Linux is a part of the OS, the whole OS can be called GNU/Linux.

Just try it, I recomend SuSE.

I get the same code in Smart Boot Manager when I try to boot from a CD when there isn't one in the disc drive as I get when I try to boot from a boot disc. I can access the CD when Windows is started, though, so it isn't my IDE cables. (Good idea, though.)

Since I can't think of any other problems, let's take it back to a more basic level. Now, when I burn the .iso to the CD I want the finished product to be a CD that, when viewed in Windows Explorer, has nothing on it but one file called "Filename.iso," correct?

WRONG!

You want a bunch of folders and the contents of the .iso file.

If you only see "filname.iso" you burned the disc incorrectly!!! You need to instead "burn from image".

Ack, I misread XavierP's post earlier in the thread. He had it right, but I got it backwards.

Interestingly, the first CD I burned was done properly, and it didn't work. That's why XavierP posted to try to help in the first place... I wonder what I did wrong before.

Alright, it tried to boot on my old 95 and failed, but that's fine so long as it works on the Dell. I don't have time to try it today, unfortunately, but unless I come back with more problems you can consider the problem solved.

Thanks a lot guys, even though it was kind of a stupid thing the whole time... >_<

Lazeeboy,

Reiterating what a couple have said before, you need to burn the .iso to the cd using a function within the burning software. Look in the menus of the burning software and find "Burn from ISO file" or the like. Then open the finished product in Windows Explorer.

What burning software are you using? in the meantime, you may want to download CDBurnerXP Pro from Snapfiles.com. It has the function I'm speaking of.

Let us know of what you find. We're here to help.

Robert

If your Pentium 200 MHz has an option to boot to CD in the BIOS, then you can boot the Linux installation with out any problems. If it has only floppy or hard drive as the selection for boot devices, you will have to use the utility rawrite that comes with the installation to write out the floppy image to handle CD-ROM drives. Booting from a CD-ROM disc is hack (aka el torio) that few BIOS manufactures implement in those days.

To turn the ISO to a CD, you will need to make sure you select burn from image or something similar to it. I suggest bypassing the wizards that many Windows CD/DVD burning programs uses when you start them.

Most popular Linux distributions are compiled on a 80686 system so you may not be able to run them on a Pentium 200 MHz. Damn Small Linux will definately run on your computer. Getting GUI to work with 32 MB of RAM is going to a problem and be very sluggish.

Disks that come with Dell are usually restore disks that restores the Windows partition from the restore partition on the same hard drive. The advertised space that Dell says that they will give you is actually lower than what you got right now. I recommend building your computer so you get what you want. You can make restore disks by using Norton Ghost if the OS you are going to use is Windows.

There is ardour. Setting up jack can be a pain on some distributions.

I don't have much experience on branded computers for I am just a poor man who assembles his own custom built PC. Another reason is that you will rely so much on the manufacturer if something goes wrong, just like that "Dell OS CD". Now back to the topic...

Use another burning software as they have suggested. I use nero burning rom 6.sumthin To burn an ISO image to a disk, select the option "Burn current saved project" and then look for the iso file. It will then detect the contents of the ISO and burn them into the CD. There was a time when I used to extract the files of an ISO (by using winrar) to a folder before I burn all the extracted files to a CD. This is wrong because the files are only detected as data, not as a single CD. Do not select the "Create data disk option" because it will copy the very ISO image to the disk. It is like copy-pasting the ISO to the disk. You will know if you did it correctly by checking the contents of the cd by opening it. There should be lots of folders and whatnot. However, this will also be the same effect if you did extract the files out of the ISO and burn the extrated files to the CD. The main difference is that an extracted burn is considered as a data disk while an ISO burn is detected as a single cd.

Now for the boot thingy, which I am not sure of because I use a different PC type as yours, I change the boot sequence in the BIOS setup. For me, I will press delete as soon as the system detects the drives. Most systems will give you a hint of what to press to enter to the BIOS. There I will change the boot sequence from

1st boot drive: floppy
2nd boot drive: CDROM
3rd boot drive: HDD

to

1st boot drive: CDROM
2nd boot drive: floppy
3rd boot drive: HDD

and restart my PC. I will now throw my bootable CD into the drive before I actually restart the PC.

This method works fine for me. I do not know if it will also be the same on your part. The key here is to change the BIOS settings. It seems that you already did the burning part correctly.

Goodluck to you. You'll need it.

MrVahn, I build all my own computers too and computers for others that can afford me. While the BIOS info you gave him is good for yours or mine being that our motherboards have standard BIOS with all the features, he has a Dell and they have a crippled BIOS. His BIOS actually has 2 places to change the boot order and 1 of those 2 does not work even though you set the option it will just ignore it. That is why I gave him the info directly from Dell on the different non-standard way Dell has of changing boot order on his particular model.

lazeeboy
Once again F2 will get you into BIOS Setup and F12 allows you to change your boot device. Try restarting the computer and just steadily tapping the F12 key all the way through reboot. If your in the right place it will only have boot device selection options.

If that does not work for you correctly you should contact Dell to find out why you can't boot from cd. I wouldn't tell them you're installing Linux just that your motherboard will not boot from cd.

Hi lazeeboy,
This is most unfortunate.
You have the patience of Job: I would have given up.
Just wanted to add, by way of encouragement...
I have used Knoppix and Morphix bootable CDs for a year to get into old and broken PCs to diagnose hardware problems, delete broken Windows installations etc. Often either Knoppix or Morphix won't boot, but nearly always if one doesn't work the other will.

The first Linux I ever tried was Knoppix bootable CD: I was amazed at how it detected my hardware and peripherals, had me on the internet and saw my Windows network -- without me configuring anything at all. (Surely this is impossible! -- it took ages to get Windows to do these tasks...)
I wish you could have had a similar experience. Hope you do enjoy your Linux once it's running.

Conclusion: OpenSource is the future

I always work on my main P.C. this way if i mess up i have to work my hardest to fix it. you would be surprised at what you can do if you have to

Once again, thanks for all of your help and encouragement, but I actually fixed it yesterday and posted about it.

I'm using Konqueror to post this, so I'm pretty sure it worked out fine.

Oh we misunderstood the post LOL!! ROFL!!!!!!!

Congratulations then! I suggest you invest at least some time to tinker with the machine.

Dear Lazeeboy,

I hope you enjoy LInux. Which distribution are you using?

Robert