4 ms·

Look for an older archive for a distribution like slackware. Your hardware should be more supported

• gravypod 10y ago
  The machine is an i486, it's not "that" old so I'd like to get it running with debian or preferably arch. If I can get something to bootstrap the network ISA card I've got in there and allow me to build a linux environment I can bootstrap the other OS over a small one (like this).
  • LukeShu 10y ago
    Arch requires full i686; there used to be an Arch-derivative called ConnochaetOS that only required i586, but it discontinued (then came back later as a Slackware-derivative).
  • j3097736 10y ago
    Try debian woody or slackware 10, both are from around 2004 and should run on 16Mb of RAM or less There's also Damn Small Linux which is based on debian woody, you could install dos, then transfer DSL image using a null-modem cable and loadlin to disk and use that to bootstrap it from DOS
    • gravypod 10y ago
      I'm on DOS 6.22, a 200MB HDD, 4 COM, 1 Parallel, and I've got a shit load of floppy disks. What I don't have is drivers for my network card. How would I go about bootstrapping DSL? What is a null-modem cable? PS: I've also got a zip program and a C compiler on there. If I need to write software to make this happen I have the power to do so.