"no coprocessor" error on boot up

[Roger R Dingledine <arma@mit.edu>]

The short answer is "the kernel you used was optimized so that it
required a math coprocessor to be present." A 486sx is a 486 with the
math coprocessor removed (Intel marketing trick to make cpu's sell for
less). You need to use a kernel that has coprocessor emulation.

From: cognition@pingu.connectfree.co.uk
Subject: "no coprocessor" errror on boot up
To: independence-l@independence.seul.org
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 16:27 +0000

Hi,

I managed to install indy on my machine :) I had to put the main HDD in my 
other box, install it on there, and then transfer it back.

I then went to try and set up a network with my cable modem and windows 
box, but it seems the cable modem wouldn't recognise the hub. So I fired 
up my old 486SX, obtained two second hand NICs and with the intention of 
using it as a firewall/proxy server, I installed indy (by sticking the HDD 
in the windows machine and installing via there.)

Now when I transfer the disk back, and try to boot up (using a boot disk), 
I get an error message:

CPU: 486<0>No coprocessor found and no math emulation present.
Giving up.

[Then it just hangs.]

I've just looked out my old SuSE boot disk, and it works, as does the disk 
I copied the indy boot.img on to. 

I've searched the RedHat knowledge base, and got nothing.

Any help would be appriciated,

thanks,

cog
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