Installing CentOS 5.1
 

I have downloaded the 6 ISO files and burned the CDs. Are there other files I need to install CentOS on my soon-to-be former Win98 machine? There is no boot disk file on the download site.

I would assume you boot from CD1. I've only used the DVD myself.

You will want to do an update after installing, but that's all net based


Good luck - let us know how you go

You boot from CD #1. Everything you need will be on the CDs.

All CDs have only one file on them CentOS-5.1-...1of6.iso through 6of6. The PC is set to boot from CDROM first, but it doesn't recognize the CD and boots from the hard drive. Thanks!

It sounds like you've copied the iso files directly to the CD, rather than using a CD Burning application that opens the iso file and writes the contents of it to the CD in a bootable format. If using Windoze then use an application such as Nero. If using a Linux box, then perhaps x-cdroast. Read up on burning ISO files here

When you burn an iso image correctly to the CD, you will see many files/directories on the CD, not one iso file.

Sorry to say, but you've got a nice set of coasters there ;)

Blacky 5251. ROFLOL. Coasters. Thank you for your help, I greatly appreciate it and I'll convert those pesky ISOs for proper use. Thanks again!

You DO NOT convert the ISOs to anything. You burn them as images. If you open the cd and see a file something.iso you have done it incorrectly. If you open the disk and see files you are good to go.

Isn't that what I said? I was trying to explain it in newby terms :)

What I have seen newbies try to do is to extract the files from the ISO (think zip file) and then copy the files to the CD. Trying to do it that way will not work.

Thanks! I have copied the ISOs file with UltraISO and see files and folders on each CD (there are no ISO files). Even the LiveCD was downloaded and I made sure the image was Bootable and burned the CD (again no ISO files). The PC I want to load CentOS on has been set to boot from the CD, but no success. The error "DISK BOOT ERROR, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER. What else am I missing?

Are you able to boot any PC from the CentOS CD? Just to prove the CDs are OK. You can abort early without causing any harm to the PC you're testing with.

If that works, then it must be your hardware. Some extra details about your equipment would be useful then.

No, I cannot boot any PC with the Live CD or the Disk 1 CD. For example, the Live CD has only two folders on it: isolinux and LiveCD and Disk 1 has one folder Centos and these files: _discinf, eula, gpl, rm_gpg_ and trans.tbl

I verified when burning the CD that the Bootable option was selected.

As for hardware: P233Mhz with 128MB RAM, Creative 8X CDROM, 6GB hard drive and a floppy.

It does seem like your CDs are again doubtful. When burning the CD, you should need to select the bootable option, because that information is already embedded in the iso file that you are using. Try again - just with the livecd (we don't want a third set of coasters) - without selecting any options other than the iso file you want to burn from.

Installing CentOS 5.1
 

The advice you have been given to use NERO if you are a Window user is a very good one. It's as simple as it was explained to you. Choose the item to burn an "image", which is another name for "iso". Point to where the iso file resides and burn.
If our are already a Linux user I would recommend the program K3b, a KDE burning tool, which is no doubt the best burning program available in Linux. Start up K3b and choose under TOOLS for BURN CD IMAGE. As explained above, point to where the iso (image) is to be found and burn.
I have installed CentOS 5.1 myself and had no trouble installing same.

Could also be the burner. Do you have any alternative ways to burn the iso?