Revive Old Computers (R.O.C.-project)

[Cariboo]

Hello All,
and thank you for letting me join the Vector Forum.
I want to revive old computers, which people normally throw to the dump, with modern OS's.
The only way I know how to to it, is to install a Linux OS.
On the computer in question (See attachment)
I have the Vector Linux GUI running, but I don't have a mouse and the Robotics Modem at an ISA slot is not identified.
What kind of information do you want me to provide in order to help me with this issue?

Attachment:

EXPERIMENT-01

Install Vector Linux OS on the following hardware:

Mother Board:      ASUS VX97 Rev. 1.01 Pentium 54MX (200MHz, 128MB)
            actual BIOS: 401A0-0202v
            3/4 Baby AT Form Factor 24.5cm x 22.2cm (9.6" x 8.7")
Network Card:      SohoWare Fast Ethernet Card SFA110A
Video Card:      PROLINK MVGA-CL54XXP (REV.D)
Sound Card:      Sound Blaster AWE64
Modem:         US Robotics 94VO (ISA slot)
Hard drive:      Western Digital Caviar 33100 (3.1 GB)
Floppy drive:      3.5" x 1.44MB
CD ROM drive:      Panasonic (Matshita) CR-585-B   
Power Supply:      200W

What works:       Vector Linux TUI/GUI
What doesn't work:  Mouse Logitech MouseMan, Us Robotics (ISA) modem
   
BIOS Versions:      Installed January 2008
Length           Date      Time    Name
 --------    ----   ----    ----
   131072        10-26-98 10:32   TV5V0204.AWD
 --------                   -------

[rbistolfi]

Did you enable the serial port after install? If you are running 5.9 you have to do it. Go VasmCC, Hardware, Hardware Set, and enable the serial there.

Welcome to the forum, btw.

[Cariboo]

Did you enable the serial port after install? If you are running 5.9 you have to do it. Go VasmCC, Hardware, Hardware Set, and enable the serial there.
Welcome to the forum, btw.

Thanks rbistolfi, for the reply....
I'm running the Standard version...
What exactly do you mean by "Go VasmCC, Hardware, Hardware Set, and enable the serial there". Could you, please, give me more detailed instructions, kind of walk me through this.?

[nightflier]

Try it this way:
Boot to TUI and log in as root
type vasm and hit enter
Now hit the down arrow until HARDWARE  is highlighted and hit enter
-continue according to rbistolfi's instructions-

[rbistolfi]

You can know the exact version of your system running cat /etc/vector-version in a terminal. Post the output of that command here. VasmCC is in the System menu in the 5.9 Standard version. If you are running 5.8 Standard, I think serial ports are enabled by default there.

--nightflyer beat me, just a few seconds

[Cariboo]

Thanks nightflier, rbistolfi...
I got the picture.... I'm off to work and try later...I'll keep you posted...

[Cariboo]

Try it this way:
Boot to TUI and log in as root
type vasm and hit enter
Now hit the down arrow until HARDWARE  is highlighted and hit enter
-continue according to rbistolfi's instructions-

I remember that during installation a was given the option to enable boot time hardware initializations.
I did enable: apci, serial, parallel and alsa.
When I now  checked with

Code:

'vasm'

VectorLinux Administration & System Menu,
I found all these enabled = marked like this --->*

[Cariboo]

You can know the exact version of your system running cat /etc/vector-version in a terminal. Post the output of that command here.

Here is the output of

Code:

cat /etc/vector-version

:

5.9 Standard Gold built on Dec-16-07

[nightflier]

So there are two problems: The mouse and the ISA modem.

Mouse: Is it plugged into a serial port (little D-shaped plug)?
Is the serial port enabled in BIOS?

Modem: I haven't used those in years. Maybe this thread can give some insight:
http://howto.gumph.org/content/install-a-pnp-modem-in-linux/

[Cariboo]

Mouse: Is it plugged into a serial port (little D-shaped plug)?
Is the serial port enabled in BIOS?

No, it's not little D-shaped plug...it's similar to a monitor plug.

    (*)      Mounting Screw
 _____
/            |
| +  +   |
| +  +   | Nine prong female
| +  +   |   
| +  +   |
\___ +  |

    (*)   

Modem: I haven't used those in years. Maybe this thread can give some insight:
http://howto.gumph.org/content/install-a-pnp-modem-in-linux/

I only had a quick look at the link and it seems to be  helpful...
Thank you for your help so far, I'll keep working on it!

Cariboo



EDIT: Feb.03,08
More Help needed
I'll separate this thread in two:
1) Mouse Pointer visible but not movable
2) Install USRobotics ISA Modem


UPDATE: Feb. 24, '08
Mouse and Modem are working (I write this from that old machine)!

New problem:
3) Cannot mount CD-ROM drive! (New thread)