HD Install :: Thinkpad 560 No CDROM No Floppy Install



Hi all,
    I have a friends Thinkpad 560 that has no CDROM, no floppy and no network connection.  What are my options to boot DSL?
    The TP560 claims that it can boot from PCMCIA slot, so would it be possible to write an iso image to a compact flash card and then boot from that?  Has anyone tried this with any success?  If so, how can I make sure that the cf card is bootable?
    I know that there are other methods, but I don't have an adapter to take out the hd and put it into a desktop and install that way.  The person that I am doing this for doesn't have any money to go buy a floppy to try to boot from either.  Can anyone shed some light here?

Thanks,
RMFlagg

it will only boot from pcmcia  if bios allows booting from pcmcia

otherwise you have to install a bootmanager on hd
which either boots from hd or manages booting from pcmcia

install grub on your hd. i ll post a grub-howto in the next days
because the infos i got here and on grub page didnt work for me

installing something on hd maybe
an easy way is to
extract the hd from notebook
plug this hd on a desktop station using
a desktop-hd to notebook-hd converter cable,
it is without any electronics.

simply install DSL on this hd with grub,

boot your dektop from the notebook-hd,
if that works
put hd back to the notebook.

(i ll post a howto the next days)
:D

I recently upgraded the harddisk in a 560X.  It was pretty easy actually.  You can still find the tech manual with pics on the IBM site.  Only tricky part is the little shield they have attached to the harddrive.
Ok, as per my initial message, I don't have an adapter to do a 'removed hd' install.  That is not an option.
I don't have a cd-rom drive or a floppy, so neither of them is an option.
What I do have is the ability to boot from pcmcia, and I do have a CF adapter and a CF card(128mb).
So, with that information, what do I have to do so that I can boot the computer with DSL and THEN perform a hd install?
I have tried to dd the iso to the cf card and then boot from that, but with no luck.  Can anyone shed some light?  I don't want to sound mean, but if you are only going to suggest one of the unavailable options, don't respond.

Thanks,
RMF

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