Installing FreeBSD when you have limited resources.

One does not need a brand new system to start on FreeBSD, just a decent system to learn. If you have a specific idea, machine, or configuration in mind, then you will need to have more patience and search more.
Where to find the equipment:
1. Goodwill. There is also an online Goodwill store at http://www.shopgoodwill.com/listings/listByCat.asp?catID=30&ending=Items
That is the computer section.
2. Craigslist. Look in your wallet/bank account first to see what you can spend. If the machine boots up, you can use it.
a. If you need to know about the performance, burn a live CD/DVD or make a live usbboot.img. Not able to do such? Ask a friend to help you.
3. Ebay.
4. The trash. That's right. The trash. People will throw away perfectly good machines because of wanting something better or a simple software problem.

The minimum requirements:
Minimalist system:
400MHz CPU i386
256M RAM
5G Hard Drive
If there is not an internal wireless card or if the card is not supported, then a PCI wireless or usb dongle.
A working CDROM/CDRW drive.
The ability to boot from the CD drive.


Internet browsing with Firefox:
800MHz CPU i386
512M RAM
8G Hard Drive
If there is not an internal wireless card or if the card is not supported, then a PCI wireless or usb dongle.
A working CDROM/CDRW drive.
The ability to boot from the CD drive.


Internet browsing with Chrome:
amd64 CPU 1GHz
1024G RAM
8G Hard Drive
If there is not an internal wireless card or if the card is not supported, then a PCI wireless or usb dongle.
A working CDROM/CDRW drive.
The ability to boot from the CD drive.


For any office software, add 2G of disk space.
If you are going to build from ports, add 4G disk space.
For FreeBSD source building, add another 6G of disk space.
Audio compression and studio requires at least 1.2GHz on the processor if you are using a basic box GUI. 2.0GHZ and higher and multicore along with +1GHz RAM is a good base for audio production.


Video requires more. If you don't mind carrying around extra equipment, then a usb graphics card and a small lcd screen can be used.


Where to go to start the installation process:

Look for a public wireless spot and ask if there is a web interface or just directly connected. Some libraries and colleges will let you use a wired connection for a few moments. Don't abuse the privilege.

Ask a friend. Again, don't abuse the privilege.Some people are willing to aide and assist you during hard times.

Ask family.

If you don't have those resources:
Be patient and start looking for a solution. Nothing is instant.



When you find personal information on the machine:
Erase it and do multiple base installs. This may sound ridiculous but it creates a few layers that protects the privacy of the owner before you.
"What if it is illegal or other?" Illegal items= you know what to do.
Personal items= contact the previous owner and ask them if they want their stuff back before you erase it.

http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/bsdinstall.html

That is how you install the system.