Linux on old computer bad

[ZGamer00]

I installed Fedora Core 2 on a 450 Mhz AMD K6-2 processor based system, with 192 MB of SDRAM, and a GeForce 4 MX video card, and frankly, it runs like poop. Or at least, anything requiring graphics. I be a big noob to linux so i was happy when it installed, but afterwards, not so happy. Tried to play some of the games it installed.... that didn't work out too well; actually, not at all. It takes much longer to start up compared to my XP Pro system and that's another downside.

So i come to you all with these complaints in hope that you shall be able to help me to some extent. I have yet to attempt configuring the modem on it, and have been led to believe that i shall have a good bit o "fun" with that. If this is how FC2 is on older computers, please go so far as recommending a newbie distro that works well on new computers. I plan on doing some programming (C++, Perl, and Java after i spend time learning them) so i would like to have something that isn't as slow as molasses. Thanks.

[CaKeY]

http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display...2_1.0-6106.html

ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x...6106/README.txt

[eevoo]

You could try running a lighter gui, like xfce4 or black box. Blackbox would probably be better it's really lite.

[Fred Derf Veteran]

I'd recommend XFce3 or Fluxbox. XFce4 is starting to have too much bloat.

[markwolfe Veteran]

CaKeY's nVidia link will get your card running as good as (or better than) in Windows.

Fedora, by default has a lot of stuff going on and running in the background. You can go into your system settings through the GUI and stop them and set them to be disabled on next boot, as well. I think that they call them "Services", like in the Windows world. :unsure:

As for boot times, yes, Linux takes longer to boot. It does a full hardware detection at each boot (unlike Windows, where a hard drive from one archetecture will fail to boot if put into a case with a very different archetecture). And, on the postitive side, I haven't had to reboot in a *very* long time (and each time, so far, has been my choice to install an updated kernel).

[ZGamer00]

Bah, i thought those drivers would have been up to date. Dastards are making me do something on my own. :) I'll try that. Thanks.

[subflood]

As for boot times, yes, Linux takes longer to boot.

no.

[pHuzi0n]

Bah, i thought those drivers would have been up to date. Dastards are making me do something on my own. :) I'll try that. Thanks.

Only open source software (gpl compatible) can be included with the linux kernel (and therefore a linux distro) but nvidia's drivers are closed source for obvious reasons.

[Shadrack]

subflood:

how about this then: Fedora Core 2 takes longer to boot. Although I have yet to have a Linux install that didn't have a longer boot time then Windows XP Pro. Maybe you have.

ZGamer00:

I haven't been able to get some of the games to work at all and I have a pretty fast system.

[ZGamer00]

hiya, download the driver and have it on my linux system, and i don't have a dang clue of what to do next. the readme.txt is nice and all, but it don't make a whole lot of sense. So, if someone would be so kinda as to noob-ify those directions, i'd be much obliged. :)

[markwolfe Veteran]

If I recall, the gist of how to do this is to:

• make sure your kernel sources are installed (if it needs to compile, it will do so automatically as long as the kernel sources are present).
  
• put the nVidia package somewhere you can get to them (if it suggests a location, use it, if not make a directory in your home for this)
  
• switch to a terminal using CTRL+ALT+[F2], and issue the command init 3 to kill your X Windows so no GUI is running - [/u]you can't update with the GUI active.
  
• run the nVidia script, as instructed
  
• edit your /etc/XF86Config (or xorg config, depending on distro & version) as instructed, and save
  
• start X again with init 5, and you should see the awful white screen with the nVidia logo appear for a second and then your X login will appear.
  

You are done.

There is an option to get rid of the logo if it annoys you, but that is an indicator that your driver is installed.

[jardragon901]

Fedora uses Gnome as its desktop right? Hmm I would deffinately change to something a little bit lighter like fvwm or fluxbox.

[ZGamer00]

MONKEY!! Okay, I push CRTL-ALT-F2, and it makes me enter localhost login: and Password. I don't know what the heck those are! This is after Fedora Core 2 loads completely into the users GUI thingy. (Don't remember the Super User username... anyway to find that?...) How linux aggrivates. It's using the Gnome GUI.

[markwolfe Veteran]

MONKEY!! Okay, I push CRTL-ALT-F2, and it makes me enter localhost login: and Password. I don't know what the heck those are! This is after Fedora Core 2 loads completely into the users GUI thingy. (Don't remember the Super User username... anyway to find that?...) How linux aggrivates. It's using the Gnome GUI.

You can login with your "user" name and password.

Or you can log in with your "root" name (called "root" :p ) and use that password. That is one password you should NEVER forget!

(and, yes there is a way to reset it, if you did forget it) ;)

[ZGamer00]

Nevermind. I was using the wrong password. I almost dun it! Much thanks Mark. Just have to update the config thingy which i have no idea how to do... well, i'll get it sooner or later with doing random stuff.

[subflood]

how about this then: Fedora Core 2 takes longer to boot. Although I have yet to have a Linux install that didn't have a longer boot time then Windows XP Pro. Maybe you have.

Fair enough but remember that windows hasn't finished booting after the GUI has loaded some services still havn't started.