Thread: Old notebook

  1. #1
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    Old notebook

    I have very old notebook(SX notebook) running windows 3.1.
    It has a 33MHz 80386SX with a CX486DX Microprocessor with 8mb of Base and extended memory.
    The machine still works and i would like to put DSL(Damn Small Linux) on it if i can.
    Does anyone have any ideas?? I would like to get it online and maybe surf, email and some games.(It does have a modem)
    Any help help would be great

  2. #2
    Woof, woof! zacs7's Avatar
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    It's a bit slow... my phone and calculator is faster than that.

    * How much HDD space does it have?
    * 16bit processor?

    Perhaps 3.1 is the best thing for it, Or you could try a few very small linux distros like puppy linux, DSL, feather linux etc.

  3. #3
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    it has an 80Mb hard drive
    not really sure if it 16 bit or not any way to tell

  4. #4
    Woof, woof! zacs7's Avatar
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    More info on your chip: http://www.pcguide.com/ref/cpu/fam/g3I386SX-c.html

    Info on the Microprocessor
    Code:
    CPU: Cx486DX
    Speeds: 33 to 50MHz
    Released: Sep,1993
    Cache: 8K WB 4-way
    Mem. bus: 32-bit
    Addr. bus: 32-bit
    Trans.: 1.1 mln.
    Tech.: ?
    Voltage: 3.45V, 5V
    Instr. set: i486
    How do you plan on getting the OS onto the laptop? Does it have a floppy / CD drive? Or a network card?
    Last edited by zacs7; 09-27-2007 at 07:07 PM.

  5. #5
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    yeah i should be fun it only has a 3.5 drive and a modem

  6. #6
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    Linux should run on that with no big problems.

    --
    Mats
    Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them!
    Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.

  7. #7
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    Would linux do much more than windows 3.1?

  8. #8
    Kernel hacker
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    I guess that depends on how you define "much more". By the way, you should be able to get Windows NT running on such a machine too.

    --
    Mats
    Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them!
    Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.

  9. #9
    Woof, woof! zacs7's Avatar
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    Not without a larger hard drive, the minimum install for Windows 95 is ironically 95MB, so I'd assume NT would be a bit more.

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