How to Revive an Old Computer with Linux

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Consider what you want

   Alternatively download Smart Boot Manager , install on a floppy disk and boot the computer
   - you should now be able to boot from your CD drive.
   
   If you're on dial-up and don't want to download Damn Small Linux (50Mb) or Puppy Linux (100Mb), then buy a CD online. , Boot the Windows 9x computer with each version of Linux and run the computer from the CD or flash drive.
   
   See which version works best on your computer.
   
   One may not contain a driver for your hard drive that another one may include.
   
   Decide which version you are going to install permanently to your old Windows 9x computer. ,,,,,,,, If it doesn't, then additional configuration can be made with boot parameters/cheat codes.
   
   For dial-up modems, consider a hardware dial-up modem for maximum compatibility. ,, If you spread the word, tell your friends and share Damn Small Linux and Puppy Linux CDs, you can build your own local support group to help revive old PCs.
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   Step 2: a desktop computer

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   Step 3: a server

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   Step 4: or a router/firewall.

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   Step 5: Clean it with compressed air and test if your PC will turn on safely.

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   Step 6: Determine what your PC will boot from (in the BIOS or manual)

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   Step 7: old ones might not boot from USB

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   Step 8: really old ones might not even boot from CD.

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   Step 9: If it won't boot from CD

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    Step 10: download floppy boot images of Damn Small Linux and Puppy Linux (WakePup for Puppy Linux 1 and 2 series) and once extracted onto a floppy disk

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    Step 11: insert them into your old PC.

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    Step 12: Download SliTaz

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    Step 13: Damn Small Linux

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    Step 14: Puppy Linux and what ever distro you wish to test and burn them to cds or create a bootable flash drive.

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    Step 15: Turn your old PC on if you haven't already and insert the CDs as soon as you can

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    Step 16: if successful

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    Step 17: you'll be greeted by a DSL or Puppy Linux boot screen for a few seconds (press a key quickly to interrupt the countdown if you like)

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    Step 18: Unless you have valuable data on the old PC

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    Step 19: consider creating a swap partition (with gParted or Ultimate Boot CD) if you have too little ram (less than 64Mb) to run the distros "live".

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    Step 20: Read and consider carefully using cheat codes at boot (also called boot parameters) to run more from CD and use less RAM particularly with Puppy

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    Step 21: Choose Xvesa rather than X.org framebuffer if you have display problems

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    Step 22: Turn off ACPI or APM if you have problems.

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    Step 23: If you like Puppy Linux but 3 series is too slow

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    Step 24: consider 2 series (Phoenix or 214R)

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    Step 25: or even 1 series (MeanPup or 109CE).

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    Step 26: If you like Damn Small Linux

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    Step 27: also consider Damn Small Linux-Not (with Abiword and Gnumeric) or Feather Linux (also derived from Knoppix).

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    Step 28: If you have a serial mouse

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    Step 29: test whether it is detected and works.

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    Step 30: Some gains in performance may be made

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    Step 31: once installed to hard disk rather than running live.

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    Step 32: Also consider a "frugal installation" for performance gains.

Detailed Guide

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