Install dsl to hd on logical partition
Forum: HD Install
Topic: Install dsl to hd on logical partition
started by: AnD
Posted by AnD on Sep. 17 2006,12:56
I have an old laptop (pentium 133 MHz 32 MB ram) and it's running windows 98, what I have done now is: I made another partition (logical) and it's called drive d in windows. I downloaded the cd iso and extracted that and copied to drive d but when I start my laptop with the bootdisk from dsl then I have to write boot: dsl fromhd=/dev/
??I have no idea what comes behind dev
I know that there is 1 hard disk in the laptop so I assume that it is still hda1 and then the rest ?
Posted by antonino on Sep. 17 2006,13:39
If you omit the dsl fromhd at first the boot image will search your hdu for the knoppix-file and tell yoy were it was found (on /dev/hda1, /dev/hda2 etc)
Posted by AnD on Sep. 18 2006,16:15
| Quote (antonino @ Sep. 17 2006,14:39) |
| If you omit the dsl fromhd at first the boot image will search your hdu for the knoppix-file and tell yoy were it was found (on /dev/hda1, /dev/hda2 etc) |
It didn't give me a message where it is located.
It gives me:
Boot failed: please change disks and press a key to continue
??
Posted by antonino on Sep. 18 2006,17:13
Dis you put the KNOPPIX-file in a windiows-directory like: d:\KNOPPIX\KNOPPIX? Mind the CaSe!
Posted by AnD on Sep. 19 2006,10:46
| Quote (antonino @ Sep. 18 2006,18:13) |
| Dis you put the KNOPPIX-file in a windiows-directory like: d:\KNOPPIX\KNOPPIX? Mind the CaSe! |
Yes, it's standing in D:\KNOPPIX\Knoppix
What must I do now ?
EDIT: Ok, this is what I did now, I copied the Knoppix file to D:\
it now D:\Knoppix
I inserted the bootdisk and tried with hda1, then hda2 and then hda5. I have seen these hda partitions with another disk, a rescue disk from another linux distro.
Posted by u2musicmike on Sep. 19 2006,13:30
If your laptop has a usb port, DSL can boot from it. You might have to use another PC to do the USB install then boot up with the DSL USB boot disk.What is in those other hard drive partitions. If empty you can format one for ext2 with toms root disk and save your Knoppix and boot directories there. This post had lots of good information:
< http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin....t=14981 >
Don't be afraid to search the forum and wiki with terms like poorman, boot, fat..
Posted by antonino on Sep. 19 2006,13:56
I am wondering what's on your boot-floppy. Even when dsl didn't find the KNOPPIX-file on my hdu, it still started up in a very minimal config. I had to place the KNOPPIX-file in D:\KNOPPIX\KNOPPIX, all names in UPCASE!
Posted by AnD on Sep. 21 2006,18:12
The computer has no usb port and I copied the files that are in the iso file to that drive.I downloaded this < http://ftp.belnet.be/package....2.2.img > bootdisk
Posted by AnD on Sep. 21 2006,18:14
The computer has no usb port and I copied the files that are in the iso file to that drive.I downloaded this < http://ftp.belnet.be/package....2.2.img > bootdisk
I will try the link what u2musicmike submitted.
Posted by antonino on Sep. 23 2006,09:59
I used that one too, but I am still puzzled by your description of the behaviour after booting. Doesn't the very minimized dsl-kernel start up?
Posted by AnD on Sep. 23 2006,11:23
| Quote (antonino @ Sep. 23 2006,10:59) |
| I used that one too, but I am still puzzled by your description of the behaviour after booting. Doesn't the very minimized dsl-kernel start up? |
Everything from the bootdsik is working, I can press F2 and F3 to see more options, if I press F2 i can see the option to boot fromhd, that's the one I have to use but the problem is that dsl can't find that file to install dsl.
Posted by antonino on Sep. 25 2006,09:13
Do not use the fromhd option, but let dsl search for the knoppix-file instead. You should see the /dev/hda1 and /dev/sda1 etc flashi0ng by. If dsl still can't find the file, try it after putting the knoppix-file on a primary partition, not the logical one. And is your fs ntfs or fat? Cause dsl does not like ntfs...
Posted by AnD on Sep. 25 2006,15:29
| Quote (antonino @ Sep. 25 2006,10:13) |
| Do not use the fromhd option, but let dsl search for the knoppix-file instead. You should see the /dev/hda1 and /dev/sda1 etc flashi0ng by. If dsl still can't find the file, try it after putting the knoppix-file on a primary partition, not the logical one. And is your fs ntfs or fat? Cause dsl does not like ntfs... |
How can I let dsl search that file and I don't see those /dev/hda1 things flashing by ?
I copied the Knoppix file to the primary partition with no succes and it's fat.
Posted by antonino on Sep. 25 2006,15:34
Just by pressing <RETURN> at the boot-prompt, not supplying any options.
Posted by AnD on Sep. 26 2006,16:24
| Quote (antonino @ Sep. 25 2006,16:34) |
| Just by pressing <RETURN> at the boot-prompt, not supplying any options. |
Then it finds nothing, but the floppydrive is lighting up then and I get the message
Boot failed: please change disks and press a key to continue.
If I press again on return then it hangs and I have to do a ctrl+alt+del
Posted by antonino on Sep. 26 2006,16:33
Strange, because after not finding the necessary file on the hdu, dsl should start in a very minimized way. This looks like you have problems with your bootdisk. Mine contains the following files:boot.msg
f2
f3
german.kbd
ldlinux.sys
linux24
logo.16
mimirt24.gz
syslinux.cfg
Does yours too?
Posted by AnD on Sep. 26 2006,17:36
| Quote (antonino @ Sep. 26 2006,17:33) |
| Strange, because after not finding the necessary file on the hdu, dsl should start in a very minimized way. This looks like you have problems with your bootdisk. Mine contains the following files: boot.msg f2 f3 german.kbd ldlinux.sys linux24 logo.16 mimirt24.gz syslinux.cfg Does yours too? |
I have that too, it's the same.
Posted by antonino on Sep. 27 2006,16:16
OK, but I am still amazed by:| Quote |
| Boot failed: please change disks and press a key to continue. If I press again on return then it hangs and I have to do a ctrl+alt+del |
Ypou should get
| Quote |
| Can't find KNOPPIX filesystem, sorry. Drpping you to a (very limited) shell. Press restart button to quit. |
You sure the floppy has no bad sectors?
Posted by AnD on Sep. 27 2006,17:29
| Quote (antonino @ Sep. 27 2006,17:16) | ||||
OK, but I am still amazed by:
Ypou should get
You sure the floppy has no bad sectors? |
Ok, that was the problem ;)
I scanned the disk for bad sectors and it found some.
Now, when I press enter it's loading.
And then I have to choose a video mode, but I need to test them, I tried the first 2 but then it says "system halted"
Posted by antonino on Sep. 28 2006,07:46
Well, at least we are getting somewhere now :-)I got my old system going with F3 - dsl vga=787 and the xfbdev xserver
Posted by AnD on Sep. 28 2006,16:50
| Quote (antonino @ Sep. 28 2006,08:46) |
| Well, at least we are getting somewhere now :-) I got my old system going with F3 - dsl vga=787 and the xfbdev xserver |
That's true and thanks for helping me with this ;)
Well, I tried dsl vga=787 but how can I use the xfbdev xserver ?
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Sep. 28 2006,17:28
| Quote (AnD @ Sep. 28 2006,12:50) |
| Well, I tried dsl vga=787 but how can I use the xfbdev xserver ? |
Try running xsetup.sh (or with bootcode xsetup)
Posted by AnD on Sep. 28 2006,17:42
| Quote (^thehatsrule^ @ Sep. 28 2006,18:28) | ||
Try running xsetup.sh (or with bootcode xsetup) |
Strange, I did
dsl xsetup
and it gives me always the same thing
| Quote |
| Loading linux 24..................... Loading minirt24.gz...... Ready. You passed an undefined mode number. Press <RETURN> to see the video modes available, <SPACE> to continue or wait 30 secs ran out of input data -- System halted |
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Sep. 28 2006,20:12
Well, you just forgot about you did your earlier with the vga= bootcode.Try i.e. dsl vga=787 xsetup
Posted by AnD on Sep. 29 2006,15:15
| Quote (^thehatsrule^ @ Sep. 28 2006,21:12) |
| Well, you just forgot about you did your earlier with the vga= bootcode. Try i.e. dsl vga=787 xsetup |
If I do that I get the same messages
Posted by antonino on Sep. 29 2006,15:28
You might take a look at:< DSL WIKI VGA >
Boot with dsl vga=769 to get xsetup.sh running. Then when xsetup.sh runs select xfbdev on the first screen & then your mouse & keyboard.
Posted by AnD on Sep. 30 2006,19:45
| Quote (antonino @ Sep. 29 2006,16:28) |
| You might take a look at: < DSL WIKI VGA > Boot with dsl vga=769 to get xsetup.sh running. Then when xsetup.sh runs select xfbdev on the first screen & then your mouse & keyboard. |
Constantly the same message
Posted by antonino on Oct. 08 2006,16:58
It remained soo silent...Somehow my latest post didn't arrive.
Have you tried booting with dsl 2 so you go into textmode only?
Also see < WIKI DSL Cheatcodes >
Posted by AnD on Oct. 09 2006,11:06
| Quote (antonino @ Oct. 08 2006,17:58) |
| It remained soo silent... Somehow my latest post didn't arrive. Have you tried booting with dsl 2 so you go into textmode only? Also see < WIKI DSL Cheatcodes > |
I tried everything you said and I looked at that wiki page but it won't work. A few years ago I had installed DSL in that laptop but I can't remember how i did that.
Now I have given up.
Posted by antonino on Oct. 10 2006,10:15
Sorry to hear that, beaten by the machine But sometimes it is the wise thing to do, frustration might get you...
Posted by AnD on Oct. 10 2006,10:19
| Quote (antonino @ Oct. 10 2006,11:15) |
| Sorry to hear that, beaten by the machine But sometimes it is the wise thing to do, frustration might get you... |
I'm gonna try one thing, I bought an adaptor so that I can connect my 2.5 inch hd in a desktop computer and then install it via that way. Personally, I find that way not so good.
Posted by antonino on Oct. 10 2006,10:22
Hard to really give up, eh? 
Good luck!
Posted by AnD on Oct. 10 2006,10:25
| Quote (antonino @ Oct. 10 2006,11:22) |
| Hard to really give up, eh? Good luck! |
It's difficult ;)
thanks.
Posted by AnD on Oct. 10 2006,13:23
Ok, I used my day-off to try installing dsl on my old laptop.Working with that adaptor was very easy but then when I inserted the hd back in the laptop it wouldn't start.
It gave me an error:
Grub Read Error
On the desktop computer it gave me that error to after the restart.
The only hd that was connected was the laptop hd.
So that's the story.
Adaptor: < http://www.bay-wolf.com/hddadapter.htm >
Posted by antonino on Oct. 10 2006,14:27
Oops, can't if find grub, or is it damaged?
Posted by AnD on Oct. 10 2006,17:12
| Quote (antonino @ Oct. 10 2006,15:27) |
| Oops, can't if find grub, or is it damaged? |
How do I test that ?
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Oct. 10 2006,20:27
Was there a grub error code?If I remember, one of my older computers would only boot with lilo, but not grub - if you want, you could try lilo instead.
Posted by antonino on Oct. 11 2006,10:41
Somewhere on your hdu there is a file menu.lst (it should be in /boot/grub, but that dir is available after dsl is running...).However, if menu.lst is to be found and accessible from another os, take a look inside. You should find at least one line with the folowing command (the /dev/hda3, vga=788 and noxxx are examples):
| Code Sample |
| kernel /boot/linux24 root=/dev/hda3 quiet vga=788 noacpi noapm nodma noscsi frugal |
Posted by AnD on Oct. 12 2006,17:13
| Quote (antonino @ Oct. 11 2006,11:41) | ||
| Somewhere on your hdu there is a file menu.lst (it should be in /boot/grub, but that dir is available after dsl is running...). However, if menu.lst is to be found and accessible from another os, take a look inside. You should find at least one line with the folowing command (the /dev/hda3, vga=788 and noxxx are examples):
|
Ok, I will try it when I find some time and if that's not working then I will try what ^thehatsrule^ said.
Posted by AnD on Oct. 15 2006,09:38
I did what ^thehatsrule^ said and I took lilo instead of Grub. Lilo did the trick and dsl was starting, but then it told me from an undefined mode number, i waited and I saw all the things from my computer and then i saw this:Kernel panic: VFS: unable to mount root fs on 16:01
Posted by antonino on Oct. 15 2006,13:33
Sorry, I have absolutely no experience with lilo....
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Oct. 16 2006,01:12
It's similar to grub.. you can add your extra options as well.See < http://damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index.php/Cheat_Codes >