Hello,
I'm a newbie to Linux however, I have a serious problem installing it on my laptop.

I'm using Damn Small Linux 4.4.10-embedded.
The computer I'm trying to install it on is an old Dell laptop from around 2006. It has an Intel Core Duo Processor. 1.83 GHz, 2 GB Ram, and no hard drive.
I'm using a 16GB USB drive loaded with DSL (Damn Small Linux) to boot the computer.

The Linux boots up like this:

DSL(a picture of a penguin comes up)

DSL is based on Knoippix Debian Linux Technology
Press <enter> to begin or F2 for boot options:
boot:

When I go to boot options and say "dsl toram" the screen turns black and nothing happens.

I'm very new to Linux...I just want to use it on this old computer. I don't know what's wrong.

If you guys could help, I'd appreciate it.

Try failsafe options instead of toram.

1 members found this post helpful.

Using failsafe worked....somewhat.
There is no more black screen of death. Instead it looks like its begun to boot however it ends at a screen like this:

Welcome to DSL
Built using Knoppix Technology.

(The in red text it gives this error message):

Can't find KNOPPIX filesystem, sorry.
Dropping you to a (very limited) shell.
Press reset button to quit.

Additional builtin commands available:
cat mount unmount
insmod rmmod lsmod

knoppix#


That's all I get. I don't know what to do from here.

Did you do an md5 checksum on the iso file after download?
How did you put it on the usb drive, what software did you use?

I don't know what a md5 chechsum is...so I didn't do it unless the program did it for me.

I used the Universal USB Installer 1.9.5.6 to install DSL on the flash drive.

No, I forget what that drop to shell meant. Think it has to do with this usb deal. It was a CD type distro. I've seen this before. Long time ago.

Ideas.
When you boot your computer it should be trying to boot to a HARD DRIVE option. Selecting USB choice messes up how bios and the el torito thinks. Try moving the usb up in order of hard drive choice.

Other idea is how you made the dsl. DSL may have some updates but was pretty static for a long time. It is a great distro but really made for booting off a cd on older stuff. May have to make a CD-R burned at slowest speeds.

DSL forums or old knoppix forums would know this answer.