Distro and Driver questions

[HostileEffect]

I just became really interested in Linux about 6-8 hours ago and I have a very old Compaq home PC with a broken Windows 98 on it.

Pentium 3 450Mhz
Voodoo 2 32Mb
6.5Gb hard drive

I don't know the rest of the specs but I could run Half-life and Unreal Tournament on it. I may get a bigger hard drive if I can get it working good again.

I just want to get it up and running for internet use and storage so what would be a good Linux with a GUI for something like this that has minimal system requirements? Also I can't seem to get past the problem of not having any drivers for Linux. If I have no motherboard drivers or video card drivers then the hardware will not work, correct?
How do I go about installing the drivers for Linux without being in Windows and without having any of the driver disks? Do the drivers even matter if I just want to get it running with Firefox?
I can't screw this computer up anymore than it already is, software wise.
-edit-
Note: Linux must fit onto a CD, DVD is not an option.

[daark.child]

Linux has built in drivers for most stuff, so I would not worry about looking for drivers at the moment. How much RAM do you have on that machine. I would urge you to install something like Xubuntu on that machine because of the specs.

[HostileEffect]

I am looking at VectorLinux right now and it seems to fit the system requirements. Considering I was able to play older games like System Shock 2, Half-life and Unreal Tournament on it, I would guess the computer has 128Mbs of RAM or 256.
I still have the DDR 266 memory from my current computer that *might* work with the Compaq. Also, I found a website that has VooDoo 2 drivers for Linux but I don't know how old they are or if they even work.

-edit-

I will be sleeping soon, just so you know. I'm reading the install guide on VectorLinux and I might search for a compatible hardware list. Btw, Thx.

-edit-

Going to sleep now. I will try to see if I can get that old CD burner unpacked, download some image software and burn the .ISO as an image. I'm aware of the "first mistake" people make by just copying and not image burning.

[lrmccain]

I really liked how vector linux looks and works, but it's got K Desktop on top of it, so on old hardware you might be pushing it. but it's still pretty nice and comes with every thing you need to get online.

don't even think about drivers, vector will take care of all that, the issue with vector is that you have to partition the hard drive yourself... so here's a quick word on that

1. unpartition the whole disk
2. make a small swap partition probably 256-512MB for your system
3. format the rest of the disk in a linux format, probably ext2


Luke

[antidrugue]

I still have the DDR 266 memory from my current computer that *might* work with the Compaq.

Unfortunately that won't work. DDR RAM support begins with Pentium 4 generation processors. Anyway, it won't even fit physically.

Also, I found a website that has VooDoo 2 drivers for Linux but I don't know how old they are or if they even work.

No need to worry about drivers. Any recent Linux distribution has most drivers build-in (except for very new and exotic stuff). Your Voodoo 2 card is covered. No drivers need to be installed.

As mentioned, try something like Xubuntu, or (for more speed) Vector Linux or Zenwalk.

[HostileEffect]

Lets hope that it includes drivers for average Joe's motherboards of 1998. Many thanks, the help here has been top quality and some of the best I have ever gotten over the internet.
Now I just need to get the CD writer out of packing and installed.

[daark.child]

I really liked how vector linux looks and works, but it's got K Desktop on top of it, so on old hardware you might be pushing it. but it's still pretty nice and comes with every thing you need to get online.

...

Luke

VectorLinux has versions that do not have KDE.

[HostileEffect]

I think the last thing that I need to know is how to partition and format the hard drive for Linux. Can I boot first without preparing the hard drive and use the partitioning tools on the CD before installing Linux?

-edit-

The Install guide for VectorLinux says that the Installation CD comes with formatting tools. I don't know if this means the .ISO or a store bought CD but I hope to be posting from a Linux computer sometime today.

[cheesecake42]

If it's your first time, i'd deffinately start of with xubuntu. I recently tried vector linux for the first time (i installed it on a friends PII laptop for them) and the instalation manager is a little more advanced than xubuntu's straight forward method. Both should work pretty well on your system though.

[HostileEffect]

The computer might only have 64Mbs but I'm still installing. The dust in this poor computer was about an inch high in some places and 1/4th inch in some placed on the video card. The PCI slots are filled with dust, second DIMM, etc.

I'm not scared of the blue screen menus... more detail, I like detail.

-edit-

Success! Now, I just need two power cords, knowledge on how to set up a network, another eathernet cord, my mum to wake up, etc.
Many thanks guys, I might get into over clocking with this computer. I'm not editing this message from the Linux computer due to no network and its now a day later *due to an 8+ hour download* - my mums a WoW addict and thats why I set the computer up. She now has a place to put all these strats, guides, tips, notes, and all this paper that is cluttering up my room.
I will see if my dad can find a few extra power cords and a compressed air can. I also hope this ancient 1997ish CRT doesn't explode when someone is in front of it cause it was having some popping and cracking when I turned it on today.

I think it was a computer designed for Windows 95 but it had 98 on it... now it has VectorLinux 5.8 Gold and I have another computer and boot disc. I don't think it will work on the 733Mhz though. "Generic Blade 3D 2mb video card". though it would be nice to replace Windows Me.