Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 18:58:22 -0400 From: Steven Friedrich <FreeBSD@InsightBB.com> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: FreeBSD architecture Message-ID: <200408251858.22625.FreeBSD@InsightBB.com> In-Reply-To: <412D0FB3.4080608@daleco.biz> References: <ACEMKMIEACEKMBEHOEABMEDDCAAA.mewsette@bellsouth.net> <412D0FB3.4080608@daleco.biz>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
On Wednesday 25 August 2004 06:16 pm, Kevin D. Kinsey, DaleCo, S.P. wrote: > Riki wrote: > >Hi, > > > >I would like to know if FreeBSD could work on my PC. I noticed a lot of > >stuff about supported architectures, but that isn't my language yet and I > >can't tell if my computer fits into one of them or not. I would really > >appreciate your assistance. > > > >I have a pentium 4, intell processor. I have windows xp on one hard drive > >and I would like to put your software on the other. > > > >Thanks, > > > >Erika > > The Intel Pentiums, AMD Durons & Athlons, Via C3s ... and so > many more, are all (x86) architecture. Your Pentium IV is likely > a "686" class CPU [unless they've upped the ante again ;-) ] > > As someone else said, more likely to be at issue are your > hardware peripherals, particularly modems and propietary > USB devices. USB devices that adhere to standards [like > umass for storage] are fine. Some people have to jump through > a few hoops for USB scanners and some cameras though; it seems > to depend on what kind they are. If you have some expensive peripherals, > (maybe if you're a photographer, for example), you might Google for > "FreeBSD <<nameofmycamera>> Problems" ... if you find that some > device causes some issues, you might not be ready to run FreeBSD. > Of course, your next statement may mitigate some of that danger. > > You said, "windows xp on one hard drive" and FreeBSD "on the other"; > you'll be doing what's called "dual booting". You'll want to research > the "how to" of doing that somewhat carefully. Although FreeBSD's > "boot manager" can handle this situation if Windows doesn't interfere > with it, the possibility exists that it might. There are a number of other > "boot manger" programs (GRUB, LILO, GAG are three) that might help > with this issue as well. > > Welcome to FreeBSD! > > Kevin Kinsey > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions > To unsubscribe, send any mail to > "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" I've mentioned it in replies to other users, but it bears repeating. I recommend mobile racks instead of dual-booting. I stopped dual-booting in 1994 after MicroShit blew away one too many partitions. I now use mobile racks and I remove the MicroShit disk, which is in a front panel removable tray, and I slid in FreeBSD, or Linux, or anything else on a different tray. And I have two hardware identical boxes, so if one takes a dive, I can move the drives to the other box and whammo, I'm back in business. Mobile racks I use are only $35/US. Money well spent. And as I've pointed out in other mails, one box can then be used with a drive that you can experiment on, risking nothing more than having to rebuild that drive, and your production drive can be safely on the shelf while you learn new things.
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?200408251858.22625.FreeBSD>