No clue what I'm doing!
Forum: HD Install
Topic: No clue what I'm doing!
started by: mattymcmatt
Posted by mattymcmatt on Nov. 09 2006,01:51
Hey everyone,Complete newbie here. I installed Ubuntu on my desktop this past weekend and really like it.
I have an old Compaq Presario 1210 laptop (16 MB RAM) my uncle gave me recently and I want to try out installing DSL on it.
The problem is that the CD-ROM doesn't read CD-R's so I have transfered the CD files via floppy to the HD. There's no USB.
Currently I am running Windows 95 on the first partition and would like to install DSL on the 3rd partition (because I'd like to try to install Deli Linux on the 2nd).
Anyways, like I said I'm really new and feel like I'm over my head here. I try following the instructions in the WIKI about installing to HD and from the forum but I get to a point where I have no clue what is going on and I don't know if I'm getting anywhere.
I can get to the point where I can execute Linux commands by booting from the bootdisk but after that I'm just lost at how to install it.
Is there anyone that could help me walk through this installation and can help explain what's going on? I'm really open to learning about how to do this.
Thanks
Posted by NewbieDan on Nov. 20 2006,08:14
Hi; I saw nobody replied so I am. I am newbie too! But I most be doing something right because I writing you on my old laptop using Wlan and DSL hdd install!I think the computer you are wanting to run DSL on is way to low power and low memory to being trying 3 partitions and operating systems. From what I have read 16 mb of ram is going to be able to run DSL and nothing more! I suggest you buy the DSL CD if you machine is to old to read CD-R. I am suspicious of that though. It it a common problem for really old laptops to not be set in BIOS to boot from the CD rom. I think this is more the problem that reading the CD-R. I could see a CD RW not being read. I dont think my old Thinkpad would either, but a one time CD-R shouldn't be a problem. Get into your BIOS during boot up of windows 95 and see if the boot sequence has the CD-rom in it. Add it in and then make it primary in the boot sequence. Then when you put in the CD live DSL it will boot directly from it. DSL is really neat for legacy machines but for us newbies the big drawback is documentation, or lack thereof. I have tried to read as much as possible on the net to get a working understanding of terminology. I still don't know what half the apps do, I just try and peck around and learn from my mistakes. I really wish there was an explanation of the DSL apps and how to use them such as the file manager and beaver etc.
Posted by mattymcmatt on Nov. 23 2006,05:56
Hi Dan,Thanks for the reply. I had figured nobody was replying because I probably wasn't detailed enough
I checked the laptop and it is able to boot from the CD-ROM. I know it does sound weird but I really think the problem is that it can't read CD-Rs. I have Windows 95 installed currently and when I put in a CD-R it either a) doesn't recognize that a CD has been inserted or b) will be able to transfer files for maybe a minute before quitting.
I will try your suggestion though and see if it reads the CD on bootup.
Right now though I've switched my Linux newbie enthusiasm to my old desktop (200 Mhz, 64 MB RAM) and I have a working CD-ROM for that. The only problem is that it seems to randomly freeze up when reading a boot floppy/CD. The BIOS says it's from 1997 so hopefully it's not past its time
Posted by mattymcmatt on Nov. 25 2006,07:39
Well, what do you know! The CD does get read on bootup! I wasted all that time transferring files by floppy...argh! 
I had just assumed it wouldn't work rather than trying it. Oh well, lesson learned!Thanks again Dan!
Posted by richjb54 on Nov. 25 2006,16:51
Another newbie here. I tried to load several versions of Linux and seems DSL is the one that finally works. Now, to get on the net! How do I install my wireless adapter?Also tried to install on HD and got to the point where it asks a few questions and then I hit continue to install, but it doesn't.