Update: Stuck inbetween Flash Drive Installer steps: Syslinux/WinImage/MinGW experts?
 

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Ok.

I've been making wonderful progress with my goals to commit cult-classic-worthy deeds to Windows 7 and replace it with Slackware.

However, encountered a hiccup at the Flash Drive Installer setup section where it states:

• Install Winimage and the Windows version of syslinux (see above) onto your Windows computer.
• Create a directory “U:\boot\syslinux\” on the USB stick
• Use Winimage to extract the content of the image file “D:\usb-and-pxe-installers\usbboot.img” to the newly created directory “U:\boot\syslinux\” on the stick
• ...

My main issue is that the README in the Win32 folder for syslinux states:

downloaded & installed - although, minor note: had to reinstall with additional features, because the default settings didn't stick the MinGW Shell in the Programs folder

When I attempt to run syslinux from the win32 folder, a small cmd.exe style box pops up very briefly, runs a flash of text, then disappears.

So, I must profess confusion with how to proceed.

I'm also having issues with using WinImage to process the following instructions, although I did create Drive:\...\boot\syslinux\ by making the new folders at location, at least to give myself a reference point, if naught else.

Advice would be very appreciated.

I run Slackware on almost any of my machines: ASUS eeePC 701 (Celeron M 900MHz, downclocked to 630MHZ, 512MB), Compaq 615 (dual-core Athlon, 4GB), my workstation/gaming rig (Phenom II X6, 8GB)
No need to stick to a server with Slackware. You should really be fine with Slackware on your netbook, may be KDE will be a bit slow with 1GB RAM, but it should fly with XFCE or one of the WMs.

That is no problem at all, just use dd to copy the USB boot image to it and point it to a mirror near you at install time for getting the packages to install.

Beautiful!

Love the various stats you gave for comparison, and thank you for the advice concerning an environment friendly with my limited RAM.

Also, something I forgot to include in my initial inquiry: should I write down the information needed for access to the wireless signal I use for my internet? How does Slackware handle detection of wireless internet signals? It's too easy to get used to auto-detection, for that. :/

I never tried to make a network based install using a wireless adapter, don't know if that will work.
For managing wireless once you have installed Slackware there is wicd in the /extra part of the mirrors/DVD.

I don't want to use the network as the basis for the install, but internet via wireless is my only option. I don't necessarily expect Slackware to install with wireless detection, but I want to have my ducks aligned, and preferably before the "knife" is taken to Windows 7, once and for all. :)

Definitely scribbling a note about wicd, though.

Assuming that your wifi card will be detected (in most cases it is), it'll just be a question of installing wicd from /extra. It's a very easy to use GUI network manager.

That sounds quite lovely, Sycamorex; thank you for the input. And your "symbol" indicates your OS as "linuxslackware." Without meaning to be assumptive, that sounds like Slackware does have wireless detection on install?

What I had in mind was to take another, smaller flash drive (1gig), and prepare for the "gutting" process by selecting a few, additional things to compile, post-installation? Though, been out of the loop for long enough that I don't know what comes standard. I'd expect that Slackware would include less than other distributions, which I find exciting, but I want to be as prepared, in advance, as much as possible. :)

The recommended way of installing slackware is to do the full installation (+4GB) it'll leave you with a functional desktop. For most people, however, (myself included) it's not enough. That's when www.slackbuilds.org comes in. It's a website full of slackbuilds (slackware installation scripts for hundreds of additional programs and libraries).

It gets even better. You can then install sbopkg, a slackbuilds browser which will make the whole process quicker and less time consuming.

Good luck

edit: I forgot to add Alien Bob's slackbuilds and packages.

http://connie.slackware.com/~alien/slackbuilds/

Thank you, Sycamorex. :)

+4 gig will be an issue for the flash drive in my possession, but I'll tinker around with those resource links and see what I can put together.

Much appreciated!

If you could burn a Slackware DVD and borrow from someone an external DVD-rom, it'd make it easier.

Wish I had those resources, but I'm lucky to have my two flash drives, as it is. Appreciate the input, though! :)

Update: Positive progress as my research continues!

http://alien.slackbook.org/blog/inst...b-thumb-drive/ has *delicious* information regarding my circumstance.

I'm very intrigued by this, in particular, because it sounds like it would substantially reduce the need to save additional packages to my other flash drive before gutting out Windows:
So... any input/advice from experienced "Slackers" concerning this? :)

[Edit]I downloaded the revised "usbimg2disk.sh" for later transfer to the USB, and started looking at http://alien.slackbook.org/dokuwiki/...ckware:network for ideas on what to expect concerning wireless internet recognition...

I may need more coffee, but fighting the inclination to experience "deer in headlights" syndrome. Ack?[/Edit]

Sleep: check
Coffee: check
Leftover Chinese Food: check

Brain Power: ~72%, recharging

Will re-tackle Alien Bob's page concerning wireless & networks in a little bit. Meanwhile, input from any experienced Slackware users would be very much loved.

As mentioned in the edited title: I also would like more information concerning the "setup files, kernels and packages," so I know what (if anything) else I should be considering preparing, in advance. This would probably be in regards to what all is offered at www.slackbuilds.org. :)

[Edit]More details may by found in the official announcement and in the release notes. For a complete list of included packages, see the package list.

I am also perusing *these* sections, as well. I prefer firsthand user-input for fleshing out available information, though. :)[/Edit]

Before making concerns about the setup files, kernels and packages I would just go for the full install, see what you get with it and then ask here if you need additional software or have problems setting something up. Slackware is not that hard to install, just go for it.

@TobiSGD: Good afternoon! :)

I think I've been cautious and inclined to err on the side of caution as a "just in case" something goes awry with recognizing the wireless internet. :)

I've written down the password, however, and I have the following information:

Security Type: WPA2-Personal
Encryption Type: AES
Network Type: Access Point
Network Availability: All Users

The Properties also gives an option to "Copy this network profile to a USB flash drive."

Seriously considering doing that with the smaller (1gig) drive, as a means of backup.

That are the settings of your router, all you need is the password. If you may have doubts that you can't access the wireless after installation just download the wicd-package before the installation to a safe place, so that you can install it later. It will give you a GUI where you can scan for networks, you simply need the password for your network to connect.

@TobiSGD: Thank you for all of your lovely advice & patience. :) Saving wicd externally is a reassuring thought. Hopefully, my next reply will be from a successfully-reconfigured system. :)

*17 minutes to finish torrenting ISO
*necessary things to keep safe (GIMP creations, writing, etc.) deposited on smaller flash
*dd for Winblows acquired
*syslinux tool acquired
*WinImage trial acquired
*larger flash drive being idle-hands-fiddled-with excitedly...

CHECK!

I feel bouncy. :/

Still bouncy and excited, but also very confused... and stuck... :/

Well, hopefully I'll get some input sooner than later. If you are reading this first, please check my edited first post. If I need to provide more info, let me know what and I'll promptly reply with the data.

Thanks. :)

1. Download unetbootin.
2. Download the USB image from a Slackware mirror.
3. Start unetbootin, change it to "Diskimage" and the type from ISO to IMG, point it to the downloaded image and to your USB drive.
4. Press OK and wait till it is finished.
5. Reboot, boot from the stick and install Slackware.

Sidenote: Members participating in a thread are not noticed when a post is edited. So it is better to make a new post with the new information than to edit a post and wait untuil someone recognizes that.

unetbootin replaces the need for syslinux and WinImage both, by your instructions?

I have the full version of 13.37 downloaded as well as Alien Bob's usbimg2disk.sh - will that one fill the role you are describing, or is the one from the Slackware mirror different?

--

Also, it's sort of an ingrained habit to stick with my original topic on forums... I waited until it fell to the second page before I posted a reply... which seemed to move it back up, although I did not think that people might be clicking the little "2" instead of reading the first post until later... and I'd provided no information in my new replies. :/

Well, unetbootin didn't ask me anything about usbimg2disk.sh, but I pointed it at the ISO I downloaded back when I was still fidgeting from excitement and it seemed quite happy with that. It's now extracting 8,582 files to my USB.

I'm going to remember to recommend this to any of my Linux-loving friends later, since searching for how to install from USB only pointed me at Alien Bob's guides. (Truth be told, I should get out of my habit of ignoring results past the first page though...)

Yes.

As far as I understand AlienBob's script will create an USB-Image from the Slackware ISO. The image you get from the mirrors is an USB image which has to be written directly.
I had some issues with using unetbooting with the Slackware ISO, it may be possible that you need to point the installer to the repository on the pendrive. Since I have my own Slackware mirror i prefer to use the USB image and point it to my server.