Glenn Gilbreath Jr. wrote: > > if I were just handed a PC AT x86 based computer and not > told what it contained in regards to RAM, HD size, peripherals, > etc., the FASTEST and easiest way to find out something about > that system would not be to plop a CD in a drive and try to > get Linux up and running...it would be to find your trusty DOS > installation diskettes...
A while back, when I was on the lookout for secondhand PCs, I used to carry two floppies: (1) A bootable DOS with PCcheck and SYScheck. (2) A Linux boot floppy (no filesystem, just the kernel). I found that the kernel (dmesg) data screen was a fast way to get heaps of information (including data on a network card -- I know of no easy way of doing that in DOS). > I'd lay odds that most of us could have that system up and > running, telling us what it contained in less than 30 minutes > using DOS! The Linux kernel immediately spits out screenfuls of info. You just have to wait a minute or two for it to boot from the floppy. The DOS floppy boots in half the time. But, by the time you execute SYScheck and page though the data, there's not that much difference. Cheers, Steven To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message. Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies. More info can be found at; http://www.softcon.com/archives/SURVPC.html
