Linux on a 486 dx2, need help

[grasshopperbe]

someone in my school needs a version of linux for our unix classes.
his new pc has windows XP installed on it, and double boot isnt an option .
Now he also has an old intel 'overdrive' 486 66 mhz dx2 with a 500 mb hd can get 32 mb ram in it, all isa slots.
He needs it for learning linux commands( working with files, tables, umask, cat, vi and all those other basic commands) .
For c/c++ classes he could also use a c/c++ compiler, we use vi for editing.
(i use cc and gcc to compile).
Would it be possible to run something of a graphical desktop on it?
(it has win3.11 for workgroups installed now.)
it doesnt have a cdrom drive so do i need to take one of my cdroms to install or is there an other option here.
any advice or tips would be very welcome.
ps i have a redhat 6.2 . could this one be used or isnt this a good choice?

[Statica]

You would need at least a Pentium class to get a GUI. I used to run a P150 with RH5.2 for my desktop. The RH6.2 would be terrible on that 486

[grasshopperbe]

Thanks for the help. so RH 4.x or 5.x
might do the trick?
would even a gui like fluxbox or blackbox be to heavy to run?
Does anyone have any idea if these are still downloadable? or any other usable distro from the same age.

[MaXimum SMOKE]

Looks like RH 5.2 is a 100 - 900 MB install depending upon your choices. No cd drive, is a problem, yes! My opinion, is this will be journey of aggravation. My guess is that the older provided gui will work, but the ISA video card (and it's available memory), as well as monitor, and lack of HD space could provide a big challenge. If he wanted to operate in level 3 (text console only) it could be a do – able install. Now finding the 5.2 isos... I don't know.

[grasshopperbe]

yep finding those distro's may be not so easy. the problem is that i never installed a dual boot XP - linux on a pc, otherwise i set up his new pc. (only installed mandrake 8.2 a few times on my 266) . And i dont know anyone elso who can do it for him. )
and even if i pull it off, if he has problems after a week he'll be coming to me al the time, which is not a good idea with my exams coming up.
i was hoping on getting it to run with text console only . he doesnt need anymore for his first year courses.
the only thing it needs is a c/c++ compiler
(at school, vi is used as c editor).
i was planning on putting a cdrom of mine
in it and remove it again after install or find a second hand one.
thanks for the help