IBM Thinkpad 755CX Network Install
Forum: Laptops
Topic: IBM Thinkpad 755CX Network Install
started by: Alex[RM-UK]
Posted by Alex[RM-UK] on June 26 2005,13:06
Hello, I have an old IBM Thinkpad 755CX laptop with no CD Drive, just a floppy drive. This laptop has a 547MB hard drive (buying a new one off ebay, 12GB soon). There is no OS on this hard drive yet.
I've been searching for a few days now on how to install DSL or a Linux distro on it. (I would prefer to go for DSL as this think only has 547MB Hard drive space). Now, I have seen < THIS >
It talks about using TOMSRTBT to try and get my network card working. MY network card is MP3510, will this work with it?
Right, now how do I put TOMSRTBT on to a floppy disk and make it boot up. The file size of the .zip is 2.4MB, yet a floppy is 1.44MB - so how does this work?
I might be able to follow the rest of the instructions, not sure but if I need hlep - can you guys help me? Thanks.
Posted by SaidinUnleashed on June 26 2005,13:42
Tomsrtbt uses a 1722k super-formatted floppy.If you have windows 9x, you can grab the DOS zip file, unpack it somewhere and reboot into MS-DOS mode and make the floppy that way.
For winNT, I'd suggest unpacking it somewhere and getting a DOS bootdisk from bootdisk.com and using that to install it.
Posted by Alex[RM-UK] on June 26 2005,16:57
I don't have a WinX machine, all XP. Is there no way I can do it through XP?Also with this - will I be able to install any distro via network install then?
Posted by SaidinUnleashed on June 27 2005,01:19
Go to bootdisk.com.Grab one of the Win9x install floppy images.
Put a floppy into the drive.
Double-click the image file, and follow the instructions.
Leave it in and reboot into DOS.
cd to wherever you put the tomsrtbt file.
run the install script.
| Quote |
| Also with this - will I be able to install any distro via network install then? |
I doubt it.
DSL's network fetch script was designed specifically for use with tomsrtbt, because it is the most widely used floppy linux out there.