Is this a big problem?

kb · 06-08-2004, 11:28 PM

When I try to install knoppix on my old, comp. it tells me "NO COPROCESSOR FOUND AND NO MATH EMULATION PRESENT." what does this all mean? Is this a big problem? can i still install knoppix? if yes how?

kb · 06-08-2004, 11:47 PM

ive been looking around and found out that, the kernel I used was optimized so that it required a math coprocessor to be present. A 486sx is a 486 with the math coprocessor removed (Intel marketing trick to make cpu's sell for less). So i need to use a kernel that has coprocessor emulation. But i dont know how to do this.

kb · 06-09-2004, 03:13 AM

this is a help forum, can some one please help me?

**baldyeti** · 06-09-2004, 10:30 AM

Does your machine actually run off the CD? Then the message you are seeing is probably just a warning. I don't know if this is stil the case, but I remember Klaus Knopper explaining he always compiled his kernels for i386, so that knoppix can demo linux even on older HW.

**eco2geek** · 06-09-2004, 10:46 AM

Herr Knopper discusses nuking math emulation in the debian-knoppix mailing list in April, 2003 (link). So it would seem your choices are somewhat limited.

You might:

Buy a 486DX/100 chip to replace your 486SX chip (if it's not soldered to the mobo);
Find an older version of Knoppix with math emulation still enabled;
Install Debian Woody instead (which is what I'd personally recommend).

(IIRC, 486SX's were actually 486DX's with defective FPUs that didn't pass quality control -- so Intel just disabled their FPUs and sold 'em for cheaper. However, there is still the theory out there that Intel did actually disable the FPUs on stock 486DX's and sell them as 486SX's, although this seems to be the "as yet to be proven" view.)

kb · 06-09-2004, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by eco2geek

Herr Knopper discusses nuking math emulation in the debian-knoppix mailing list in April, 2003 (link). So it would seem your choices are somewhat limited.

You might:

Buy a 486DX/100 chip to replace your 486SX chip (if it's not soldered to the mobo);
Find an older version of Knoppix with math emulation still enabled;
Install Debian Woody instead (which is what I'd personally recommend).

(IIRC, 486SX's were actually 486DX's with defective FPUs that didn't pass quality control -- so Intel just disabled their FPUs and sold 'em for cheaper. However, there is still the theory out there that Intel did actually disable the FPUs on stock 486DX's and sell them as 486SX's, although this seems to be the "as yet to be proven" view.)

are these the only options? does debian have emulation enabled? can i install debian and rund knoppix as a bootable cd? cant i d-load something that has the math emulation installed on it? and run knoppix? im so close and i need answers

kb · 06-10-2004, 12:21 AM

can i install debian with a cd-rw?

**eadz** · 06-10-2004, 02:12 AM

Try an older knoppix version, one with the math coprocessor emulation..

**eco2geek** · 06-10-2004, 07:27 AM

The reason I recommend Debian Woody is that since your computer's slow, stock Woody with a window manager like IceWM or Fluxbox would be just about right. (KDE and Gnome will probably run but very slowly.)

You can find out all about getting and installing Woody by reading The Very Verbose Debian 3.0 Installation Walkthrough or the official Debian installation manual.