Invisible typing!

[Julie]

I wanted to see what Linux looks like, so I installed Corel Linux (from a magazine) into an old computer. It installed quite easily even tho the system was only a Pentium 133 with 500mb HD, 32 mb ram and 1 mb video.
The display wasn't the best but if I chose VGA mode it worked OK.

The problem started afterward. Nothing that I type appears on the screen, just a blinking cursor. (I'm told this should happen with passwords, but there's not even an *)
So how can I set up a printer or internet connection?
Would appreciate any advice.

[kilgoretrout]

Corel hasn't sold a linux distro since 2000 when it sold it's linux business to xandros IIRC. Not exactly sure what your running if you got the cd from a current magazine.
At any rate, there are linux distros specifically designed to run on older hardware like yours. Take a look at vector linux and damn small linux:

http://www.vectorlinux.com/

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

The isos for both are freely downloadable from which you can burn a bootable cd and do the install.

[Julie]

Thanks, I'll check out those links.
The Corel Linux was from an old PC magazine (2000) but I found I rather
like it - everything is so intuitive. Wish I knew why my typing doesn't appear on the screen. I'm hoping someone here can tell me how to fix that cos I
would really like to check this OS out further, like set up an internet
connection etc.

[mrmister1]

Try out Mandrake. It is very intuitive and easy to use also.

[kilgoretrout]

Mandrake won't run on a P 133 with 32 MB of ram and a 500MB hard drive. I think the current installer alone requires 64MB of ram. You need a specialized distro for older hardware like DSL or Vector.

[Julie]

The reason I wanted to try Linux on this old computer is because I didn't
want to risk messing up my good one.
What about other Linux distros, like maybe Lycoris? Will that install on
on this computer? I have a copy.
Incidentally I think maybe my typing is not visible is because the keyboard
has not been recognised by the system? How does one install a keyboard???

[mrmister1]

Forgot about that. Your best bet would to use Damn Small Linux as kilgoretrout has said.