Trying to get DSL to boot on a Compaq IA-1

Forum: USB booting
Topic: Trying to get DSL to boot on a Compaq IA-1
started by: joosieroosie

Posted by joosieroosie on Feb. 25 2005,06:31

Afraid I'm just starting to use Linux systems so trying to get my head around DSL, Syslinux, etc.

I'm trying to get DSL to run on a Compaq IA-1 (Internet Appliance - 266Mhz, 32Mb RAM, USB & CF) with a USB Keyboard, I didn't get the Compaq IR keyboard with the unit.

I found a way to reset the BIOS and to get it to boot from the Compact Flash slot (through < http://www.ia1hacking.com) >

After a lot of trying I eventually got a copy of DSL 9.3 to start booting from the CF Card. I unzipped the USB Embedded Version, copied to the CF and then ran Syslinux to make it bootable.

However, I'm now stumped and need some help if possible. DSL starts to boot up on the IA-1 but gets to the "Press (Enter) to Begin or F2 for Boot Options" and stops. For some reason I don't think the USB keyboard is detected and so I can't "Press Enter to Begin". The USB keyboard is detected earlier because I can get into the BIOS but while DSL boots it is not accepting key presses from the keyboard, I assume and hope it will redetect the keyboard when it scans for USB devices later in the bootup sequence.

I need to know how to either:
Get DSL to notice the USB Keyboard before the "Press Enter" prompt.
Rewrite the booting commands so DSL will automatically boot without needing any input from the keyboard, perhaps through the syslinux config. I found some info on changing PROMPT 1 to 0 but it doesn't seem to solve the problem.
Find out if DSL is too high powered or requiring too much memory to be run on a Compaq IA-1 and that it is actually just freezing up but I don't know this as all I see is the DSL screen and the "Press Enter" Prompt.

Thank you for any help you can give to this matter

Ben

Posted by cbagger01 on Feb. 25 2005,23:01

You need to enable "USB keyboard emulation" or something like that setting in your BIOS.

FYi, if you do nothing for a minute or so, DSL will automatically boot up without requiring you to press ENTER.

Posted by joosieroosie on Feb. 26 2005,00:09

Yes. I have USB Legacy Keyboard Enabled in the BIOS.
If DSL automatically boots after a minute or so then I'm beginning to suspect more and more that the Compaq IA-1 just can't handle trying to run Damn Small Linux