I386 distribution doesn't support i386 processors?

Support & Help Requests Hardware
#1

Hi, I was looking for an Ubuntu distribution that would be working on older hardware. Seeing you were supporting Raspberry Pies and even old PowerPC computers, I was hopeful that the 32bit version would be able to run on my ancient PC.

I tried to boot ubuntu-mate-16.04.1-desktop-i386.iso (on a DVD) on a PC with an AMD K6-III+ 450 with 512MB of RAM, but the installer complained of a lack of PAE and CMOV. But these instructions were introduced in i686 processors and would have never be found in an i386? The K6-III is an i586 processor.

#2

Perhaps this might be helpful:

#3

The AMD K6 (and anything less than an i686 instruction set) haven’t been supported for years.

From 2012:

You can still run Debian Jessie on a K6.
http://linuxnews.2daygeek.com/2016/05/09/debian-dropped-i386-architecture-support/

#4

Hallo

I suggest you try “AntiX”, or its variant AntiX MX (which has an Xfce desktop). You’ll find more information here:
https://www.distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=antix

and here (I think you choose “MX-15” for the Xfce variation):

http://antix.mepis.org/index.php?title=Main_Page#Downloads

AntiX is designed specifically to support old hardware, including machines without PAE support.

http://antix.mepis.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

I installed it some months ago on an 11 year old IBM ThinkPad (Pentium M processor) - and I mean IBM. It ran. I would definitely try the Xfce variation as well, as you may find you prefer one over the other.

#5

PAE hacks won’t help, I’d be also missing cmov.

It is surprising to drop support for older Intel processors, but keep support for ancient PowerPC ones. I’m pretty certain mine would be beefy enough to run MATE, save for these pesky missing instructions. Same goes for minimalist distributions like Lubuntu or Xubuntu. Which is a shame for distributions claiming to be super lightweight and supporting low RAM and older hardware.

In any case, the 32-bit release on your download page should certainly be renamed, as i386 support is completely missing.

#6

I guess it’s one of those many cases of legacy terminology that just refuses to die - such as everyone still using the term “SSL” when they really mean it’s successor “TLS” :wink:

#7

The term old computers is perfectly right; you are confusing it with ancient computers.
That processor is from 1999, UM will never work on that hardware.

Do your homework!! :book::pencil2::hammer:

https://distrowatch.com/search.php?ostype=All&category=Old+Computers&origin=All&basedon=All&notbasedon=None&desktop=All&architecture=i386&package=All&rolling=All&isosize=All&netinstall=All&status=Active

#8

Do your homework!!

The thread was six posts long, I would have expected you to read it before replying.

#9

I have read it (because its me who know if I read something or not, not you) and I am telling you that your expectation to use something like UM on an ancient computer are wrong and the 6 post long is just wasting time. Do your homework and find an OS for that computer using the links I have provided you.:speaking_head:

#10

The real reason support gets dropped for processor families, whether i386, Sparc or old PowerPC, is really when there is nobody to develop and test the next version of GNU C compiler. There are numerous instances of “bitrot” in GNU C code generation for older processors.

With that said… Last I checked, NetBSD would still run on i486 CPUs. I know NetBSD version 5.x works because that is what I was using before I retired my AMD based K6 server farm. i386 CPU support was removed from NetBSD long ago.

There are Linux projects that have i586 (compatible with the AMD K6) versions of the MATE 1.12 desktop.

Good luck.