topic title: Complete total utter newb to linux and antix.
Posts: 5
cueball
Joined: 30 Nov 2011
#1
Hello,

I'm looking into installing a version of antix onto an old desktop I have. I have no previous experience with this, and would like to install the os right onto the hard drive.

This computer is pretty old, I'm going to guess around 8 years old or so. It's an AMD Athelon XP 1900+ 1.47GHz (BIOS is from 2003). I have 514MB of RAM and approx 58GB hard disk drive.

What Antix version should I download? I don't understand the difference between 486 and 686 versions?

Is it that difficult or not recommended that I load the OS onto the hard drive? I don't see much written about this.

I guess we'll start there, but I'm sure there will be more questions.

Thanks guys!
Posts: 4,164
rokytnji
Joined: 20 Feb 2009
#2
Howdy and Welcome cueball. __{{emoticon}}__

Being new to all of this. I recommend using the AntiX 11 i686 full iso that comes with everything AntiX 11 has to offer.

Md5sum the downloaded iso to check for a good download in windows before burning the cd with something like imageburn.


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Once you have burned a AntiX 11 cd on a good quality cd. Just set Bios to boot from cd.


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Run as a live session first off the cd and post back here with a inxi -F (just open a terminal and type it in and hit enter) so we can look at your computer hardware. My M/C shop computer as a example:

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@biker:~$ inxi -F
System:    Host: biker Kernel: 2.6.38-7.dmz.2-liquorix-686 i686 (32 bit) 
           Desktop Fluxbox 1.3.1 Distro: antiX-M11-base-686 Jayaben Desai 25 April 2011
Machine:   System: GATEWAY product: W3507 version: 500
           Mobo: Intel model: D102GGC2 version: AAD70214-201
           Bios: Intel version: GC11020M.15A.2010.2006.0817.0956 date: 08/17/2006
CPU:       Single core Intel Celeron D CPU (-UP-) cache: 512 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3) clocked at 3200.438 MHz 
Graphics:  Card: ATI RC410 [Radeon Xpress 200] X.Org: 1.11.1.902 driver: radeon Resolution: 1024x768@85.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on ATI RC410 GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 7.11
Audio:     Card: ATI IXP SB4x0 High Definition Audio Controller driver: HDA Intel Sound: ALSA ver: 1.0.23
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ driver: 8139too 
           IF: eth0 state: down speed: 10 Mbps duplex: half mac: 00:16:76:dd:65:f5
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 120.0GB (7.5% used) 1: /dev/sda ST3120213A 120.0GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 109G used: 8.5G (9%) fs: ext3 ID: swap-1 size: 2.17GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 43.8C mobo: 43.8C 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 2253 fan-2: 1081 fan-4: 0 
Info:      Processes: 82 Uptime: 1 day Memory: 232.3/880.0MB Client: Shell inxi: 1.7.24
For a graphical screenshot tour on installing AntiX. I made one for my eeepc 900 which shows the installer and what you need to do . I would make a 1gig /swap partition on your computer also when doing the install since I do not show that in my screenshots.

antix-11-eeepc-900-install-finished-t3104.html

If using a wired connection. Disregard my wireless bit in the thread as you will be connected to the net automatically (usually) on boot in a live session. A lot of stuff I posted in that thread you can disregard as yours will be just a simple install (no separate internal drives like I had on my eeepc.

Here is some extra stuff:
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Good luck with it and Happy trails, Rok. __{{emoticon}}__
Posts: 1,228
secipolla
Joined: 15 Jun 2008
#3
antiX was the first Linux I installed too, back in '07. To be on the safe side, I watched
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(I think) and there are some that deal with the installation. The antiX installer was based on the one shown in the video.
The Athlon 1900+ is actually 1,6 GHz. I have an Athlon 1700+ which is 1,47GHz.
antiX will run pretty fine with those specs and if you double the RAM and put a half-decent graphics card from those days (like I have a GF6200/128MB VRAM) it will run very well most Linux stuff except graphics intensive on/off-line apps.
Posts: 5
cueball
Joined: 30 Nov 2011
#4
Thank you very much for the warm welcome!

I have done as you've instructed, and am booting off a CD that I created from the Antix-M11-686.iso.

Here's the text from the inxi -F

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System:    Host antiX1 Kernel 2.6.36-1-mepis-smp i686 (32 bit) Distro antiX-M11-686 Jayaben Desai 01 May 2011
CPU:       Single core AMD Athlon XP 1900+ (-UP-) cache 512 KB flags (sse) bmips 2940.63 clocked at 1470.317 MHz 
Graphics:  Card: ATI Radeon RV100 QY [Radeon 7000/VE] bus-ID: 01:00.0 X.Org 1.9.5 Res: 1280x1024@60.0hz 
           GLX Renderer Mesa DRI R100 (RV100 5159) 20090101 x86/MMX+/3DNow!+/SSE NO-TCL DRI2 GLX Version 1.3 Mesa 7.10 Direct Rendering Yes
Audio:     Card nVidia nForce2 AC97 Audio Controler (MCP) driver Intel ICH ports d000 d400 bus-ID: 00:06.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Version 1.0.23
Network:   Card-1 nVidia nForce2 Ethernet Controller driver forcedeth port e000 bus-ID: 00:04.0
           Card-2 Atheros Atheros AR5001X+ Wireless Network Adapter driver ath5k v: 0.6.0 bus-ID: 02:06.0
Disks:     HDD Total Size: 61.5GB (-) 1: /dev/sda Maxtor_6Y060L0 61.5GB 
Partition: ID:/ size: 16M used: 100K (1%) fs: rootfs 
Info:      Processes 82 Uptime 1 min Memory 99.2/501.2MB Runlevel 5 Client Shell inxi 1.4.95

I hope this helps you with recommending things for me to do. My next step, I suppose is to somehow 'install' this OS on my hard drive.

I haven't done much yet, but so far this seems relatively intuitive, and not awful in terms of responsiveness and speed.

Please feel free to send me any further suggestions or recommendations!
Posts: 4,164
rokytnji
Joined: 20 Feb 2009
#5
I have good news for you, You have a Atheros wireless chip so just type into wicd wireless interface box

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wlan0


and hit the refresh button and if you are near any wireless routers they will show up in wicd. The ath5K driver is already loaded. Your output shows you are good to go with a install. Go to and read/Use the AntiX main Page for cheatcode for getting max resolution out of your ATI card after install also. The live cd bootcheat code for screen resolution carries over to the install after a live cd boot and then running the installer. Hope that makes sense.

You look good to go.