how to install my laptopForum: USB booting Topic: how to install my laptop started by: llew Posted by llew on Dec. 25 2005,21:53
Hi Everyone,I want to install dsl on my old laptop. I've tried every thing on this site and others . I've failed to install on this particular machine! (no proplem on other more modern machines, both laptop & desktops, via CD MACHINE: Gateway 2000 solo 2300 4GB HD, 2xusb(1.1?) cdrom/floppy one at a time install NOT both. CD drive works but doe's not boot. RAM 224MB, main chip speed 266. ethernet pcmcia card All working OK using libranet 2.8.x(debian) but slow (originally used 12xfloppy basic-sys. debian - which I can't find on debian now?) FLOPPY only: I've failed to install fsplit/gnusplit/gkt-splitter. So unable to chopup dsl.iso. USB 128MB booting(with floppy) was unsuccessful (I suspect the usb-pen is 118MB despite what it says, and have orderd anothre 256MB one. I've got dsl on it 47MB but couldn't det to boot. No BIOS usb boot. (I've also tried Debian USB boot/install but hit a size of usb-pen problem.) MAIN PROBLEM: (apart from not knowing what I'm doing and somewhat confused) cdrom does NOT boot !? so unable to use live/boot/install cd can use boot floppy-BUT can't hotplug cdrom??? so having spent many days trying every thing I can think of I am in need of some HELP!!!! preferbly step by step with no assuption of expertese in this. Thanks for any advice/help you can give. Posted by hawki on Dec. 25 2005,22:38
HiThis depends a little on how much junk hardware you have laying around. Since your laptop has usb grab an old ide cdrom drive. Buy an ide to usb adapter. This can be a usb enclosure for 5.25" devices or for temporary setup just a kit that contains an adapter cable and a power supply. The latter can be had for about ten bucks from places like GEEKS.COM. Download and create the usb boot floppy. Download and make the CD. Plug in your now usb cdrom drive. Boot. Have fun. Good luck Posted by llew on Dec. 26 2005,00:44
Hi hawki,Thanks for reply and info. I hadn't known about usb cd enclosures. I've ordered one! I'm hoping it works, as it would open up possibilitys re: older laptops. llew Posted by cbagger01 on Dec. 27 2005,19:29
Two possible ways to install.(1) Boot using your existing OS and with CDROM drive and DSL livecd. Copy the files over IE: C:\KNOPPIX\KNOPPIX or /KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX to your hda1 partition. Note the UPPERCASE LETTERS. Then shut down PC and reboot with a DSL boot floppy and floppy drive connected. (2) Boot DSL livecd on a different, newer computer and use it to do a USBHDD pendrive installation to your pendrive. Then try to boot it on your Gateway by using the DSL USB boot floppy. Posted by llew on Jan. 01 2006,19:00
Hi cbagger01 and All,I've cp /KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX to hda1, installed the floppy drive & dsl boot disk. It gives: "Can't find KNOPPIX filesystem, sorry. Dropping you to a (very limited) shell...." It ends up at prompt: KNOPPIX# I've also tried: boot:[enter].......loding...... boot: dsl fromhd=/dev/hda1 boot: dsl fromhd=/dev/hda1/KNOPPIX boot: dsl fromhd=/dev/hda1/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX What do I do now? llew Posted by cbagger01 on Jan. 03 2006,11:11
Hmm...Maybe uppercase letters don't work when installing to a Linux filesystem instead of a FAT filesystem. Does renaming the file and directory to /knoppix/knoppix help? Posted by roberts on Jan. 03 2006,19:47
I consistently use the pendrive install method.In fact that is why I added the install from pendrive option. I have an old lappy, no cdrom, does have a USB 1.1 and a floppy. It will only boot from floppy. Using a more capable machine, installed DSL to pendrive. Then using the usb boot floppy with the pendrive, boot dsl with the option install boot: install A text mode menu should appear then use grub install to hard drive option. It will offer an option to install from pendrive. Note: You must have your linux and swap partitions already setup. You can select quit to exit menu and make your partitions if need. Then best to reboot back to install menu and you are ready to go.. HTH Posted by _pathos on Jan. 04 2006,03:07
What filesystem is hda1? I don't know if the boot floppy supports more filesystems.
Posted by llew on Jan. 06 2006,20:27
Hi hawki, cbagger01, roberts, _pathos & All,Thanks for your help/advice etc. Sorry for long gap (the world just won't go away at times!). I made another boot-usb-floppy, I think I may have been using the wrong/duff one?! I recived another usb-pen-drive(256MB) today, went over the instructions several times, and after some experments with boot options got it to work!!! with floppy & usb-pen. Next, I'll try and install it to hd. I also now have an usb enclosure box for cdr drive. But have not been able to get it to work. I think I tryed to mount it the right way? But get kernal panic & hangs. It says on the instructions with the box re: linux: "3.4 Linux OS you can mount the device by the following instruction. Execute cd/etc/sysconfig/ (cat /etc/syconfig/hwconf/ | more) Check the device information in hwconf write down the mount point Make a directory in /mnt/ (ex: mkdir /mnt/usbHD) Then, execute mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/usbHD (if mount point was /dav/sda)" I don't appear to have 'sysconf' or 'hwconf', I think this must be red hat? Do I need a translation into debian?? I'm using a 24x cdrom, in the use enclosure. llew Posted by llew on Jan. 06 2006,21:36
Hi hawki, cbagger01, roberts, _pathos & All,the bit I forgot! while the old laptop is now able to use dsl , it does not like my: Mentor pcmcia ethernet card! (pcmlan-100pro 32bit cardbus). ( It works ok on the machine, using libranet(debian) but freezes with dsl when ethernet card pushed in, unfreezes when card pulled out! any ideas? llew Posted by afoglia on Feb. 15 2006,19:08
I don't have any experience with Damn Small Linux (I found this thread while searching for help with another computer), but I did install Debian Sarge on my Gateway Solo 2300. I do believe it can boot from the CD-ROM. But you have to go into the BIOS and manually set it to do so. It will either check for a bootable disk on the floppy then HD (default) or the CD-ROM, but not any combination. If that doesn't work, there should be a cable so you can attach the CD-ROM externally to the parallel port. Then you wouldn't need to find and USB drivers. |