Little bit lost as what I need to get install ready

MonthOLDpickle · 03-18-2010, 12:48 AM

I am looking at the slackware linux site. I go to where the I want:

Looking for newest 64 bit

ftp://carroll.cac.psu.edu/pub/linux/...are64-current/

I am pretty confused. I been using Fedora 12 64 KDE..but Linux is still new to me.

I perfer USB install over CD.

What files do I download or is there a torrent file somewhere?

Didier Spaier · 03-18-2010, 01:10 AM

What you need if you want to burn a DVD is an ISO file, see here for instance (grab the file slackware-13.0-iso or slackware64-13.0-iso depending on your computer's architecture). What the links you provided points to is the content of the DVD once burned.

But if you prefer to boot on an USB key read this (this file is in the usb-and-pxe-installers directory in the page you linked to).

bgeddy · 03-18-2010, 11:05 AM

I find the Unetbootin utility useful for creating installs from an iso to installable USB sticks.

Quote:

I am looking at the slackware linux site. I go to where the I want:
ftp://carroll.cac.psu.edu/pub/linux/...are64-current/
Looking for newest 64 bit

Not wishing to sound elitist here but the "-current" versions of the releases are pre release testing versions and really only meant for those familiar with Slackware for testing purposes. At the moment Slackware64 13 is the most recent and iso's are available here.

MonthOLDpickle · 03-18-2010, 09:20 PM

Okay I burned the image to a DVD. I boot from hit, hit enter when it says boot, than enter for keyboard.

Than at log in, I log in as root.

Than I go to cfdisk, I do not have permission to write - read only.

How do I get the cfdisk to see my hard drives? I only have two and I want to install it on /dev/hda3

=S

ahwm · 03-18-2010, 10:06 PM

I used fdisk, myself. It seemed to work pretty well. I've installed it a couple of times and will again in a week or so. Maybe twice in the next week... :P

I've never used cfdisk, so I don't know what's needed there. And I'm fairly new myself. Only about since July have I used Linux.

T3slider · 03-18-2010, 10:16 PM

Make sure you're doing `cfdisk /dev/hda` and not `cfdisk /dev/hda3`. If your drive is already partitioned, then *don't* use cfdisk as other data will be destroyed (unless you're just changing the partition type or something). If your drive *is* partitioned then just run setup and be sure to choose the right partition for your root partition.

I used fdisk originally but after seeing this in `man fdisk`:

Code:

       There  are  several *fdisk programs around.  Each has its problems and strengths.  Try them in the order cfdisk, fdisk, sfdisk.  (Indeed, cfdisk is a beautiful
       program that has strict requirements on the partition tables it accepts, and produces high quality partition tables. Use it if you can.  fdisk is a buggy  pro-
       gram  that does fuzzy things - usually it happens to produce reasonable results. Its single advantage is that it has some support for BSD disk labels and other
       non-DOS partition tables.  Avoid it if you can.  sfdisk is for hackers only - the user interface is terrible, but it is more correct than fdisk and more power-
       ful than both fdisk and cfdisk.  Moreover, it can be used noninteractively.)

I generally stick with cfdisk for new installs.

MonthOLDpickle · 03-18-2010, 11:10 PM

I just type "cfdisk" by itself and I get that error. But I will try to type "cfdisk /dev/hda"...

brb

MonthOLDpickle · 03-18-2010, 11:26 PM

This is what I get after booting from DVD, loading kernal, and getting to cfdisk (I tried /dev/hda also)

http://i42.tinypic.com/fd5b90.png

MonthOLDpickle · 03-19-2010, 12:17 AM

Okay I can't fix it but I think it can't see my HD (its only seeing the boot-able media)

I tried DVD and USB..get same error so did a fdisk -l and I only see the DVD or USB depending on which I boot from.

Didier Spaier · 03-19-2010, 01:55 AM

Did you try cfdisk /dev/sda ?

I you have recent (SATA) hard disk it is numbered as an SCSI one, thus my question.

ponce · 03-19-2010, 02:35 AM

I think with the new default libata drivers of current's 2.6.33 also the ide hard disks and optical drives should use scsi nomenclature (/dev/sdX for hds and /dev/srX for cdroms/dvds)

I quote Volkerding from current's changelog

Quote:

Mon Jan 4 21:43:02 UTC 2010
New kernels... and this deserves a mention/warning: the last bits of the
"old" IDE/ATA system have been removed now. Everything should be using
the libata based drivers now, so if you have any drives that are currently
running as /dev/hda, /dev/hdb, etc., when you reboot with these kernels all
drives will be renamed as /dev/sda, /dev/sdb, etc. If you had any /dev/sd*
already, they might get renamed. Adjustments may be required in
/etc/lilo.conf, /etc/fstab, the initrd, and elsewhere. Good luck!

vdvluc · 03-19-2010, 06:50 AM

I always use 'fdisk -l' to get a list of devices. Then 'cfdisk /dev/somedisk'.

onebuck · 03-19-2010, 07:58 AM

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!

You should use the command 'fdisk -l' (lower case 'l' not 1) to show your drives as recognized. I'll bet on '/dev/sda' instead of '/dev/hda'.

Just a few links to aid you to gaining some understanding;
Slackware® Essentials
Slackware® Basics
Linux Documentation Project
Rute Tutorial & Exposition
Linux Command Guide
Bash Reference Manual
Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide
Linux Newbie Admin Guide
LinuxSelfHelp
Getting Started with Linux

These links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links' .
More than just Slackware® links!

sahko · 03-19-2010, 08:09 AM

My 2 advices are : Dont install -current, but rather the stable 13.0 version.
Read the Slackbook from slackbook.org

MonthOLDpickle · 03-19-2010, 01:40 PM

But why..since this is my second attempt at installing - I can't detect my HDs at all?

First time two weeks ago I saw everything..now nothing. I am going to try again when I get home.

This using same image. Slackware64 13 - not from current.