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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:
Quote:
Building the Win32 installer requires the MinGW compiler, available at:
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.
Last edited by .Clockwork.; 11-22-2011 at 05:00 AM.
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.
Quote:
I also only have a 3gig flash drive to work with as my source to install from.
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.
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.
Last edited by .Clockwork.; 11-20-2011 at 05:03 AM.
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.
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:
Quote:
So I took Slackware’s “usbimg2disk.sh” script (which I incidentally wrote too) and expanded its functionality. What is new? The script can now copy the Slackware setup files, kernels and packages all to a regular USB thumb drive, if that has a minimum of 2GB free space available.And it still retains its original functionality (to create a bootable installer as long as there is 30 MB of available free space on the stick).
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]
Last edited by .Clockwork.; 11-20-2011 at 06:56 PM.
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]
Last edited by .Clockwork.; 11-21-2011 at 11:20 AM.
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.
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