BeOS on modern-ish hardware

I tried to install Zeta OS and its setup did not recognize the Promise PCI card.

I am prepping for a clean install for BeOS 5 Pro. I seem to remember having a BeOS boot disc but it was not involved since that PC was not using Promise PC card or needing special drivers. I have to look for it now…if I still have it.

Thanks for the info!

Mmmm i have a pentium D 945 and for a cpu had varios ones including one C2Q Q8200 and C2Q Q9400 but no mainboard for that era socket 775 only for pentium D and pentium 4. Maybe with and nvidia geforce gt9500.

I just migrated my Zeta OS from an ASUS P2B-D (running 2x PIII 800MHz) to Gigabyte GA-8I945P-G motherboard. I tried performing a clean install–but I received “insert the BeOS CD” message twice…not sure what it wanted. So, I did the best next thing.

So, I created an image of my Zeta hard drive as a restore back up (just in case)–then transferred it to the new motherboard. It booted right up; however, I have only one video mode: 1024x768 16-bit. I tried a Radeon X700 video card–but it gave me a “psychedelic” desktop. I am lucky that the X300 works!

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-8I945P-G
BIOS: F11
CPU: Pentium D 3.0GHz
Northbridge: Intel® 945P Express Chipset
Southbridge: Intel® ICH7
Interface: IDE/SATA/SATA II with Floppy connections
Connection: USB, FireWire, InfraRed
Realtek Azalia Audio (ALC882 CODEC) [DISABLED in the BIOS]
Broadcom 5789 LAN (10/100/1000 Mbit) [DISABLED in the BIOS]
ITE GigaRAID IT8212F [DISABLED in the BIOS]

Peripherals:
Video: ATI Radeon X300SE
LAN: 3Com Fast Etherlink XL PCI Combo NIC
Sound: Sound Blaster Live! 5.1

My Zeta PC now just screams!! I just ordered a Nvidia GeForce 6600 PCIe card…I hope to get all the video modes. If so, I will be able to game at the proper video mode for the PC games: Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Quake, Robin Hood, Civ CTP, and others.

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I had issues with the X700 as well. I can’t exactly remember. Some things didn’t work, and they weren’t graphics related. I think it was something to do with the amount of VRAM.

I remember. I couldn’t issue any commands using the terminal. “BShell: cannot open pty” when using X700 card. With unsupported card with failsafe graphics, or x300SE, I had no problems.

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Once your total system RAM and VRAM approaches 1GB, all sorts of weird stuff starts happening.

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Depends, as you’ll want to note your installed physical ram versus available RAM.

For X1950 XT / GeForce 7950 GT or below, use a maximum of 256 MB of installed RAM.

This will allow enough “space” for other devices as well.

I didn’t have an issue with 2GB. Only when the motherboard had 4GB installed. There are ram limiting patches I believe. I don’t think I’ve successfully tested any yet.

Some graphic cards/IGPs don’t like certain 8-bit or 16-bit settings… :face_with_peeking_eye:

Using 2Gb with my Zeta OS PC on the new motherboard, no issues at this time. However, Zeta is having issues with the SATA II interface I think. I will try a SATA PCI add-in card to test–I believe that is SATA I. More to come…

I tried a Radeon X700 video card–but it gave me a “psychedelic” desktop.

RadeonX driver update was provided in Zeta 1.51 update. Was this installed?

I have not installed the1.51 update. I will install it and see what happens. Thanks!

I’m running BeOS R5.03 on Intel Core 2 Quad processor and it sees all four.

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