Ancient notebook won't run Prime95

kwstone · 2004-01-14, 15:00

I have an ancient notebook gathering dust which I thought make a small contribution by doing some factoring work.

It an old Digital HiNote VP which has a Pentium MMX 166 MHz processor and running Windows 95.

I got Prime 95 to install and start up. It detects the processor correctly and I can successfully run a benchmark, but if I actually try to start factoring a number or run the Torture Test, it starts by displaying the lines

Mersenne number primality test program version 23.4
Starting factoring M24409481 to 2^67

Then it sits there for ever and does nothing.

Is Pentium MMX not a supported processor? Or is the problem deeper than that?

Anything I can do about it?
Or should I return the machine to service as a doorstop?

Uncwilly · 2004-01-14, 16:07

Try going to the Options: Prefrences menu.
Change the setting for Iterations between screen outputs: to something like 10.

Go have a

, eat a

, and go back and look at the screen. You should see some progress. If not, the machine may be NG. Otherwise, it is working

I would suggest that you use the machine to help out the LMH crew, as the machine can be of better use there.

Pablo the Duck · 2004-01-14, 19:39

Install Linux, preferably without X windows. (Slackware or Debian would be a good choice) and run mprime from a tty console.

You'd probably need to to connect to an internet gateway by ethernet though because it's a fair that any built in modem won't work under Linux.

markr · 2004-01-15, 00:10

I have a P166 MMX desktop that used to do TF: to 2^66 took three weeks. I was fine with that. But now TF assignments are to 2^67... that box now makes a small contribution to LMH. It has also been demoted to print server.

kwstone · 2004-01-15, 00:11

Well, in the end I didn't get round to trying either suggestion. While messing around with it, it crashed a couple of times, and after the 2nd reboot Prime95 magically started working. I'm not touching anything now and just hope it keeps going.

I guess it just feels cranky in its old age.

2004-01-14, 15:00	#1
kwstone Jun 2003 Shanghai, China 109 Posts	Ancient notebook won't run Prime95 I have an ancient notebook gathering dust which I thought make a small contribution by doing some factoring work. It an old Digital HiNote VP which has a Pentium MMX 166 MHz processor and running Windows 95. I got Prime 95 to install and start up. It detects the processor correctly and I can successfully run a benchmark, but if I actually try to start factoring a number or run the Torture Test, it starts by displaying the lines Mersenne number primality test program version 23.4 Starting factoring M24409481 to 2^67 Then it sits there for ever and does nothing. Is Pentium MMX not a supported processor? Or is the problem deeper than that? Anything I can do about it? Or should I return the machine to service as a doorstop?

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2004-01-14, 16:07	#2
Uncwilly 6809 > 6502 """"""""""""""""""" Aug 2003 101×103 Posts 7×17×89 Posts	Try going to the Options: Prefrences menu. Change the setting for Iterations between screen outputs: to something like 10. Go have a , eat a , and go back and look at the screen. You should see some progress. If not, the machine may be NG. Otherwise, it is working I would suggest that you use the machine to help out the LMH crew, as the machine can be of better use there.

2004-01-14, 19:39	#3
Pablo the Duck Dec 2003 Team China 2×3³ Posts	Install Linux, preferably without X windows. (Slackware or Debian would be a good choice) and run mprime from a tty console. You'd probably need to to connect to an internet gateway by ethernet though because it's a fair that any built in modem won't work under Linux.

2004-01-15, 00:10	#4
markr "Mark" Feb 2003 Sydney 3·191 Posts	I have a P166 MMX desktop that used to do TF: to 2^66 took three weeks. I was fine with that. But now TF assignments are to 2^67... that box now makes a small contribution to LMH. It has also been demoted to print server.

2004-01-15, 00:11	#5
kwstone Jun 2003 Shanghai, China 109 Posts	Well, in the end I didn't get round to trying either suggestion. While messing around with it, it crashed a couple of times, and after the 2nd reboot Prime95 magically started working. I'm not touching anything now and just hope it keeps going. I guess it just feels cranky in its old age.