How do I install this??

Nukem · 01-04-2004, 09:26 AM

First of all.. let me tell you.. I'm new to linux. I have two computers running linux. Both of them running mdk9.2. But one of them is too slow with mandrake and I'm thinking if damnsmall linux will be easier for the computer to handle than mandrake. I downloaded the iso and burned it. But when i start the computer with cd rom, it shows a picture of a big tux and a small one. then under that is says the prompt

boot:

What do I do now? how do I continue with the installation?

This is the version 5.2 i'm trying.

superbondbond · 01-04-2004, 10:31 AM

Well, DamnSmallLinux is a live CD distribution. It boots from the CD, loads into RAM and doesn't install to the HD. I'm sure there are ways to install it to the Hard disk if you choose to, I'm guessing there's documentation on the website on how to do this.

Nukem · 01-04-2004, 10:34 AM

Oh..

I didn't know that. But what do I do when I get to the boot prompt? It says "boot:"

tooocool49723 · 01-04-2004, 01:53 PM

this is a stupid question, but have you tried hitting return? Since i know that that probibly didn't solve it, try hdinstall, i know that when i wanted to install knoppix on the hd that worked, but it might not work with damn small. (i'm also a linux newbie, but i try to help where i can)

superbondbond · 01-04-2004, 03:08 PM

every live distro I've used (LBT, Slack-Live, Knoppix) has instructions displayed at the boot prompt for availabel opitons. If you don't see anything like that, the I'd doo as tooocool49723 suggested and simply press enter.

Dickey Peterson · 01-05-2004, 11:38 PM

Seriously, pressing enter should start the boot process. There is an option to install on your HD. I found the following at http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/dsl-hd-install.html:

enter the terminal and type: sudo -u root dsl-hdinstall

Then select the partition you'd like to install to. I followed the promts to configure the boot loader and everything works fine. I'm running DSL on an old Aptiva (166 MGHz).

You should read the full details at the link provided before proceeding.

Enjoy.

Nukem · 01-06-2004, 06:03 AM

All right.. it boots now ... thanks..... I should have pressed the return key... lol....
why didn't I never thought of it....

kendolin · 01-08-2004, 11:39 AM

FWIW "sudo -u root dsl-hdinstall" didn't work for me, said the sudo command did not exist. DSLinux then bumped me out to an abbreviated shell with only a few commands (e.g., mount, unmount). Peanut Linux was too big for my hard drive, I am now trying to implement Slackware.

Hal · 01-08-2004, 01:27 PM

Did you enter sudo... at the Boot: prompt? It worked fine from within DSL in the Bash shell.

kendolin · 01-08-2004, 03:03 PM

Yep right at the "Boot:" prompt. Even tried "sudo" without any parms, no luck. I guess the boot kernel is abbreviated as well. This was last week with version 0.5.2. Is this a RC or what?

FYI, I downloaded and extracted the DSLinux ISO file then Laplinked the contents to a msdos partition on the install machine. I then tried the HD install from there from a boot floppy.

saxophobe · 01-09-2004, 01:27 PM

I got the same error as kindolin when I tried the command recommended on the site. Should I be entering the command after I boot up into DSL, as Dickey Petersen suggested above: "enter the terminal and type"? Sorry folks, I am a newbie as well and require very specific instructions in the area.

As always, thanks to all those that have the time to respond!

Nukem · 01-09-2004, 04:47 PM

I got it working. But after the gui loads, I don't see anything on the screen except mouse pointer only when I move it to far left side of the screen. Rest of the screen is pitch black....

Tried configuring video card and monitor.. nothing worked.

Dickey Peterson · 01-09-2004, 07:56 PM

I can't remember exactly, but the first time I booted DSL from CD, and hit return at the boot prompt, I had a blank screen as well. Have you tried right clicking on the screen? I remember the GUI was very minimal (i.e. blank) and right clicking gave me a menu box with several options to choose from. Sorry I'm being so vague, but I only booted a couple times from CD before I decided to install.

kendolin · 01-10-2004, 12:05 AM

I think I've got it. Created a DOS partition, loaded the KNOPPIX directory into C:\KNOPPIX (I don't have a CD-ROM that works in Linux) using LapLink for DOS. Boot from floppy recognizes KNOPPIX on the hard drive, BINGO - I GOT DSL!!! Amazing - recognized PCMCIA, network card, wheel mouse.

kendolin · 01-10-2004, 12:07 AM

FWIW, could not get Mandrake, SuSE, Slackware, or Peanut to work on this old laptop (I use them elsewhere on more robust machines), but DSL works, amazing. John, you did some good work. Pretty wild to bring up Firebird too!!!!!!