windows emulator and X setup?

[Ken Scott]

On Fri, 2004-11-19 at 11:07, Marty Landman wrote:
> I've got a 600MHz machine with 256 RAM and a 20GB SCSI hd on it. It's 
> running Win ME in DOS compatibility mode for all three partitions although 
> otherwise seems to be running properly. Windows device mgr shows a PCI mass 
> storage controller with yellow exclamation mark - presumably the SCSI. Also 
> has a CDROM/DVD player which is its only IDE device currently.
> 
> This is a game machine for my kids in the family room and I'm debating 
> whether to install RH 9 on it which raises a few questions:
> 
> 1. is this adequate hardware for a full RH9 install including X?
> 
> 2. will RH likely have a suitable driver for my SCSI?
> 
> 3. is it possible for me to get this machine running RH9 and able to run 
> windoz apps, especially games?
> 
> 4. re. #3, what kind of effort, heartache, & misery am I looking at?
> 
> FWIW I don't mind spending a day or two on this and then finding out it's 
> not going to work. My kids have gotten used to the inconvenience by now. :)
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> Marty
> 
> 
> Marty Landman, Face 2 Interface Inc. 845-679-9387
> Search & Sort Easily: http://face2interface.com/Products/FormATable.shtml
> Web Installed Formmail: http://face2interface.com/formINSTal
> 
One thing you might try before you install anything is to boot from one
of the many Live-CD Linux distros to see how the hardware does (keep in
mind it will be slower running from a CD than from the harddrive).  You
will be able to tell if the SCSI is recognized, etc. 
I like to test with Morphix-Gnome (morphix.org) or Knoppix (knoppix.org
for download and knoppix.net for documentation).

Also I'd jump past RH9 and try Fedora Core 2 for a full install.

You can put Wine in the machine to run Windoze apps (or it's commercial
cousin Crossover Office http://www.codeweavers.com/site/products/).  I'm
not a game guy but I understand that getting windows game to smoothly
work in a simulated environment is trickier than with other apps. 

Blessings
Ken