i need help installing debian linux on a dell inspiron 9300. i have been trying to use the net install disk, hitting a problem right at the start. it seems that my pcmcia cd-rom controler is not directly supported. does anyone know how i can get by this?

Clearly NOT an intro... moved to Linux - Newbie

i don't troll the forums much, that is for sure. :P

I used to have a Libretto 50ct (titchy laptop) which had a pcmcia cdrom, the only way i found to install linux was to partition the hard disk, copy all the installation files to the second partition, use a floppy boot disc, and initiate the install from there. I used Vectorlinux and followed their floppy install method found here :ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distribu...html#iso_linux
I only tried this with Vectorlinux, but I assume you may be able to do this with other distro's if you check their documentation.

well, the problem i am also having is that i have no floppy drive (that wonderful outdated piece of hardware that laptop manufacturers seem to have forgotten about). which puts me back to square one.

Tricky. It is possible to install an OS onto a hard disc using one computer then transplant it into another at the right moment. I have done this succesfully with Ubuntu Hoary, by installing to an old laptops hard disc from my desktop PC using an adapter I bought for a couple of ££'s from eBay. At the moment after Ubuntu installs, the system re-boots, switch off your PC at this point, pop it back into your laptop and restart it. It "should" then find all your hardware and configure itself correctly for the laptop at that point. There is no guarantee that this will work, however, it's worth a try if you're confident with popping open the case and tampering with the insides. Just make sure to power everything off and disconnect all power cables FIRST.

Which kernel are you using? If you're using Sarge, try linux26 at the boot prompt. Or try downloading and using the etch installer. Maybe a newer kernel will have support for your cdrom controller.

It appears others have managed to get it installed on this laptop. http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/dell.html