OK, first off, i'm sorry if this is the wrong place to post, but i wasn't sure where to put it, as it could cover 2 operating systems. For backup, I have a machine, which is connected to a switch, and then my lappy / desky / whatever i'm repairing for someone. The specs are as follows: Pentium II 266MHz 64Mb RAM 80GB HDD + 13GB HDD Samsung 16x CD-RW FDD 16mb integrated graphics (Could be increased, but half the time theres not a screen even connected) Anyways, at the moment, it's running windows 98se...the CPU isn't a problem, nor is the ram, but i do want summat more flexible for the networking, so i'm going to change the OS. Basically I put to you all....what would you use as the os, and why? This is what I have availible: Windows 98se Ubunto Linux Fedora Core 4 Windows 2000 Professional Windows 2000 Server Windows XP Home / Pro (Somehow, I don't think so...) Thanks - Brooxy
With those kinda specs- I'd slap on damn small linux and hope for the best. Win2K might do, Your hardware meets the minimum (below the recomended of 300MHz and 128MB RAM) for Win XP. Finding a new copy of Win2K or 98SE will be a challenge. . . What do you plan to use the box for? I believe 98SE, or a light flavor of Linux, will run best on that hardware. L J
XP will work on a system with those specs, ive got it running on a P225 wtih 128mb on a 5400rpm 12GB 2.5HDD Slap XP on it, or if you want win98 think ive got an upgrade CD Regards GiGo
If it's just for the networking, Ubuntu (and Fedora) have a server install IIRC, without the GUI, that will be nice and slim, so that will work fine.
'' OK, basically it's left switched on, and anytime i need to do a backup, i just drag and drop files in remotly, from either my main desktop or laptop. Oh that's not a problem, I can download 2k legally via some deal my college has with microsoft, plus i have an upgrade CD knocking around, and my 98cd is sitting happily on my shelf at the moment...
I don't doubt XP will run on a system with those specs- the question is how well it will run. I would vote for 2K- it has support for NTFS and I believe it is lighter than XP. L J
I would say 2k or try out linux. Thats the best way to learn, set it up on a old computer and tinker around with it.
I'd vore for W2K too. I do reccomend getting another stick of 64MB RAM, making a total of 128MB. Minimum specs (officialy) is a P166 with 64MB and 2GB disk. I have a similar system (to the minimum specs, that is) running W2K, but with 80MB RAM (ye olde EDO SIMM's ). It runs Apache, MySQL and PHP, but it barely keeps up when querying the database. Btw, its true, W2K is very much lighter than XP. The big difference is in the way the GUI is built wich conserves lots of resources. I wouldn't reccomend running XP with less than 256MB. At 128MB its already unbearably slow.
Vote for Linux, but neither of those OSs. Install something like Gentoo or a BSD. If you use Ubuntu for a network machine, I'll be forced to come over there and slap you for a while.
It actually has 128 in there, but no matter which stick goes in where, it still holds at 64mb......the graphics aren't integrated, so i'm putting it down to a mobo fault... Stupid thing...
If your RAM is EDO my guess would be that the board cant recognize sticks over 32MB- I've run across more boards that cant recognize 64MB sticks of EDO RAM than those that can. L J
If you have to have windows, Win2k works wonders on older machines - got a P2-200 with 256 RAM running very happily on 2k here, along with another P1-166 that just manages. If you could get hold of more RAM, you would do well with 2k, otherwise you'll be looking at a slim linux distro to run it.
