download, but since Be was bought out by Palm they've taken it off of their web page. Not sure where you'd be able to find it these days.

[admiral_danielsben]

Actually, if you have at least 500MB free on your Win98 partition, you can install BeOS without repartitioning your drive. It basically creates one large file on a FAT filesystem that houses the BeOS filesystem, and has a DOS utility to boot into it.

They used to offer it as a free download, but since Be was bought out by Palm they've taken it off of their web page. Not sure where you'd be able to find it these days.

The thing is, I already got a pair of CDs which appear to be a stripped-down version of Red Hat Linux 8 - came with my copy of Linux for Dummies. And i just downloaded a little tool called FIPS which is supposed to re-partition the hard drive without destroying everything in the process. Hopefully it does that.

[admiral_danielsben]

Today is X-day. Spif has been received, the broken zipper fixed. San Andreas Fault will soon crash into two. For the love of God, the data may yet be saved.

[Praxis]

Consider using BootIt NG.

You can resize partitions on the fly...if you have say 5 GB of free space on the Windows C drive, you can shrink it down by 4 GB (leaving 4 GB of unpartitioned space for Linux).

[admiral_danielsben]

Consider using BootIt NG.

You can resize partitions on the fly...if you have say 5 GB of free space on the Windows C drive, you can shrink it down by 4 GB (leaving 4 GB of unpartitioned space for Linux).

1. Is it a free/downloadable tool?

2. Does it fuss about the last cylinder being free like FIPS?

[Praxis]

It's free for 30 days.

It installs itself as a boot loader on it's own little 8MB partition, and from there you can do partition work.

Just resize the Windows partition by reducing it by the amount of GB you want for Linux, then have Linux install to unpartitioned space. When installing Linux, make sure you install a boot loader, it'll wipe over BootIt NG and you'll never have to worry about it again.

[Praxis]

Basicly, download it here:
http://www.bootitng.com/bootitng.html

Then run the exe file, and use that to copy the info onto a floppy disk. Boot from the floppy, and follow the steps.

[admiral_danielsben]

It's free for 30 days.

It installs itself as a boot loader on it's own little 8MB partition, and from there you can do partition work.

Just resize the Windows partition by reducing it by the amount of GB you want for Linux, then have Linux install to unpartitioned space. When installing Linux, make sure you install a boot loader, it'll wipe over BootIt NG and you'll never have to worry about it again.

Thanks. Red Hat includes GRUB - should do the trick. I looked it up, but I was worried about using it for 31 days+.

I'll try it.

[Pu-239]

There's also Parted.

[admiral_danielsben]

Project Earthquake is finished.

Translated, it means that I used BootIt to resize my Windows98 partition to 6450 megabytes from 11492 (more-or-less, i may be off). Next, Installing Linux.