Hi Bob.

02-May-04 10:40:01, Bob Lawrence wrote to David Drummond


 BL>> 1.  My only ISA modem is the Sportster 14400. I'd have to buy an
 BL>> external 56K modem, and the $120-odd is more than the old box is
 BL>> worth. What I use is a cheap PCI WinModem with a Linux driver.

 DD>> Geez! If you're that hard up I'll give you a V.54 external modem!

 BL> I use an internal modem because I like it that way. I'm not
 BL> fascinated by coloured lights...

 BL>> 2. How do I network? John gave me two ISA ethernet network cards
 BL>> but I'm short an ISA slot in the new computer and my PCI network
 BL>> card isn't ethernet... I'd rather use wireless anyway.

 DD>> Wireless is slower than a cabled network - and subject to
 DD>> peculiarities if you have a steel reinforced concrete/brick
 DD>> house. It can also be adversely affected by cordless phones and
 DD>> microwave cookers.

 BL> slower! I din't know that... but in any case speed is not an issue
 BL> for a server that only networks a modem.

 BL>> Where do I run the Linux GUI in your scenario? I see nothing but
 BL>> trouble trying to use the old box as a server, when I can have a
 BL>> brand-new one for $800 - 2GHZ, 256Mb RAM, cable modem, network,
 BL>> USB, and run full Linux at the same time.

 DD>> Use that as your worksation, and the Linux box as your
 DD>> firewall/gatway.

 BL> I want to run Linux and Windows, and re-booting every time gives
 BL> me the shits! They're both incredibly slow to boot. My idea is to
 BL> use *this* computer as the Linux box (firewall/gateway, KDE and
 BL> all), and buy a new one for Windows that I can network off the old
 BL> one and run Win311 on too.

 BL> Since last we spoke, I actually tried to load Linux on the old
 BL> 486, and as expected it barfed. It doesn't like my VESA IDE
 BL> controller.

 BL> Linux HELP tells me to buy a new BIOS. I *love* these Uniwankers!

Sounds like a load of bullshit, I've never heard of linux needing a BIOS.
it's not like it uses it for anything...

Try to get it working with an ISA hard drive controller. (if you can find
the jumpers to disable, or push the VESA one to a different addres)

 -=> Bye <=-

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