[CS-FSLUG] Laptop

[Bradly McConnell]

On Sun, 07 Nov 2004 22:20:42 -0500, Christopher Rose <kf6snj at lycos.com> wrote:
> 
> Distribution Help Please!!!
> 
> I recently tried to install Basic Linux 3 on my laptop. Problem is that to install anything onto my laptop's hard drive I have to remove the drive from the computer and hook it up to another computer (usually I use my wife's machine as it is easier to open than mine). Unfortunately I can not get it to work. I have tried pretty much everything that has been suggested to me. I am contemplating putting Grey Cat Linux back onto the laptop, though I must confess that I do not really care for this idea as I do not like the idea of having a v/fat filesystem on my laptop. Also, I want to have something that boots automatically into Linux and preferably without using loadlin.exe as it forces me to use a v/fat filesystem. Also, given that the floppy drive on my laptop does not work, I want to try and install what I need onto the hard drive before I put it in the laptop (I do not have an ethernet card for the laptop and seriously doubt that I can obtain one that will work, not to mention that DCHP protocol is not support by Grey Cat).
> 
> I have tried Damn Small Linux and Feather Linux on my laptop but they will not work. Nor will Sam linux or anything else I have tried. Does anyone have any suggestions before I decide to do the stupid and reformat my laptop to a v/fat filesystem, install dos 6.0 and grey cat 3?
> 
> Pax,
> 
> Christopher
> --
> _______________________________________________

Try looking into a usb floppy drive, they are fairly cheap these days.
 You didn't provide any specs for the laptop, so I don't know if it
supports usb or not.  The other option would be a usb cd/dvd drive. 
Without a drive or network capability, I would think your options are
somewhat limited.  If you can write the filesystem to the drive, there
should be a way to put a boot loader on the drive, and then have it
point to an install directory.  I haven't tried it with linux, but
there should be a way.  If not, you can try doing the install via
serial cable using a null modem adaptor, but that will be quite slow. 
Sorry I couldn't be more of a help.

Brad