HDD install - can't use fdd or cdrom

Forum: HD Install
Topic: HDD install - can't use fdd or cdrom
started by: 307

Posted by 307 on Mar. 04 2006,18:31

Can anyone tell me how to resolve this problem please ?
I want to install DSL on a rescued POS terminal which is actually a PC with integrated LCD screen. HDD is 6Gb, and there is a USB port on the back of the till. Cant connect a fdd or CDrom as no option on the till, but can connect the hdd to a USB cable and prep it all befrehand. Have got the CD image from the iso.

Problem is that the install cant be done on another PC as it picks up the video kit on that PC, & when hdd plugged into tioll then the hardware is invalid. So DSL has to be installed "in situ" i.e. the hdd attached to teh till and the installation run from the hdd to be install on the same hdd. I can split the drive into partitions etc. but what partitions do I create and how do I get it to boot into the hdd to do the install ?

Many thanks for any advice - Pete

Posted by Guest on Mar. 04 2006,19:19

1.Do a 130 - 256 mb Fat32 partition
2.Make loadlin install on it (you can find instructions from dsl wiki)
3.Boot your new dsl system and look if everything works fine
4.Make a linux partition from rest of your hd.
5.do a hd install.
6.boot to dsl.
7.Change the first partitions type to linux swap, Fat32 to linux swap
8.and reboot, then you should have your linux up and running "normally"

Posted by 307 on Mar. 04 2006,21:52

Many thanks for that info - I've spent the evening researching this and had a look at all the DSL options..... missed the loadlin one tho.
I'll have a crack at it in the morning after the blizzard has blown over (wintry weather here) and see how I get on.

Many thank once again.

pete

Posted by 307 on Mar. 05 2006,01:44

Hey hey !!! I got it working !! its as cool as !!
Had to fiddle with the video settings as the till is real old & uses a Neomagic video chip. So instead of Xvesa I had to use the other one - Xbdev ? Anyway I got a screen display which was better then the Win ME we had previously. I can't believe this thing is running DSL.....

I'm going to do the whole operation again tomorrow and see if I can get a pic of the completed POS-PC !!

Pete

Posted by Guest on Mar. 05 2006,07:02

Glad you made it to work

Welcome to dsl!!

Posted by 307 on Mar. 05 2006,19:28

OK Dokey - done the rebuild on the POS-PC this morning with linux partitions created etc - boots just fine from HDD and display is good with vga=788 ( what does that do ?).

However, when I run the "install to HDD" option it goes through the process and the POS-PC hangs just before the reboot stage. I can't remember the dialogue, but I'll be back at it again tonight...... maybe the machine as just crashed, as it only has 32Mb RAM..... ( I'm looking out for a 128Mb stick which is what this particular POS will take)

BTW, the POS-PC is a Javelin Viper - try a Google search and you'll see what it looks like.

Pete