Trying to run an old version of RedHat

For my PhD project, my supervisor has suggested to install this (old) mathematical software: http://www.gang.umass.edu/software/cmclab/index.html As you can see in the requirements, this software runs in Linux RedHat 7.1/7.2 i686. I've tried to set up a virtual machine with the 7.2 version and, after the installation, the OS starts in command mode, and won't switch to desktop mode (needed to use this software). I've digged a little bit and it seems that these old versions are not able to install drivers for the "modern" hardware (or even recognize it), and therefore this system can't start in the graphic mode because it has not clue how to use the screen... Right, so as far as I can see I have two options: 1. Try to (somehow) find and install in command mode the right drivers for my graphic card, and hope that this solves the issue. [I'd say very unlikely] 2. Try to install another distribution (maybe similar enough to enigma 7.2) in which this software can run. This looks like a decent idea, but I don't know which distribution I could pick. This is a software made by a mathematician with who I don't have contact, so I can't ask them if there is such an alternative. Could anyone, based on the very little information provided in the software web page, help me choosing the "right" distribution? Or maybe does someone have some hope in the first option?