iburst on old hardware challenge

[henkc]

My first post here. A while back I gave my mother a computer - basic spec with Vista Home Basic and an iburst modem. She is having untold problems with the machine, which keeps having to go to the shop where I got it to be "repaired" - this time they claim they're going to do more than reinstall Vista.

In the meantime, the only machine I can get hold of is an old P4 1.4GHz with 128MB of RAM, currently running Windows 98. My plan is to hook this up to the iBurst modem somehow.

Any ideas Windows, Linux.

I have a reasonable understanding of Windows and Linux.

 

[iBurst]

Hi Henkc

My first choice would be to use a broadband router. Let that formulate the connection and feed the P4 via ethernet.

Cheers

Shaun

[email protected]
084-978-0790

 

[henkc]

Shaun

Right now I'm trying to limit the cost of the temporary setup and don't have access to a router. The P4 also doesn't seem to have an onboard network port.

Is the ethernet port on the iBurst modem permanently on or do I have to do some tweaking at that end?

Thanks

Henk

 

[BigAl-sa]

I've used an iBurst modem successfully on a 350MHz P2 with 512MB RAM with Kubuntu 7.04, using the ethernet port on the modem. Check my post in the "iBurst and Fedora Core 6" sticky in this subforum.

 

[iBurst]

Hi there

I have a setup for 98SE. It is a mission but can be achieved.

Please drop me a mail so that I can forward that to you.


cheers

Shaun

 

[RatX]

Recommendations

Henk,

Your biggest issue with that machine is going to be the limited RAM. Any flavour of Windows later than 9x is extremely painful to use with only 128 MB, *particularly* once you load up antivirus and/or antispyware software. Win2K is bearable with 128 MB, but forget about running any AV.

If you can bump the RAM up to 256 MB, you should be able to run Win2K Pro or XP. Take it up to 512 MB and I would recommend XP or Ubuntu - unfortunately recent Ubuntu flavours of Ubuntu also struggle with less than 512 MB. They do, however, support iBurst through a simple PPPoE connection very well .

All depends on how much your time is worth to you - you could probably get something going with 128 MB, but it would take a lot of futzing about. Trawl the refurb PC equipment places - you could probably pick up a stick or two of the appropriate RAM sticks for just a few bucks, and have a nicely working spare machine afterwards as a plus.

If you are stuck with the 128 MB limitation, you might also want to take a look at Xubuntu, but carefully note the minimum installation requirements - I think you need to grab the alternate installer for it to install with 128 MB. That one caught me out when I tried to load it up on my ancient spare laptop, but otherwise I've heard good things about it.

Hope that info helps you out.