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Take a look at dam small linux, its rather good.

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

Take a look at dam small linux, its rather good.

That is rather slick! If one wished to slim it down further, there are a number of packages that could be removed still.

I'm really intrigued in having the entire OS run from a RAM disk/drive. Hmm, I think I'll give it a serious look! Thx for the link!

Trond wrote:

PB wrote:> You can fit a pretty functional linux distro on a 1.44mb floppy

I don't know enough about Linux to know if you're joking or not... are you?

He's joking, but he doesn't know it. The X server with all drivers takes about 100 floppies. Without it no graphics, or with a smaller X server with only VESA driver, you get graphics, but you still can't fit it on one floppy.

Did you not see my reply? The 2nd link proved it. I'm not joking.

Regarding Linux on a Floopy:
http://mulinux.dotsrc.org/

muLinux fits on a floppy and with some additional disks it even has X-Server, Internet and so on.
It's much smaller than DSL, DNSL, DeliLinux, ....
I started learning Unix Commands with it some years ago! It's fun.

dracflamloc wrote:

Trond wrote:

PB wrote:> You can fit a pretty functional linux distro on a 1.44mb floppy

I don't know enough about Linux to know if you're joking or not... are you?

He's joking, but he doesn't know it. The X server with all drivers takes about 100 floppies. Without it no graphics, or with a smaller X server with only VESA driver, you get graphics, but you still can't fit it on one floppy.

Did you not see my reply? The 2nd link proved it. I'm not joking.

I think we have different impressions on what a "pretty functional" distro is.

muLinux fits on a floppy and with some additional disks it even has X-Server, Internet and so on.

If you don't even have a graphical system then I wouldn't call it pretty functional for my purpose.

Ok, from this site itself: (http://modest-proposals.com/Hacklin.htm)

The X apps available are: edx text editor, rdesktop client for MS Windows, retawq text only web browser, txplor dual-pane tree/dir filemanager, OXElmo email client, xcmd X-run command, bcalc 4 function calculator and a popup calendar with day/date/time. Also includes jwm window manager and all modules for NICs, block devices and file systems.

Seems like that would function quite well for many purposes.

Well, in my opinion a text-based web browser isn't pretty functional. I can fit that on a DOS disk as well.

Suit yourself man, but a DOS boot floppy isn't going to come close to what that group of programs can do. Especially considering a full TCP/IP stack and NIC drivers are included.

dracflamloc wrote: I want an OS that boots from nothing to complete GUI usability in under 20 seconds. Preferably even less. I want it to be a mouse-controlled GUI, but it doesn't have to be pretty. It should have at least basic TCP/IP networking and a web-browser (even if its not very robust). Anything else would be nice extras of course.

OK... I can see the flames coming, but I will chip in here. Is Windows pretty and functional enough for you?

I have a 1Ghz system, no fan, 512MB RAM, 2Gb (Disk on Module) HD, 4 USB ports, and sound, that does exactly that. Completely solid state, so it is absolutely silent.

Boots a stripped down version of Windows 98SE including IE 6, OE, TCP/IP, on and on. Takes 18-19 seconds to boot and 11 seconds of that is the POST. The entire OS takes up 25% of the 2Gb HD, including the drivers I need for my USB drive(s) (2.5" HD, CD-Rom, and pen drive).

Normally, I have one of these systems in my office on the office network, running a locally stored dedicated group of programs (about another 500Mb) and storing data on the network's server.

I have another one just like it at my home on a LAN functioning solely as an "internet appliance" for web browsing, web mail checking, etc.

Basically, I have all the advantages of Windows without the bloat. Plus I don't have to know a thing about Linux.

Berfore you ask, I have also built the same system with a full WinXPPro slimmed down to about 1.2Gb. In that case I used a 4Gb DOM to have some additonal local storage.

Its an interesting idea. Though with that technology in my PC i'd just do a persistent state linux installation, so boot time would be quite close to 1-2 seconds. I might try a slimmed down 95 though. The DOM isnt an option for this old PC i'm looking to use this on.

Anyone tried this OS? --> React Operating System

ReactOS® is an advanced free open source operating system providing a ground-up implementation of a Microsoft Windows® XP compatible operating system. ReactOS aims to achieve complete binary compatibility with both applications and device drivers meant for NT and XP operating systems, by using a similar architecture and providing a complete and equivalent public interface.

ReactOS is the most complete working model of a Windows® like operating system available. Consequently, working programmers will learn a great deal by studying ReactOS source code and even participating in ReactOS development.

ReactOS has and will continue to incorporating features from newer versions and sometimes even define the state of the art in operating system technology.

In short, ReactOS is aiming to run your applications and use your hardware, a free operating system for everyone!

http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html

This is still in development but it's realy good, and very very fast, it is a OpenSource version of the abandoned BeOS. It's especially suited for MultiMedia on slow hardware
http://haiku-os.org/

Haiku looks good, but it runs only on WMs yet.
I would switch to it, if it was installable and had a rather good hardware detection.
ReactOS also looks good - plus it's installable. I've got the PB IDE running on ReactOS, but the ASM-Compiler doesn't work.