HD install minor issue (I hope)...

Forum: HD Install
Topic: HD install minor issue (I hope)...
started by: foomister00

Posted by foomister00 on Oct. 14 2005,00:54

I have a old 486DX2-33 8MB ram. It boots into DOS. I added a CDROM and a 2nd hard drive. I formatted the 2nd drive using DOS (FAT32). On the second drive, I created a dir called d:\KNOPPIX, and copied the KNOPPIX file, from a copy of DSL that I burned, into that dir. It now shows KNOPPIX in that cir (i.e. d:\KNOPPIX\KNOPPIX).

!!!!NOTE!!!! I amost forgot one thing:
I then unplugged the first drive and made the second the primary,...now one the computer has one drive,...formatted FAT32, and with a dir called KNOPPIX,...with a file in that dir called KNOPPIX.

Then I created a bootable floppy and fired it up. It boots and says:

"Accessing DSL image at /dev/hda1.../modules/cloop.o: init_module:
Hint: insmod errors can be caused by incorrect module parameters, including invalid IO or IRQ parameters
Can't find KNOPPIX filesystem, sorry.
Dropping you to a very limted shell.
Press reset button to quit."

So what have I done wrong?

Should I try?:
dsl fromhd=/dev/hda2

Any comments that could get me moving would be appreciated.

Posted by jimbo62 on Oct. 14 2005,15:22

I have never done that kind of installation, so my advice is just speculation. I would make the drive you want to use a fully bootable DOS disk, "C" drive. Then make the C:/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX dir and file on that drive. And you said you made a bootable floppy, I assume you made it from the correct image? Finally, I think you still need the DSL CD in the drive.

Good luck, jimbo

Posted by foomister00 on Oct. 15 2005,19:38

Still nothing.

As of now, my HD has the very basics working. DOS, sound card and CDROM using the IO from the sound card. I can get to the C:, A:, and D: (cdrom) prompts, but can only boot from my A: or C:.

Of what I've been reading on these boards,...does the disk have to be formatted as ext2 before the installation can start,...and if so, will the DSL boot floppy setup my CDROM so that it can install the rest of DSL via CDROM?

If it does in fact need to be formatted, where can I download a utility that will format the drive using DOS and either my CDROM or floppy drive?

Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 15 2005,19:50

I've also never done that, and don't plan to, but my guess is that your problem stems from using a FAT partition. If you want to run frugal i think you'll need to use ext2. Even if that's not the problem and you get it running on FAT, it will suck.
You can run DSL embedded on a FAT partition, but you'll need to run it from within Windows or Linux.

Posted by foomister00 on Oct. 15 2005,21:14

So if my setup seems fine and I don't need to format the disk from FAT32 to EXT2,...what am I doing wrong?

I boot up using the floppy, and get the error message in my first post. I checked the DSL CD I burned and all I see are the standard linux files.

Thanks for the help so far.

Posted by jimbo62 on Oct. 18 2005,04:31

If I read the Wiki correctly, the boot floppy should cause your CD drive to be recognized and DSL should boot. But if the CD is still not recognized, then try with the C:/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX file.

And the Wiki implies that your C: drive should boot to DOS without a floppy or CD.

The only other thing I can think of is to be sure that the boot floppy has been created correctly and that you have a correct iso image on the CD, not just a copy of some DSL files.

And by the way, if you want to install DSL to the hard drive, you should make a partition for the installation formatted Ext2 or Ext3.

Good luck, jimbo