sliderider wrote:I'm not even going to bother trying to install Linux on something that old. The distros from back then weren't as automated as they are today. It's too much work.I'm going to stick with DOS/Windows.
Na, don't do that man.. windows 3.1 is how far back you have to go to run worth a darn depending on your other hardware and memory... and finding drivers for any version on windows now can be a nightmare worse than looking for linux. I am going through the same thing now for putting together old machines had laying around for son who can't afford new computer. I know from my memory that is now fading terribly that I had this machine flying with both knoppix 3 and 4 something and linux mint, early version. There were actually a couple more that ran really well. Heck, one of the older live cd's, sorry I can't remember which one now, but all in and around those same time frame distro's, but it sang and was fantastic on the 386.
I am in the middle of the same thing now, just having to find some older distro's and download them and try.. it is way worth it than to go back to a windows 3.1 or trying to keep windows 8 from going blue screen every five minutes.
The live cd's are where to start, they are small and will tell you right away if it is worth getting a version to put on the hard drive. Heck, the live version would let you access all the hard drives and save files and stuff so it was just as good as being installed on the hard drive. Don't give up man, trust me... that old 386 will sing like it is a quad core on the right distro and no blue screens or trouble and it is free. did i mention the free part...
oh and you will always be able to find some old linux user who does not mind helping you and won't flame you to death for trying to ask for help like you would in the windows world. try getting someone to help you with windows 3.1 or 8, ouch, gonna be toast, 🤣...
We are on the same journey so let me know if you do find that magic number distro that hits the spot...
the bot