HD Install :: More frugal trouble

I'm trying to install DSL in frugal mode onto a CF (through an ide adapter), but it's not working. The computer (a mini-ITX) clearly sees hda1, and I can mount it. But when I try to run the frugal script, it tells me it can't find the partition. So I thought that maybe the CF needed to be specially partitioned, but CFdisk cannot open the drive either. I tried doing this stuff with hda mounted and unmounted.
I noticed that when I actually mount the CF, the time it says mounted is December 31, 1969. I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but can someone help me out?

Are you running graphically or through run level 2? I have had problems with cfdisk not working correctly off the live cd in run level 5. If you aren't already, try booting "dsl 2" and running cfdisk.

Cool. I'll try that as soon as I get home. I'm guessing level 5 is the default, with the entire GUI and whatnot?
Just out of curiousity though, am I supposed to have the drive mounted or unmounted, because I know that you're not supposed to have USB drives mounted when using the USB script.

original here.