Linux - non adventures

[zlim]

After reading Muck's and Colin's adventures, I thought I'd add my own frustrations. Unlike them, I did not install a linux distro. It wasn't that I didn't try. I have a very old computer (120MHz upgraded from 95 to 98SE with a 1.2 gig hd). I installed a 4 gig spare hd, that I had partioned into 4 parts. I then discovered that all the partions were too small to install Mandrake v6. I picked that because it has a boot floppy before it loads from the CD. My computer won't boot from a CD.I decided to fdisk the 4 gig drive. As soon as I fdisked the drive disappeared because that old computer has a 2.1 gig limit, it couldn't see the drive to format it. I pulled the drive out, put it into an external USB enclosure and tried to get it recognized on another computer. I tried my 2K desktop, my 2K and ME notebooks and my other 98 tower. No go on any of them. Unformatted USB drives I guess have a problem being recognized. Next, open the 98 tower and put the drive in via cable. Finally it was recognized and I fdisked it and created two partions. I put it back into the old computer and started to install Mandrake 6. It got to a certain point and quit. I tried twice and both times it aborted. I guess it doesn't like that computer. So I decided to pull it out of the old computer and put it in my newer 98 tower. After days of just getting it recognized, I will use the drive somewhere!Then more fun. It was very hard to get it in my 98 tower. It has 4 drives: hd, CDR, DVD and floppy. There is room for a drive but I had to install rails. I got the rails on and when I screwed the rails to the cage, the screws prevented the cage from moving - they kept binding on the metal. I decided I'd have to put the rails on upside down. Then there was only one place where the holes matched an opening in the cage. At this point I was ready to attach the drive with duct tape and chewing gum! I finally attached it with a screw and a nut! It's the only way I could get it to hold. Next time I'll just use crazy glue! I booted up and the drive was good. Since it is a newer computer and can boot from a CD, I'm not going to put Mandrake v6 on it. I decided I may put Mephis on it. I booted the live CD to see if it was a good fit.I had problems: no sound, ap get and synaptic seems to have problems (I'll read mommabear's posts because I think she was working on synaptic and Mephis). I tried to update FF but no sure what to do with tar (I read a few threads with problems with tar). I'm not even sure it was downloaded. At this point, I'm not ready and neither are all the patient helpers here for me to tackle Mephis. I'll fire up Live Ubuntu and if that works better at finding my sound and updating what I want, then I'll install that. But that will be another thread, LOL.In the meantime, I'll see if I can figure out PCLos on my 2K computer.

[Bruno]

Hi LizI think you will have a hard time installing any modern distro on 120Mhz and 1.2GB HD ( wonder haw many RAM you have there . . . ) . . . I think the only disto suited for those specs is VectorLinux ( specially made for old hardware ), or Puppy Linux or maybe Ark-Linux . . . Vector 3.2 ( maybe 5.0 ) is your best option though. ( http://www.ibiblio.org/vectorlinux/ ) Bruno

[havnblast]

Don't forget D*** Small Linux - it appears to work on anything.I can't imagin running 120mhz, I thought 400mhz was bad. I run slackware on a PII 400 and a PII 350 - just have to have the drive space and ram is all and she will run like a charm

[zlim]

I "upgraded" from 16 megs to 48 megs of RAM years ago. The box says 16 megs minimum, 64 recommended so I thought I'd give it a shot with 48 megs. I don't think RAM was the problem. Of course 72 pin SIMMS cost too much for so little so I don't want to spend money buying any more. Someone sent me an old vid card and I installed that last year. The problem is...I can't consider the distros you are mentioning because the computer is unable to boot from a CD. The boxed set of Mandrake 6 had a floppy and 3CDs, the #3 CD has a special edition of PM so I could start the install from within windows.The bottom line, I'm writing that computer off. Maybe I will try to put new things in it (mobo, CPU, ps, etc). It is not a tower and I do like the old form factor. I used to set my printer on top of the computer.I have dsl, puppy, SLAX and austrumi burned but they don't do me any good for that computer. I won't use puppy because I tried it in 3 other computers here and it froze all three.

Edited October 4, 2005 by zlim

[Bruno]

I would not want to look stubborn . . . but VectorLinux 3.2 seems the ticket to me . . . it has boot-floppies for those that can not boot from CD . . . . Bruno

[zlim]

Bruno, you could never look stubborn. The only thing stopping me now is that I no longer have the 4 gig hd in the old 120MHz computer. After all the trouble I had putting it into another computer, I'm not willing to remove it again. I will at least download Vector Linux (in case I stumble over another old small hd that someone wants to get rid of).I do appreciate all the help that you give for us new linux explorers. For now, I will work on PCLos on my AMD Sempron@2400+gig and 1 meg RAM and later I will ask for help if I decide to install Mephis or Ubuntu on the 533MHz 192megs of RAM.Do I download the seven floppies? http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distri...inux-3.2/disks/ Which one do I put into the computer first? I'll mark the floppies so I know what do do should I decide to tackle this in the future.

Edited October 5, 2005 by zlim

[quint]

Do I download the seven floppies? http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distri...inux-3.2/disks/ Which one do I put into the computer first? I'll mark the floppies so I know what do do should I decide to tackle this in the future.

zlim, I believe you will find the answer here:

These are the generic install instructions for Vector-Linux 3.2. If you areinstalling from a CD then you just need to boot the CD and follow theinstallation instructions. If you are downloading from the ftp site then followthe next instructions closely. These instructions assume you are installing thesystem from a hard drive partition either linux or win/dos. First you need tomake a veclinux directory at the root of either your dos or linux partition. Foryou windows/dos users a look at your partition with a filemanager, you should seec:\veclinux, linux users should see /veclinux. Now you need to download to theveclinux directory the following files:veclinux.bz2 -------base filesystem can be used as console/text linux system.One of the following if you wish a graphical system.xf421.bz2------The pentium based X gui systemxf336.bz2-------The i386 based X gui systemIf you have a fairly recent computer get xf421.bz2. If you are using a veryearly pentium (60, 75, 100) or a 486 system get xf336.bz2.From the kernel directory you need at least one package depending on your systemhardware.pentide.bz2------fairly recent computers using only the ide standardpentscsi.bz2-----recent computers using scsi based hardware. If you don't knowthen get this one as it has ide support as well.i386ide.bz2-----same as above but for older computersi386scsi.bz2-----same as above but for older computers (has ide and scsi support).Last but not least you need a bootdisk to match your hardware and a rootdiskfor installation. You can find the bootdisk images and the rootdisk image in thedisks directory. Download the rootdisk.img and the boot image of your choice:i386ide.imgi386scsi.imgpentide.imgpentscsi.imgTheir names match with the above hardware descriptions. These do not need to gointo the veclinux directory as you simply need to transfer the rootdisk.gz imageand one of the bootdisk images to floppy disks. Linux users can do this easilyusing the 'dd' program. For linux 'dd if=rootdisk.img of=/dev/fd0' will work thensubstitute the boot image name and do the same for the boot disk i.e ddif=pentide.img of=/dev/fd0. Dos/win users can use a program called rawrite toaccomplish the same thing. Rawrite is available from the dostools directory atthe top level of the vectorlinux directory. Once you have it installed open ados box and call the program this way 'rawrite rootdisk.img a:\' and do the samefor a boot disk image (note rawrite and the images need to be in the samelocation). Okay thats it, insert the boot disk in the floppy drive reboot thecomputer and follow the instructions............have fun !!!Robert

[Bruno]

Hi LizYou only need the boot-floppy and a root-floppy that matches your CPU. ( can be a bit complicated but see it as a challenge ) And you only need an HD of 1 or 2 GB to do the install and after the install 2 or 3 updates ( that is all there is needed to get the mouse scrolling )Anyway, have fun with PCLos first :DB) Bruno

[zlim]

I grabbed two floppies. I think I picked what I needed (not sure) pentide.img and rootdisk.imgI'm not sure what to make of downloading files that end in bz2 to the veclinux directory. I don't think I'm ready for that. That particular computer doesn't have a nic, just an external USR 56K modem that I use on the very rare ocassions that I take it on the internet. It'm easier to just use a broadband connection on another computer, get the files and put them on a flash drive to install on the moldy oldie.

Edited October 5, 2005 by zlim

[Bruno]

I'm not sure what to make of downloading files that end in bz2 to the veclinux directory.

Hi Liz . . you do not need those . . . you only need the floppies and the ISO burned to CD . . . the floppies will enable your older hardware to boot from the CD.You start with the boot-floppy and that will ask for the root-floppy . . and if you have the correct floppies it will ask for the CD in the end. Note, sometimes it fools you believing you have the correct floppy but then when you insert the root-floppy the trick fails . . . well, then you know you have to try another boot-floppy . . . . . . It is a kind of puzzle . . and it is fun because in the end it does work :DB) Bruno

[zlim]

Thanks Bruno. I'm off to find the iso of v3.2 but I have 1 question. I never dealt with .img file. Do I just right click and send it to a floppy? (I'm working in windows).

[Bruno]

Thanks Bruno. I'm off to find the iso of v3.2 but I have 1 question. I never dealt with .img file. Do I just right click and send it to a floppy? (I'm working in windows).

Yep you simply copy the the .img files to floppy in Windows like you are used to. Only the ISO file needs "special treatment" so you don't end up with the ISO on a CD but the files that are in the ISO ( burn image as Nero calls it . . . ) Bruno

[zlim]

Thanks. I burned the ISO earlier today now I'll put the floppies with the CD and my notes and archive Vector Linux v. 3.2.

Edited October 7, 2005 by zlim

[zlim]

I can't get the root and boot floppies to go on a floppy.First I got the message too large to fit on the floppy, even though the size appears to be 1.39 megs. (Just checked a formatted floppy only holds 1.38 megs so I can see that it won't fit). I have a small program called smart format. I can format floppies to hold 1.72 megs. I did that. I get "the disk in the destination drive is full" . I then click retry because the floppies are blank and I get the not enough free disk space, even though only 42k is used for the file system.I will move the files to another computer just to see if it isn't a problem on this computer. I lost my Copy Disk in my right click menu a few days ago. I have registry directions to restore it but nothing I've done so far has worked. So it could be a problem with the floppy drive or the computer.If that doesn't work, I'll split the root and boot and use two floppies instead of one for each.

Edited October 7, 2005 by zlim

[Bruno]

Hi LizIs there a possibility to make the floppies in Linux ?? ( Do you have a Linux system to make them ) Burno

[zlim]

Yikes. I don't know how to do that. I'm not sure I even mounted my floppy in PCLos. The files are sitting on my windows desktop so I'd have to put them on a flash drive then mount the flash drive in linux then mount the floppy - I think that will be a lesson for another day.Are floppies formatted FAT32 to use in linux?

[Bruno]

Are floppies formatted FAT32 to use in linux?

Yep . . no problemAnd once you have the files transported to /home/liz in PCLos you do not have to mount the floppy . . you simply do:

$ su<type password># dd  if=/home/liz/<filename>  of=/dev/fd0

( replace <filename> ) BrunoPS: You could also mount the Windows drive and get the file from there to PCLos so you will not have to use an USB-key . . . . I can write you the instructions if you want.

[zlim]

Yup, if you're still on, I'll take the steps.I can try it and if I can't get it to work, I'll move to plan B and C usinf windows and another computer.

[Bruno]

Okay . . . suppose your Windows is on hda1 ( if not replace where I write hda1 )Boot PCLos and open a terminal . . then:

$ su< rootpassword ># mkdir  /mnt/hda1# mount  /dev/hda1  /mnt/hda1

Then open your konqueror filebrowser ( "home" ) and type in the addressbar:

file:/mnt

And /mnt will open and you will see the hda1 directory ( that is your Windows partition ) . . . . just click your way through to find the files you need . . . . then drag them to your PCLos desktop. ( and choose "copy" from the pop-up menu you get when you drop them )After you have the files the command to copy them to floppy changes only in one aspect . . the path to the <filename> is not /home/liz but /home/liz/Desktop/ . . . so:

# dd if=/home/liz/Desktop/<filename> of=/dev/fd0

:DB) Bruno

[zlim]

I will try this later when I boot into PCLos and let you know how it went. Thanks!

[Bruno]

It a pleasure ! ;) BrunoPS: I am closing for the night . . . will see the results in the morning

[zlim]

I'm glad I have sound because I get to hear breaking glass when something doesn't work!I'm back in windows just to re-copy what I wrote because I got so many error messages that I thought I might have miswritten things.Errors:mkdir cannot create directory File exists2. unknown host followed by the filname I typed in3. filename: /mnt to that I get malformed urlI checked /mnt and I have hda1 with no lock, hda1 with a lock and of course am told that I don't have the necessary permissions and Win_CI tried looking in them but I'm not sure how to do what would be like using windows explorer.I'm going to re-copy the notes and have another go.I'm not sure if I have to unmount using the umount when I'm finished. I didn't I just logged out and restarted the computer, trusting that PCLos would unmount everything.Eventually if I figure out how to mount properly, I would like to put an icon on my desktop so I could look at some files if I wanted to.First error I found, instead of typing file:/mnt I typed the actual name of a file!

Edited October 8, 2005 by zlim

[Bruno]

Hi LizIf you already have a /mnt/win_c then the drive is probably already mounted and you don't have to do that again.When the konqueror file browser is up ( in /home ) you can press the F9 key to get a navigation panel on the left side . . . then you can use it as "Windows explorer" :)Indeed, a reboot would umount all the drives you previously mounted on the commandline . . it is not the most graceful way to do it but it does the job ! . . . ( The "official" way would be "umount /mnt/hda1" )Keep up the good work ! Bruno

[zlim]

I'm getting nowhere at top speed, LOL.I decided that before I mounted anything I'd take a look at /mntIn there I have 5 icons: cdrom, floppy, hda, hda1, and Win_cI'm not sure if that means all that is mounted. I thought it did. Anyway, the status line says: 5 items - no files - 5 foldersThen I plugged in a flash drive and got a 6th icon removable.The status line changed to 6 items - no files - 6 folders.I think I need to decide if I want Win_C, hda or hda1 and unmount the two not needed. (I did not mount anything today, I just looked at the /mnt directory and I assume that is what the computer picked up from somewhere).Does it matter if I open konqueror by using the home icon (igloo) or I use the icon in the kicker? Must I put /home in the address bar first?I'm vey unclear about what I need to do to get those folders to get files that I can see. Must I go thru the mount procedure even if the icons appear in /mnt?

[ross549]

zlim...did you click into the win_c folder? was anything there?

[zlim]

All folders have 0 files. I was trying to figure out which of the three I needed and itf I should unmount the other two. I thought maybe Win_C was just the boot info which is on a different drive from PCLos (linux is on hdb5, ithink and the swap is hdb6). I don't have the paper handy but it is all written down because I can't depend on my memory.

[quint]

zlim,If there are "0" files, it probably means that it isn't mounted. Try:< # mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/win_c >

[zlim]

Will do, thanks quint.I'm a slow learner but I'll get it eventually.going thru mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/win_c (I had to watch those non-caps I misrepresented a few times) I'm back to win_c with a padlock on it. F9 brings up a sidebar but I still get the I don't have permission error. I right-clicked and saw that it is usergroup root so I opened a terminal, logged in as root, in the hopes that I could access the drive. No go.What do I need to do to give home/liz permission to view this folder? currently the status bar says locked folder and my right click choices don't seem to give me any options.

Edited October 8, 2005 by zlim

[Bruno]

Hi LizClose konqueror . . . and type "kdesu konqueror" to start again with the browsing to /mnt/win-c and the padlocks will be gone Bruno

[zlim]

Where do I type kdesu konqueror?