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#1 2005-06-30 4:44 pm

Doc Strokes
Member
From: Minnesota
Registered: 2005-02-22
Posts: 85

Can I Run Linux on a Windows 95 Machine?

I'm wonderin if it would do me any good to boot up our old Windows machine and install linux on it and upgrade it a bit just for word processing and maybe  use the internet on it. Simple school work. Can it be done and is it worth it?


Aluminum MacBook 2.4 Ghz 250 GB HD 4 GB RAM OSX 10.5.8

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#2 2005-06-30 4:53 pm

Jehannum
Banned
From: Albuquerque
Registered: 1999-07-24
Posts: 8404

Re: Can I Run Linux on a Windows 95 Machine?

Yes, and yes.

Let me qualify that a bit: you'll probably be able to run some relatively light-weight window manager (like fluxbox or icewm), and use just about any software you want (though don't expect it to run much faster than win95).

My recommendation is, as ever Debian, but there are others that I don't care enough about to enumerate.


"Goodness he just keeps going and going. He's like the energizer bunny of stupid." - Neut

Your powers are useless!  I'm wearing my tin-foil underwear!

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#3 2005-06-30 10:39 pm

Doc Strokes
Member
From: Minnesota
Registered: 2005-02-22
Posts: 85

Re: Can I Run Linux on a Windows 95 Machine?

I think I will download Debian on the comp I'm on now and burn it to a cd. Will I need to upgrade my HD or RAM in my old machine? I want to do this as cheaply as possible for I have no cash. I dont know the specs for it because it hasnt been hooked up in a while. I've taken it apart a few times. I know everything is in working order ( or was the last time it was booted) with the exception of the modem. We have a high speed connection so I think I will buy an ethernet card for it. The machine is made by Acer. I don't know much more about it since I didn't have much interest in it when we still used it.

Last edited by Doc Strokes (2005-07-01 9:10 am)


Aluminum MacBook 2.4 Ghz 250 GB HD 4 GB RAM OSX 10.5.8

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#4 2005-07-01 10:17 am

Booksley
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From: Toronto, Ontario
Registered: 2001-02-16
Posts: 5037

Re: Can I Run Linux on a Windows 95 Machine?

Debian will work fine. It runs on a P2 266 with 64MB of ram.

Of course, running a windows manager is a different issue, heh.

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#5 2005-07-01 10:34 am

Doc Strokes
Member
From: Minnesota
Registered: 2005-02-22
Posts: 85

Re: Can I Run Linux on a Windows 95 Machine?

Okay i'll download Debian and make a cd and see how it goes.


Aluminum MacBook 2.4 Ghz 250 GB HD 4 GB RAM OSX 10.5.8

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#6 2005-07-01 10:59 am

Doc Strokes
Member
From: Minnesota
Registered: 2005-02-22
Posts: 85

Re: Can I Run Linux on a Windows 95 Machine?

Well I tried to boot up the old machine and nothing happens. I checked all the power supply cables and they are all in the correct places. I probably did something without knowing the last time I took it apart.


Aluminum MacBook 2.4 Ghz 250 GB HD 4 GB RAM OSX 10.5.8

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#7 2005-07-12 11:14 am

Tulsaboyw
Member
Registered: 2005-05-02
Posts: 54

Re: Can I Run Linux on a Windows 95 Machine?

I had a very old win95a 200mhz that I put linux on..
Its doing pretty good...

This prompted me to put linux on a even older cpm based computer that I thought it would fail.....  fortunately I had the right linux to install on a dual processor that previously ran cpm.

Point is, given the right package one has a good chance of putting some form of linux on a computer.  Debate is more of how much of usuable linux you can put on it.

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