HD Install :: How to install DSL to HD if BIOS can't bootable CD



I have an old machine with DOS/Windows 95 OS, Pentium ™ 1994 Production, 16 RAM, 1GB HD(518 MB free space), a CD-ROM, NO mouse, keyboard only, allocated one partition on the single hard driver, the BIOS doesn't support boot from CD, (practically, it even can't access to BIOS configuration Menu, it just never respond when I hit [Delete] key when rebooting...). Plus, no Internet connection.

I love DSL, and run it on my other two machines, so I hope to try DSL on this old PC, how can I do it?

When I insert embeded DSL CD into CD Driver, double click on 'dsl-windows.bat, it simply doesn't work, do I have to install it on HD?
Hey,

Out of my personal curiousity, what speed are the processors you use DSL on, my friend was recently given a 75 mhz computer and I was wondering if DSL would run acceptably on it.  

As far as double clicking on the .bat file, have you also tried running it from DOS? Start > Run > "command" (I think, oh so long ago I used Win95, lol). This should drop you in the infamous black screen that looks like C:\, from here try navigating to your cdrom drive (probably D but try E if D doesnt work) using the command "cd D:\" from here go to the proper folder on the cdrom, and run the .bat file from there. If you get errors, post them here. If you get nothing at all, I dont know what to tell you =).
Do this.

Copy the \KNOPPIX  directory from your CD disk over to your C:
drive so there is now a C:\KNOPPIX\KNOPPIX

Then download the boot floppy image from the dsl website.

Then use a program like rawrite or rawrite32.exe to make a boot floppy.

Then reboot your computer with the boot floppy inserted into your floppy drive.


You should boot with:

dsl noicons base xsetup

and then choose xvesa server
choose 800x600x16bit color.

Good Luck.
I'm running DSL with a poor man's install on my old pentium 133 noteboot (40mb, 2gb, dos/win95).

Two ways to go:
1.  Floppy boot.  If you follow the directions in the previous post, the boot should autoconfigure and run fine.  This is the way that works best on my system.

2.  Boot from dos with loadlin.exe.  I'm working on this.  It works but the init settings and devices aren't setting up automatically.  I'll eventually get it right and this will be my preferred way to run it.  Why?  My floppy drive and CD drive share a bay in my notebook and it's not hot-swappable.  So what ever I boot with, I'm stuck with.  I'd rather keep the CD drive in and free to play audio CD's etc.

Paul
Quote
Out of my personal curiousity, what speed are the processors you use DSL on, my friend was recently given a 75 mhz computer and I was wondering if DSL would run acceptably on it.
 
It's a pc133, 90 mhz computer, no audio card.

------------------------------------------

Quote
Do this.

Copy the \KNOPPIX  directory from your CD disk over to your C:
drive so there is now a C:\KNOPPIX\KNOPPIX

Then download the boot floppy image from the dsl website.

Then use a program like rawrite or rawrite32.exe to make a boot floppy.

Then reboot your computer with the boot floppy inserted into your floppy drive.


thanks yall, RandomGuy, cbagger01 and Paul.

I'll follow your advice, but where can I download the boot floppy image from the dsl website, can't find it.
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