Cannot install Damn Small Linux to hard drive
 

I am using damn small linux from a live CD. i want to install to the hard drive so it will boot into linux without the cd (it will be the only operating system on the computer.) i have made a linux partition on the disk and i have followed the instructions to install it. when it gets to the end it says that it must restart to finish the instalation process. if i restart without the cd in the drive i get a blank screen with a cursor and it wont do anything. if i restart with the cd in the drive it boots from the cd and it's like i never installed anything. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

When it gets to the end of the installation, do you have the option of delaying the reboot? I'm wondering if you can explore the hard drive (mount the partition and see what's there, if anything). Then perhaps do a normal shutdown so that you can restart and edit the BIOS to bypass the cd drive to continue the boot from hard drive, but leave the cd in the drive so that the OS can poll the cd drive to complete the installation.

Ok i tried this and i still only get the cursor. :(

ok during installation i get this option after it has copied files:
proceed to install a boot loader? y\n, i chose yes. after that i get:
use Grub or Lilo active partition? i chose lilo (i already did a frugal install with lilo)

after that i get this:
Warning: '/proc/partitions' does not exist, disk scan bypassed
added linux *
skipping /vmlinuz.old
the boot installation process is finished.

then it asks me to reboot. if i reboot without the disk i get the blank screen with the cursor. i am new to linux im sure im doing something wrong.

Boot with Live CD.Enter into CLI and create a linux partition and restart the system. For the next time enter into GUI and try with frugal Grub installation which resides in Apps/Tools/.

i have tried everything i am still getting the cursor....
i have formatted a partition, installed exactly as it says, done what you have suggested.
my boot options are correct i have no clue what is wrong. maybe i should try a different version of linux? i need one that i can get for free and will run in about 44Mb ram and install on a 300 Mb hard drive. any suggestions?

i dont get that "do you want to install a loader" after copying files. why is that?

i think it only comes up during a frugal install