linux on libretto30, install from files on stored on win95 partition?
 

I have a Toshiba Libretto 30, no removable drives, long story short my only connection to any external files is through Direct Cable Connection on parallel port to another PC.

It's running Win95. I also have a desktop PC with Win95 and a CD and floppy drive, I can connect the two through the parallel port.

So can anyone tell me if this idea might work?

Take a Linux distro on CD (I'm thinking Puppy), put in desktop pc, transfer files via parallel port to Libretto.

Create new partition on Libretto, place files there.

Restart in DOS mode on Libretto. Type format C: then copy the Linux files from the partition to the C drive.

Restart and boot Linux?!?

I kinda know this is too easy to work, but is there any mileage at all in this idea? Or any other suggestions for getting Linux on the Libretto using a direct cable connection, not any other kind of network connection or removable drives/adapters?

Very few distributions of Linux have options which will work in your situation. Those that do, will not require you to reformat your C: drive. The way Linux normally works, it can't run from a FAT partition (the format used by Windows 95). However, there are a handful of Linux distributions which have unusual methods of running from a compressed file inside a FAT partition. Usually, it's just the installer, but without a network connection the installer can't get the rest of the files needed to do an install.

Try out Damn Small Linux, with its "embedded" option. You'll run Damn Small from within Windows 95--which is a GOOD thing because the Win95 install is the only windows to the outside world for external files! I wouldn't count on being able to figure out an alternative method of transfering files with a Linux install. If the Linux install messes up, then what?

That said--is the internal drive removeable at all? It may be possible to physically remove it and connect it to another computer using a 2.5"->3.5" IDE adapter.

Thanks Isaac

I'm editing my previous reply because I just found what looks like the answer to my prayers, will let you know how it goes:

http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/...ions/baslinux/

Basic Linux rocks!
 

Oh wow, it works a treat!

You can keep Win95, boot Basic Linux from DOS. It fits into 8M RAM (exactly what I have) so it's lightning fast even on my ancient machine. Basic X server, doesn't come with much as you'd expect but you can install Slackware packages apparently.

For now I'm just happy to be playing around in Xterm seeing my little Libretto running fast and smooth!

Installation is super-easy and covered in the read-me from the site (link in previous post).

No drives required, just copy the files into C:\baslin, cd to that directory in DOS, and hit BOOT. Loads up fast and a joy to play with

Thanks for the update! I've always wanted one of those old style Librettos (the itsy bitsy ones, not the lumbering monsters of latter years). You've given me a good idea of what to do with one.

Glad to hear it!

It's made it a usable machine, really. Win95 runs sloooow on the Libretto 30, painful screen redraws all the time.

Even under X, Basic Linux is fast. Best package I've explored so far is yabasic (aptly enough) - now I have a little BASIC programming workstation. yabasic can output graphics to X windows, take mouse input, and it can save programs as standalone executables.

Oh yeah and I'm learning vi! (and a stripped-down clone at that...)

Hi,
I've been following this thread with interest. I have just a theoretical question. I thought it would be a moot point, because with his libretto system, I couldn't ever imagine getting linux to install.

Now that, evidentially he can run linux on it, I was curious to know if it would be possible to use DSL to shrink the windows partition, and add a linux partition. That being done, would it be possible to copy the DSL files to that partition, and install a bootloader that could boot directly to DSL?

That way, I would imagine you could now remove the windows partition, use the space for linux, and configure it to be a total linux system.

Curiously :confused:
Sam

Hi Sam

I can't really tell you whether that would work or not, this whole process has been a massive learning curve for me so far.

I've just been trying to install Basic Linux itself - or at least thinking about it. It has an'install-to-hd' option but you need to make the partition first. I'm a bit unsure about how to shrink down the C: drive in Win which presumably I need to do before making Linux partitions?

Anyway that's cause I want a dual boot. If you want Linux *only*, it's easy with BL, just type 'install-to-hd'.

Whether you can then use BL as a base for getting DSL on there (without removable drives/media) I'm not sure.

Does anyone understand how BL does it's trick of running from DOS, in terms of where my files are (sorry if this is a stupid question)? I mean when I'm running BL in RAM and I save files to '/home/myfiles' or wherever, where are those locations *really*? I guess stored on the Windows partition but hidden? Is there any compelling reason to install to hd (given that I need to keep Win95 on the HD too), I'm quite happy running BL booted from DOS but are there any downsides to this?