Other Help Topics :: Downloading and Installing DSL using ONLY a floppy



Hi all,
I am an extremely inexperienced Linux user. However, I just acquired an IBM ThinkPad 750Cs, with 160 MB HD (I'm not sure on the ram or processor, sorry ). I want to put DSL on the machine, but the problem is I only have a floppy drive. I Saw the guide that is available at the following url:
<http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/install_from_floppy.html>
I can't seem t download the right file for the job. Every dsl.iso file I download has the KNOPPIX file inside. This file is way to big to ever fit on a floppy, so i am stuck at that spot. Could anyone please help me?? Exact file names and instructions would be a godsend to me right now.
Hi,

I too am inexperienced Linux user. My laptop is a 486DX with 16Mb RAM and 1Gb disk space. It currently runs Windows 95. It has a CD-ROM drive and a floppy drive. It can boot from the hard drive and the floppy drive. It cannot boot from the CD drive. Also the floopy and CD are removable and either one or the other can be in the machine at a time. I do not have any cables that allow both to be connected.

Is this installation (http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/install_from_floppy.html) possible for a newbie?

Thanks for any advice
new_linux_user - follow points 4 and 5 on that page.
Rar takes the big files and compresses them and breaks them into different, floppy sized files.

Merlyn - you need the boot floppy - it will be MUCH quicker than the floppy method - once you've booted using dsl toram, install to harddrive (frugal means quicker upgrades) and you should be fine.

Ooops - can't have both connected.... copy all the files off the cd onto the harddrive, and then use the boot floppy. dsl fromhd=hda1 or wherever you put the files.
Merlyn,

I guess you can split your harddrive into two partitions using pqmagic, and then run the livecd from bochs or vmware by configuring it to use the raw partition and finally install it to that partition and then create a boot floppy to run it.

Due you are not a matergodexpertoflinux (neither am i :), and its a very complicated process i do not recommend you to do it.

Better to ask a friend to run the livecd for you and you should try to boot from network using bootp server if it is possible.
Quote (Caspar_s @ June 20 2005,10:59)
new_linux_user - follow points 4 and 5 on that page.
Rar takes the big files and compresses them and breaks them into different, floppy sized files.

Merlyn - you need the boot floppy - it will be MUCH quicker than the floppy method - once you've booted using dsl toram, install to harddrive (frugal means quicker upgrades) and you should be fine.

Ooops - can't have both connected.... copy all the files off the cd onto the harddrive, and then use the boot floppy. dsl fromhd=hda1 or wherever you put the files.

I did the WinRaR thing, but for some reason they still don't fit on my floppies. I think I might need to transfer the files in DOS instead of windows, otherwise they won't fit. I am not sure if this will work. At least I know what I should do, its just a matter of getting it to work... any suggestions anyone???
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