Well, Slackware is out of the game since the install images seeded are mostly for DVDs, but a ain't any DVD drives currently, only an external one, but not now...
DSL gives me the following error : " fatal IO error 104 (connection reset by peer) on X server ":0.0" after 0 requests (0 known processed with 0 events remaining. " A lot of people point to the refresh rates and proper resolution setup by editing a certain config file, but that one is present on the CD, so I can't edit it, only editing the file could make some difference, but I even tried lowest of the low settings available...still the error...will try the textmode installation tomorrow, maybe today at midnight.
Puppy Linux gives me error at CHS sector 0...I guess this may have something to do with the boot sector or the Disk Modes (LBA, Normal, CHS) - all in all, different usage of HDD addressing I suppose, right? Gotta google more...
I've discovered a DeLi Linux, not really sure what to expect from it or so, but it seems to be recommended for older / vintage PCs, such as the 486 class. This actually seems to work flawlessly, installation goes through a DOS-looking interface, this time even the HDD is used 😁, but nonetheless, even this one failed, but I guess I'll get it done - PRESS ANY KEY TO REBOOT = this is what I get after the install. The thing is that I formatted the drive in Partition Wizard Home Edition from the Hiren's boot CD 12.0 as an EXT2, by recommendation of my experienced friend, but I guess I should have left the drive raw and let the installation procedure to get it done - will retry.
FYI - I'm booting from a boot floppy to access the content of the installation CDs.
MOBO: PVI-486SP3 Rev 1.2
CPU: POD-83
RAM: 2x16MB
VIDEO: Matrox Millenium 2MB/Voodoo2 12MB/Video Blaster VT300
AUDIO: SB Vibra16 FM
SCSI: 72GB 15k RPM HDD/YAMAHA CD-RW 16x/ZIP drive + FDD drive
NIC: 3Com Etherlink III
PSU: 230W Generic
OS: Win95 OSR2.5