Booting process stops?

Forum: User Feedback
Topic: Booting process stops?
started by: gjhicks

Posted by gjhicks on Nov. 18 2005,22:15

Hi,

In the past, I have managed (very easily) to get DSL working, on a range of laptops and desktops. Never had a problem. Used to show DSL booting to friends and family on their machines - just to amaze them!

But, now have a problem.

Am trying to get DSL working on a PC clone, with a small ATX board (one of the square type) that has integrated sound, video and audio (SIS 620), 576mb RAM, Pentium II 400mhz, with two HDDs, CD R/W and FDD.

The booting process goes fine through the CPU, RAM, video, etc. Then the two IDE channels are checked, the two HDDs and the CD R/W are found (and correctly indentified).

Then the retro DSL "....no warranty...." message appears.

Then the boot process halts.

I have tried "failsafe" and lots of combinations of "noxxx". I tried taking out one of the HDDs. I tried Feather linux 0.7.4 and Knoppix 3.8.

Always the same result.

Any help much appreciated.

Regards,

Geoff.

Posted by cbagger01 on Nov. 18 2005,22:44

Try a Poorman's install:

< http://damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index.php/Boot_Floppies >

Posted by AwPhuch on Nov. 19 2005,02:23

Check out the bios...something is causing it to hang up...if not try the syslinux image of DSL

Brian
AwPhuch

Posted by gjhicks on Nov. 19 2005,05:15

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

cbagger: will do

awphuch: excuse my ignorance but I thought the CD boot used syslinux, there are such files in the 'boot' directory?

Regards,

Geoff.

Posted by AwPhuch on Nov. 19 2005,06:34

No the current.iso uses isolinux..there is a special release that uses syslinux that boots better on older hardware

< http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/damnsmall/current/ >

Brian
AwPhuch

Posted by gjhicks on Dec. 05 2005,04:55

Hi,

Sorry for the delay in replying - would not want people to think I was not appreciative of their help.

Have finally visited my elderly relative and tried the poorman's install and the syslinux approaches.

Unfortunately, could not get it to work.

Weird, as I have used DSL to boot at least 20+ machines (of varying ages, desktops and laptops) without problem.

Well, thanks anyway.

Bye for now,

Geoff.