I am not a computer expert, and hence I am looking advice regarding a Pentium II computer which I own.

This computer used to be my regular PC, until one day I booted it up and the Windows 98 system just kept locking up. Just weeks prior to this I fitted it with a new 20Gb Hard Drive!

Anyhow I bought a Pentium 4 with Windows XP

The old Pentium II has been sitting around gathering dust for three years and today I switched it on (expecting to hear a bang with a blue flash!), and again Windows 98 just locked. So I repartitioned the hard drive and reformatted it.

Now I am left with a working Pentium II computer with only a DOS system on it.

I do not have anyway to load any Windows system onto the computer, since I don't own a Windows 95 or 98 System Disk.

To buy a Windows system disk with which to load Windows 98 would probably cost more than the computer is worth.

Is there any other way I could get this computer running without having to buy Windows?

Primarily I would like it to be able to do Rosetta crunching solely.

Like I say I know enough about computers to keep mine running OK, so I am sorry if my question might seem stupid.

I did read somewhere that BOINC could be run with other systems apart from Windows.

Maybe I should just chuck the thing into a dumpster or donate it to a museum or something instead.

If anyone has any ideas, I would like to know.

If I should jus chuck it say so also!

Thanks in advance.

I wouldn't throw it in a dumpster. I'd pay the postage to take it off your hands before you did that! Hehe.

Someone reading this might donate a spare Windows install disk to you. Even if they don't though, there are plenty of computer savvy people in here that probably have some ideas to help you out so stay tuned.

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Founder of BOINC GROUP - Objectivists - Philosophically minded rational data crunchers.

I don't know anything about it my self, but the whole point of Linux is that you don't have to buy anything from Microsoft. So that might be an option.

If you think that may be a bit beyond your reach... you might consider working to get 3 friends to crunch Rosetta too. Assuming their PCs are faster than your old P2, that would bring something like 10 times more crunch time to Rosetta than your P2 has. And if you get them to get 3 friends started too...

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Add this signature to your EMail:
Running Microsoft's "System Idle Process" will never help cure cancer, AIDS nor Alzheimer's. But running Rosetta@home just might!
https://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/

I'm using my old "boat anchor" for crunching too. It's a P2 333 with 192Mb memory running Win98 SE. I got the disk just by asking a few people at work if they had an old original they didn't use anymore. He also had extra memory for me to bump it from 128 to 192. No cost. I have it set to crunch for 24 hrs. to make sure it runs a decent number of models on each WU.

I guess you just have to ask the right people. Some of these old used computer shops have tons of outdated software and parts too.

I have an old copy of Me or 98 can make a copy of it and ship it to you if it does not break any copywrite laws.
I don't know.

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SETI.USA

M$ considers using any of the their operating systems on multiple machines as a form of piracy. They want you to erase it off your system, and send the cd, the booklet, and the COA if you give it to someone else. If you've got the COA (code needed to install Win98) then it's okay.

You're not even supposed to give away the old OSes that you've upgraded from, because that's the basis for each upgrade you've got. Supposedly, schools and perhaps non profits were the only organizations that we're allowed to give those old version away to. (Feel free to verify).

If you can figure out how to use Linux, it had a small performance bonus on a few DC apps I've followed in the past - so I'd suggest going with that. (Not that I've gone that route, yet.) Hopefully, the scores for Linux will be made the same as the Windows clients here.

But take a look at the cost of an inexpensive Socket A motherboard, cpu, and DDR ram - if the rest of your system will work with those 3 new items.

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get yourself a copy of Damn Small Linux - I have it running on 4 of my 6 boxes at home. One of these is a 486DX2 16MB (which is just too old to cut the mustard) the others are a celeron 348mHz a celeron 1.7, and a p4 2G. My PII 233 is about to be converted to linux from win98se - I aborted the last wu as I was testing out a new project.

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I'll put up a short tutorial on "how to set up a machine as a 100% roetta crunsher" using linux (my tutorial will cover installation as well, in case you're unconfident).

I used this technique on several machines already, and it works well for casual crunshing (I know, some make diskless computers and whatnot, but I stick with the stable Debian OS =) )

This tutorial should be online soon, I'll post a link in the forums.

- Trib'

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I'll put up a short tutorial on "how to set up a machine as a 100% roetta crunsher" using linux (my tutorial will cover installation as well, in case you're unconfident).

I used this technique on several machines already, and it works well for casual crunshing (I know, some make diskless computers and whatnot, but I stick with the stable Debian OS =) )

This tutorial should be online soon, I'll post a link in the forums.

- Trib'

Thanks for all the great advice and ideas.

I think the way to go would be to go the LINUX way.

I really would appreciate a tutorial on how to set up my Pentium II to run Rosetta Crunching under Linux.

I am able to order very cheaply any Linux CD's rather than having to download from the Internet. My only concern is getting the computer to connect with the Internet. I use AOL, and wonder would I be able to connect using Linux?

Thanks again for all the great help and suggestions.

Really all I want to do is to be able to get this machine running and doing something useful rather than just sitting collecting dust and without having to pay Microsoft a fortune.

Tribaal,

I for one would be very appreciative indeed if you produced a tutorial on how to get a machine to do Rosetta crunching using Linux.

Trog Dog, I am presently downloading DSL and will see if I can install it on the Pentium II, will update with any success I might have.

It seems that the pay back I will get for crunching for Rosetta, is more knowledge of computing skills.

I think there are lots of people who think that if you have a computer, but do not have the Microsoft software to run it, then the computer is useless. It's nice to learn there are some really knowledgable people on these forums who are so willing to give their time to help others.

I for one would like to say how appreciative I am of this, and look forward to having my dedicated Rosetta Pentium II up and running quite soon.

Thanks again for everybody who is helping me.

Larry

Thanks

get yourself a copy of Damn Small Linux - I have it running on 4 of my 6 boxes at home. One of these is a 486DX2 16MB (which is just too old to cut the mustard) the others are a celeron 348mHz a celeron 1.7, and a p4 2G. My PII 233 is about to be converted to linux from win98se - I aborted the last wu as I was testing out a new project.

Trog Dog today I downloaded an ISO image of DSL. I then burnt the ISO to a CD to make a bootable CD. However when I tried to boot my computer from the CD it would'nt work.

So Using Rawrite I made a Boot Floppy Disk. Now I can get DSL to run but must always boot from the Floopy and have the CD in the CD reader.

I am lost as to how I can make it that when I turn on my computer, it will boot from my hard drive to automatically load DSL.

I think I need to make a special partition using FDISK or something, I am lost from here on in!

I can only guess too that getting it to connect to my ISP will also be a nightmare, I just ain't a computer expert.

Thanks for the DSL info anyway.

Well I realy am not familliar with DSL at all, but I would take it connecting to your provider shouldn't be too hard... In my set-up, the xDSL router is plugged to computers via regular network cable (rj45), and so the only thing linux needs to know is the network card driver (which is really standard stuff, failure is exceptional).

And even though I don't know how AOL works, I take it plenty of linux users use their network, and so they already found a workaround any problem that may arise =)

I'll keep you updated on the tutorial.

- trib'

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Well I realy am not familliar with DSL at all, but I would take it connecting to your provider shouldn't be too hard... In my set-up, the xDSL router is plugged to computers via regular network cable (rj45), and so the only thing linux needs to know is the network card driver (which is really standard stuff, failure is exceptional).

And even though I don't know how AOL works, I take it plenty of linux users use their network, and so they already found a workaround any problem that may arise =)

I'll keep you updated on the tutorial.

- trib'

Thanks Tribaal, I have spent a whole day trying to get this thing working and just getting nowhere.

I'll wait till your tutorial is posted and then have another go.

Failing that it's start looking for a Windows 95 or 98 Disk from somewhere!

Back at DF, there was a fellow who was running a collection of really old machines and was running into the problems of managing a large collection; the fact that they didn't have the ram to allow them to double their performance; and because they ran so slow and DF didn't have save states - any problem equaled the loss of something like 8+ hours of crunching per machine.

Since you were having problems with the system prior to the reformat, have you run memtest86 on the system to prove that the Ram wasn't causing the problems?

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I agree, a Memtest would be good to run anyway.

With the setup I suggest to use, you should still have about 128Mb RAM available. My smallest machine has around 124Mbs and works like a charm, but then around 120 Mbs are used by Rosetta.

If you're not sure what memtest is or where to get it, try this link. Basically you create a boot floppy with their program on it, that will try to write bits to every sector of your RAM, and reports any errors.

It's good to have in your toolbox anyway =)

- Trib'

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I agree, a Memtest would be good to run anyway.

With the setup I suggest to use, you should still have about 128Mb RAM available. My smallest machine has around 124Mbs and works like a charm, but then around 120 Mbs are used by Rosetta.

If you're not sure what memtest is or where to get it, try this link. Basically you create a boot floppy with their program on it, that will try to write bits to every sector of your RAM, and reports any errors.

It's good to have in your toolbox anyway =)

- Trib'

I made a Memtest86 floppy, and am running it on the Pentium II now.

I can get the machine to run Damn Small Linux, but when I go to Net Setup, DSL does,nt even recognise the port where my modem is, so I cannot get it to connect with the Internet.

I should be able in the future to get a Windows 95 system disk, however if I install Windows 95, will BOINC be able to run under this system?

I really don't know enough about computers to be able to use the fdisk in DSL to be able to install it on the hard drive etc.

Anyhow I am starting to regret having switched the damned thing on in the first place, it's really frustrating to have another computer which I just cannot use for anything!

Should have just chucked the thing and forgot about it I feel! :-)

Please, someone just ship this guy their copy of unused win 95/98 that they are no longer using (this way it doesn't violate laws and so forth) ?

I mean, It's 1$ worth of U.S. postage. Make it happen, guys. I've got one copy of 98 and it would violate copyright law to send it to the poor guy.

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Founder of BOINC GROUP - Objectivists - Philosophically minded rational data crunchers.

Please, someone just ship this guy their copy of unused win 95/98 that they are no longer using (this way it doesn't violate laws and so forth) ?

I mean, It's 1$ worth of U.S. postage. Make it happen, guys. I've got one copy of 98 and it would violate copyright law to send it to the poor guy.

I have just managed to acquire a copy of Windows 98 SE.

Should be with me in a week or two, so that should now get my new Rosetta Cruncher up and running in a couple of weeks.

Again many thanks for everyone who helped me with this.

I am still looking forward to Tribaal's Tutorial on Linux though, as I would like to try and use Linux as well.

Again thanks to everybody for their very kind help.

I have just managed to acquire a copy of Windows 98 SE.

...so, if I hear you right, you've got two weeks with which to help a friend get up and running on Rosetta?

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Add this signature to your EMail:
Running Microsoft's "System Idle Process" will never help cure cancer, AIDS nor Alzheimer's. But running Rosetta@home just might!
https://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/

I have just managed to acquire a copy of Windows 98 SE.

...so, if I hear you right, you've got two weeks with which to help a friend get up and running on Rosetta?

I'm also working on that Feet1st, I have asked two friends to start up.

Hopefully they will join.

I don't know if others have noticed but the first thing folks seem to worry about is the security aspects. They think somebody is going to steal their credit card details or something!

It's a tough barrier to get through!