Completely new to linux

Newperson · 01-30-2005, 02:20 PM

Ok guys I need some serious help. Me and my friend were having a conversation about operating systems and we had a talk about why Windows is currently more popular than linux. His whole basis was that windows makes it easier for the masses to install run and in general use. (blah, blah it was a long conversation) so in the end what happened is we made a bet that I couldnt not linux running within a week. The reason he chose me is because I know nothing about computers. Well not really nothing but no where near something I know. Here is the situation I have an old computer with a harddrive that I have to install Fedora Core 2(he said it must be that OS I dont know why). So I though no problem I will just follow some instructions on the net. I am not allowed to use any linux for dummies books. so here is what I have done so far.

downloaded the fedora iso burned to cd.
put cd in computer realized that the computer bios does not boot cd
tried to find out how to make boot floppy fedora does not come with a boot floppy you can only boot from usb device if your bios supports it(mine does not. so I tried downloading a floppy linux booting from that. learned how to mount cdrom and then put in disc 1 typed ./autorun gave me error /usr/bin/redhat-cdinstall-helper does not exist. then I found on the the net there is a program called smart boot manager. put that on a floppy but could not figure out how to use it. then I tried putting the harddrive in another computer that does boot cdrom got it to install in the harddrive then moved the harddrive over to the other computer started the computer and now I get a grub geom error. the computer wont boot now. Now I am stuck. me not experienced in linux I dont know what to do now. so I was wondering if anybody could help me out here. Just keep in mind that I have no experience with linux so if you could point me in the direction of a website that has step by step instructions or something that could solve my problem. I have 100 dollars on this bet so any help is greatly appreciated.

david_ross · 01-30-2005, 02:40 PM

Welcome to LQ.

Take a look at this:
http://www.thisiscool.com/fc3floppy.htm

Mara · 01-30-2005, 05:05 PM

How is the disk set in BIOS? It seems that's the thing that' caousing GRUB problems.

actionhank_uk · 01-30-2005, 05:37 PM

"put cd in computer realized that the computer bios does not boot cd"

when you say the computer bios does not boot cd is it because the option doesn't exist i.e. it's not an option in the bios

or

is it because you haven't been into the bios to change it?

cd should just autorun. even in windoze it should autorun and reboot and install linux

good luck!

Newperson · 01-30-2005, 08:24 PM

as in the bios doesnt support cdrom booting. I already checked the bios it wont let me select cdrom

pnellesen · 01-30-2005, 10:29 PM

This is NOT a fair or realistic bet, IMHO. Does WinXP/MacOS even come with floppies anymore? Until you can use a machine of somewhat more recent vintage, it's not a good comparison. You should ask your "friend"(?) to do a Windows XP install on that same box and see what he says

One good thing, though, is that once you actually get the boot floppies and start the install, you shouldn't have much problem with the hardware being recognized - I've done several Slackware installs on older equipment and have never had any hardware issues.

GOOD LUCK!

Newperson · 01-31-2005, 01:56 AM

actually we tried to make the bet as fair as can be. cause I had windows xp installed using floppy disks
not on the specific machine I am working on but a machine that could not boot from cd. the point my friend made which I think is valid is that the level of ease to do certain things. but I am making headway into my linux experience hopefully after I get it installed i wont have any problems. I am trying David Ross's idea right now

pnellesen · 01-31-2005, 08:54 AM

Ah - Ok, I wasn't sure if XP could install from floppies or not. I guess it makes sense that you could, but you never know with Microsoft

bograt · 01-31-2005, 09:07 AM

I am assuming as with MS if you install on another computer then transfare the HDD into another system you will have all the configurations for the previous comp on your drive so this will cause conflicts when installed on another comp i.e the system you loaded on has usb support but your old one don't. Very new to Linux myself and use Suse So can't advise around this issue however if it where an MS OS then I cauld help however I would suggest it is a conflict issue.

Hope i'm right lets know how you get on.

bograt · 01-31-2005, 09:11 AM

How old is this system if it dosn't support booting from CD? If the option is in the bios then you should be able to select it as an option.

Failing that is there a bios update for your board that will allow the changes?

Lets know how it goes.

Quote:

Originally posted by Newperson
as in the bios doesnt support cdrom booting. I already checked the bios it wont let me select cdrom

rcallahan · 01-31-2005, 11:50 AM

rawwrite is your friend.. is there for windows use... just run winrawwrite and get the bootdisk.img from the RH cd1, should be in the boot disk directory.
Ryan

Newperson · 02-01-2005, 03:28 PM

ok so I tried http://www.thisiscool.com/fc3floppy.htm and went through it came to the fedora graphical installer selected english, selected us, selected local cdrom and then it said "No Fedora Core CD was found which matches your boot media" Please insert the cd and press ok to retry

ultramancool · 02-01-2005, 03:44 PM

U need to burn a fedora core CD that's just the installer (no OS is 5 megs)
If u really wanna do this quick and dirty use Knoppix
It'll boot up from the cd and have u using linux in 5 mins
IF U CAN'ST BOOT FROM CD USE SMART BOOT MANAGER it has a hack that let's u boot from cd
http://btmgr.webframe.org/

wpn146 · 02-01-2005, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Newperson
ok so I tried http://www.thisiscool.com/fc3floppy.htm and went through it came to the fedora graphical installer selected english, selected us, selected local cdrom and then it said "No Fedora Core CD was found which matches your boot media" Please insert the cd and press ok to retry

I think you are trying to make this more difficult than it is:

Code:

1.   Boot Windows XP, or whatever flavor of Windows you have.
2.   Mount the FC2 cdrom #1.
3.   Locate the "rawrite.exe" file.  It is probably in a directory on the cdrom named "dosutils".
4.   In a command window, cd into the cdrom "images" directory.
5.   Check that "bootdisk.img" is there.
6.   Mount a writable floppy in drive A:  (This disk WILL be overwritten.)
7.   Execute "..\dosutils\rawrite bootdisk.img a:"  (modify this path if rawrite.exe is somewhere else.)
8.   Reboot - be sure bios is set to boot from floppy.
9.   Follow directions.  I would answer a yes to  the "verify media?" prompt and check all the cdroms.
10.  Depending in how much diskspace your system has, you might not want to do a full install.    You might want to specify a "desktop" install when prompted.

(I was typing the above from memory. Please don't shoot me if I spelled a pathname wrong.)

david_ross · 02-01-2005, 04:13 PM

Newperson, is the cd drive definately working? It may be worth checking the jumper settings and that it is properly recognised in the bios.

Edit: Just saw you were trying to use FC2, the extra floppies I linked to are only for FC3.