Good PCMCIA network bootdisk(s)

Rikra · 11-16-2004, 07:27 AM

Recently I bought an old notebook, a Texas Instruments Motion Line ml-sb 5/133. I want it to run Linux, but I don't have a CD-ROM drive, only a floppy drive. I bought a PCMCIA network adaptor, because I want to install Linux from my server. I tried several network bootdisks, but the PCMCIA port isn't being supported.
What I need is a bootdisk, or more, that boots into Linux and recognises my PCMCIA port and network adapter (noname). Has anyone got an idea?

Rikra · 11-17-2004, 10:11 AM

I found out that the PCMCIA Network card is a Realtek 8139 NIC. But I still need a Linux bootdisk that supports my PCMCIA. Can anyone help me please?

baconlt · 11-21-2004, 11:21 AM

You and I are in the same boat... Did you get any response?

Rikra · 11-21-2004, 11:35 AM

Nice to know I am not the only one, but I didn't get any response.

I tried several mini Linux distributions from this site: http://www.fokus.gmd.de/linux/linux-distrib-small.html
One distro (I forgot which one) was able to recognize my PCMCIA adapter, it turned out to be a Cirrus Logic.
But no distro was able to recognize my PCMCIA network card.

You could try some mini-distro's from that site. If you get anything to work you should post it

baconlt · 11-21-2004, 11:41 AM

That was what I was afraid of. I've tried a number of mini-distros but the info is spotty at best and those distros are so stripped-down.

I'm thinking of canning it and getting another project to worry about.