Laptops :: Dilema

Alright DSL brainiacs, try this one on for size.

My spare machine is a Dell Latitude LS 400 with a broken HDD. However, there is a CD-ROM that will boot the DSL LiveCD. I also have a 512MB USB key and a floppy drive.

The BIOS does NOT have a USB boot option.

I have already created a USB-HDD install of DSL on the USB drive but the BIOS wouldn't use it to boot with the settings for either HDD or Peripheral
as the initial boot option.

Is there anyway it could be possibe to run DSL on the USB key WITHOUT needing either the CD drive or floppy drive?

Thank you for your time with this query.

1) Try upgrading your bios. Visit dell.com support page

2)

no, but you can boot from livecd in order to run from USBHDD.

dsl fromhd=/dev/sda1

Also, you can buy a compact flash to laptop IDE adapter and then boot DSL from a CF card instead of a hard drive. Because the compact flash card will appear as a "hard drive", it will boot fine using the existing BIOS.

Or find you a cheapo 40 gig laptop drive..they are getting dirt cheap these day!

Brian
AwPhuch

Great stuff!! Thank you very much for the information. I may look at the compact flash and adapter as it is likely much cheaper than a hard drive and allows for more portability.

In the mean time I'll use the CD and USBHDD so I can back up any data.

Thanks for the help to both of you.

Welcome to the Revolution!!!

Brian
AwPhuch

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