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From: "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email AT nohavenotit DOT com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: DJGPP cross compilers for open-source hardware
Date: Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:33:40 -0400
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Reply-To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com

On Sun, 29 Sep 2013 17:00:12 -0400, RayeR <glaux AT centrum DOT cz> wrote:

>> (Unfortunately, there's not enough Windows 98/SE support
>> of hardware for my new motherboard.  So, Linux for Internet
>> and better working browser and media software than what
>> KernelEx supports... dual-booting for DJGPP...)
>
> BTW what mobo you have bought? I run 98SE on Core 2 Duo E8400 without  
> limits and it can run even on newer machines with some limitations -  
> here's the tread on MSFN about it:

Sorry for the delay...

<OT>

I was running on an MSI K9N-Neo F MS-7260 since (2007).
It died.  I think maybe chipset failed or the chipset's BGA
unsoldered.  I had two video cards have their BGA's unsolder,
so I began to suspect a heat build-up issue in the case.
The case doesn't have a case fan like newer cases...

I'm currently running on a Gigabyte GA-MA78LM-S2/S2H (2009).
The parts were bought new, but just not assembled for years.
It's a smaller motherboard with integrated video.  It definately
doesn't get as hot inside the case near the motherboard.

For the MSI to work with Win98/KernelEx/NUSB/SP3, I had to
disable the onboard sound and ethernet and use 98/SE compatible
cards.  Originally, I used Tihiy's patched Nvidia drivers, but
they didn't work with a newer card.  So, I used VBEMP, thereafter.
Except for scrolling, VBEMP was pretty good.  Unfortunately, it
was "closed" source even though supposedly derived from "open"
source ReactOS.

I could've disabled the audio and ethernet with the Gigabyte since
they don't work for WinSE either, but WinSE was having problems
with other devices and motherboard components.  I finally fixed
a few of them.  But, I figured I was missing out on full use of
my hardware, no sata, no multi-core, no vid drivers, etc...  So,
I gave Linux a shot.  Fortunately, I burned a Linux image at about
the same hardware era.

The MSI system was running fairly well:
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.os.msdos.djgpp/SjFrY1FHdKQ/SLFnhc-Yte0J


After a *bit* of work re-configuring VLocity, I'm quite happy
with it for daily needs.  It's the first distro since the mid
1990's that has ever supported *all* my hardware.  I'm still
not fond of the *nix commands and command-line and haven't
quite figured out the directory structure yet...  But, I had
familiarity with various command from SysV and attempts at
Linux in the past.  But, it's Gslapt seems to correctly
install/uninstall applications.  I had to disable a huge number
of default configs which started unecessary services and opened
all sorts of ports...  I had to run 'nmap' a variety of ways to
make sure the services where actually disabled too.  Some scripts
re-enabled them.  I also had to enable ramdisks, write-back
cache's, disk buffering, etc.  I had to enable and setup 'named'
since it was set by default to use automoatic DHCP and networking
that used master DNS servers... (cringe).  Fortunately, I used
a fixed internal IP, so using 'named' worked out fine. I also had
to adjust/test/repeat Linux networks settings equivalent RWIN until
they were finally up to about 90% of the network speed in Windows...
I don't know what's up with that last 10%.  The settings I had
to use for 30MB/5MB broadband were *HUGE* compared to what the
'net says they should be.  And, most of the network settings weren't
even in the config scripts...  I also had to change all
'hwclock --systohc' script lines to 'hwclock --hctosys' so it
wouldn't mess up the clock's time, but it still does so when it
screensaves.  I also turned it from multi-user to mostly single
for security, and set it for text mode startup but enter graphics
XCFE by default.  There are some issues still, like I can use
Thunar with Catfish to search for files, but I can't search within
them like with Win98/SE's search.  I'm having to use the command
line to search:
   find . -name "*" -exec grep -Hi "findme" {} \;

So, I'm just booting into non-networked, non-audio version WinSE
for various "remnant" issues and/or DOS console, although I may start
using DOSEMU for DJGPP.  I intend to remove KernelEx and any Kex only
apps.  Mainly, I need DOS access for DJGPP, but like the speed of
SE's dos console versus real-mode DOS.  However, I just got DOSEMU
working for VLocity.  So, once configured, that may allow easier use.
Hopefully, it's fast too.  I have another machine from the late 90's
where I may be able to play Quake3Arena again, if I "merge" the two 98
operating systems together (need one OS and apps, need other's hardware
drivers).  Many years ago, I merged a new install of SE into an existing
98.  Hopefully, all I need are the drivers from the older system.  The
files aren't usually the issue.  The various differing, needed registry
keys are usually the PIA.


Rod Pemberton