To quote the good doctor "it lives".
Finally I've gotten linux (slakware V3) to install on the 386, I finally
stripped the disk of the semifunctional version that wouldn't boot and
installed it fresh and it seems to run properly. More importantly it
boots properly on power up. Right now X-win is not installed as 8meg
is all it's got. One annoying thing is the autoprobe for CDrom, it's
slow. Generally the speed is good.
What has me fully baffeled is there is now clue what I've done different
since the last three times.
Now the next task is getting SLIP or PPP going so that it can access the
internet. Then I want to get x-windows and it's related tools going.
I also have to get an IP stack going on the dosbox to share files. Any
experts out there?
Allison