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Old 08-08-2006, 07:23 AM   #1
PaulGoold
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Registered: Aug 2006
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Install linux on formatted laptop hdd using desktop


Hi all,

I have an HP zt3000 (zt3010us) laptop that has recently died running XP. The CD drive does not work (ripped out by 2 year old son!). The HDD has been formatted and I want to install linux onto this fresh empty drive via my desktop (which runs XP).

The laptop drive is connected to my pc via an adapter cable so I can 'see' it. I don't want to dual boot from my desktop, just get the laptop running again.

I used to use Knoppix a year or two ago but am happy to experiment with different distros.

Any suggestions?
 
Old 08-08-2006, 07:33 AM   #2
Agrouf
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Registered: Sep 2005
Location: France
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Hello gentleman,

I suggest you install via pxe.
What about ubuntu?
Here is the link with instructions to follow to install ubuntu via pxe :
http://wiki.koeln.ccc.de/index.php/Ubuntu_PXE_Install
You can probably install knoppix as well.
Anyway, you can do all this from knoppix if you don't want to install anything on your desktop.

For your information, if you don't know what pxe is, it is a way to boot your computer from the network.

Have fun

Last edited by Agrouf; 08-08-2006 at 07:48 AM.
 
Old 08-08-2006, 07:41 AM   #3
PaulGoold
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Difficult

It seems like a fantastic solution but I am a complete newbie and wouldn't know where or how to begin (even after reading the instructions!)
 
Old 08-08-2006, 07:59 AM   #4
Agrouf
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Registered: Sep 2005
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Man, I'm sorry I overlooked that you had plugged the hd to your desktop.
Then it is going to be much more easier.
Just boot knoppix with those options :
knoppix tohd=/dev/hdb1
It will copy the cd to hdb1
Please check before that you want to install to hdb1 (or you may just erase your windows partition). You just have to run knoppix normally to see if hdb1 is your laptop hard drive.

After that, you can plug the hd to your laptop again and boot knoppix from it. Then you may want to install another distro if you want from knoppix and the network.
I have this how to install ubuntu from knoppix :
http://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/installatio...is_une_knoppix
Unfortunately it is in french, but I can translate if you need, or you can use any translator on the net.
(I keep insisting on ubuntu, because I found it to be the best distro for newbies, but I may be wrong and you may not like it).

Last edited by Agrouf; 08-08-2006 at 08:09 AM.
 
Old 08-08-2006, 09:58 AM   #5
PaulGoold
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Registered: Aug 2006
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Thanks

Hi Agrouf,

Thank you for your suggestion, I'm downloading a fresh version of knoppix now and will boot it on my desktop (still with the laptop drive plugged in) so i can see which harddrive is which.

When I know what drive I want to copy to how do I enter the knoppix tohd+/dev/hdb1 from, shall I use a command prompt?

Thanks in advance,

paul
 
Old 08-08-2006, 10:03 AM   #6
Agrouf
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Registered: Sep 2005
Location: France
Distribution: LFS
Posts: 1,596

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PaulGoold, this is a knoppix boot option (therefore you have to reboot knoppix - and your destktop).
You can enter it at boot, after the "boot:" prompt.
You have a few seconds to touch the keyboard before knoppix boots normal. Enter the "knoppix tohd=/dev/hdb1" before the time expires (at least the k in fact).

More information on knoppix boot options (they call it cheat codes) at http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Cheat_Codes

I hope this will help you,
regards,
Agrouf.

Last edited by Agrouf; 08-08-2006 at 10:09 AM.
 
  


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