iB::Topic::Move Hard Drive to other PC for frugal install ?

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Topic: Move Hard Drive to other PC for frugal install ?

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setecio

Group: Members
Posts: 89
Joined: Nov. 2006

Posted: Dec. 05 2006,19:11

I have an old thinkpad 560z laptop with no way of booting from anything except the hard disc. It has win98 on a fat32 first partiton.

Can I move the HD to another PC, then boot DSL from a live CD and do a frugal install to the HD? I was going to repartition it when connected to the other PC using Gparted and then try this with DSL frugal install.

When I move the HD back to the laptop will it boot up DSL OK ? Since it is a frugal HD install does this mean that it will work, because it will fresh detect the hardware of the laptop ?

roberts

Group: Members
Posts: 4983
Joined: Oct. 2003

Posted: Dec. 05 2006,19:21

Yes, hardware detection occurs upon each reboot.
Many users do this. Just pick a boot loader that you feel comfortable editing, as you may need to edit a boot option. Grub seems to be the favorite of most.

setecio

Group: Members
Posts: 89
Joined: Nov. 2006

Posted: Dec. 05 2006,23:04

Great

solves my problem.

setecio

Group: Members
Posts: 89
Joined: Nov. 2006

Posted: Dec. 15 2006,13:21

I'm trying to do this now, but before I do what I think, I just want to check something, so i don't lose or get locked out of my win98 permanently.

I moved the HD to the desktop, but can only get the desktop to recognise it as a secondary drive (hdc). If I attach it to where the desktop HD is attached, it is not recognised, if I attach it to the second IDE cable it is recognised, allbeit as hdc, even when I disconnect hda. I have it partitioned with win98 on 1st 1GB primary FAT32 partition, 800MB FAT32 primary partition, 800MB EXT3 primary partition, and 400MB linux swap.

So I tried to install DSL from the live CD.

During DSL install it asks whether I have windows on hda1. No I have it on what shows as hdc1, but what will be hda1 when I plug it back into the laptop. If I answer no, then I presume grub boot will take over and show only DSL on the 3rd partition.

Is it trying to write grub to hda ? in which case I will have no grub, or can I make it write everything to (what shows as) hdc ?

If I do this, and move the HD back to my laptop, can I easily edit grub to include the windows98 option on the first partition.

Thanks - hope you understand what I mean.