I'm trying to install Slackware 9.1 on an older Compaq, it uses a Matsushita IDE/ATAPI cdrom. I've tried using the bare.i and old_cd.i bootdisks with install1.i and install2.i rootdisks, but even if I use ramdisk hdc=cdrom at the boot prompt, it can't find the cdrom drive. I'm trying to install this on a machine that has RedHat 7.0 already, but I'd like to switch away from RedHat. I'm still a Linux newbie, so I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing. Any suggestions? And any suggestions on where I can find a good resource on actually learning practical applications of Linux? I understand a lot of the command line stuff, but I'm still trying to wean myself off M$.

Thanks in advance,
akempo

I have quite a bit of experience with Compaq. Could you let me know what model it is? What processor speed? How much RAM? etc...

Also, does it currently have Redhat 7.0 on it.....I think that's what you said?

Can you get into the BIOS?

Let me know. I'd like to help.


OH... And welcome to LinuxQuestions.org. Glad you're here.

Thanks,
Whitehat

Well, here's my computer's stats:

Compaq DeskPro 4000
64M Ram
233 Mhz Pentium II
2Gb hard drive
OS RedHat 7.0

I installed RedHat from cd's that came with a book I got some time ago. It used to be a Windows 98 machine.

I can get into the BIOS, I've done it before.

Thanks for the welcome.

akempo

OK. I'm a bit confused. If you're booting off of the CD-ROM how is it not recognizing it?

So do you just put the Slackware 9.1 CD #1 in the drive and boot off of it? If so, do you just hit enter when it comes to the boot prompt?

Exactly how are you booting this box to try to install it? I've installed Slackware on a Compaq just like the one you have and have had no problems at all.


Peace,
Whitehat

Sorry about the confusion. I burned the Slackware iso's onto cdrom, but they didn't burn as bootable cd's, so I had to create the bootdisk and rootdisk floppies using rawrite on a Windows box. I use those to boot up the computer, but the bootdisk/rootdisks don't recognize my cdrom, so I can't kick off the install process. When I run setup, it can't find the cdrom to start processing the iso file.

akempo

Wow. I'm not sure what to tell you. What did you use to burn the ISO's? I would be happy to burn some slack 9.1 CD's for you and send them to you.

I don't know how they could not be bootable. That's strange. I've seen that happen when trying to make a bootable CD. I however have never seen it happen when just burning Linux ISO's.

Are you sure you have the BIOS set to boot to CD, Floppy, HD?

Have you tried re-burning them?

Peace,
Whitehat

I burned them on an HP burner on my Windows 98 system.

I only have three options on the burner: make an exact copy, make a music disk, and make a data disk. I made a data disk containing containing just the iso's, but I'm thinking that like a floppy, there needs to be something present in the boot sector that says boot from this and it's not there.

I know the BIOS is set as you indicate, I've booted from CD and floppy before.

No I haven't tried re-burning them, but I'm not sure it would help.

Thanks,
akempo

I think I see your problem. An ISO is a file with a bunch of files in it (it's really an image of a CD). It appears that you've simply burned the ISO file to the CD. Not good.

You need to open up the program you use to burn with and see if there is a way to do a new CD from ISO image. Don't use the Windows Wizard stuff. Use the menus.

What are you using to burn? What Program?

Thanks,
Whitehat

That's part of the problem. It's an HP cd burner, and it uses custom hp stuff so I'm using their software. Can I use a different software package to burn the cd?

thanks,
Akempo

I had a similar problem about a week ago... finally i used Nero (wich actually i believe that is not a good program, but that's what i had). when burning a new cd, it presented many options in wich an ISO image was one of them... but not the correct one. If you opened the file menu, the option "new image" was in, wich did the right thing. Browse through all the options a menus, maybe your software has a similar layout.

Don't know if this is of much help, but glad to help in anyway i can.

I went out an dfound a freeware program which is supposed to burn bootable cd's, I'm going to re-burn the iso's and see if that does the trick.

Thanks,
Akempo

I'm reading this with interest, since I'm having the same problem - sort of. I recently managed to install Slack 8.1 from a cd I made some time ago from an iso, but I've now got the 9.1 dist. I used Alcohol to burn the CDs from the iso images. I'm definitely a newbie here, but I have managed to figure out how to mount the cd and see that they are correct in that the new cds contain all the directories (not an iso) - but I can't get a boot for anything. If I'm understanding this thread correctly I need to make sure that the 9.1 install cd is specificly made bootable when I create the cd?

I am really discouraged. I'm having the same problem, although I burned the ISO correctly. It will boot of the Slackware CD-ROM, and it will detect it when i load the bare.i (default) kernel, and even detects the CD-ROM after that through the kernel loading procedure, but... During setup (after correct partitioning, of course (followed the Slackware partitioning guide to the letter)) it refuses to detect my CD-ROM. Ideas, anyone?

Hi my first post so hopefully it helps.

I have the same problem as what you have I'm however trying to install RH 9 anyways the wierd thing is that I've picked up is I have the same cdrom installed as you.

Before people ask whether the .iso's are correct I tried it on another machine I have and it works properly. I get stuck when its looking for data. The .iso's work properly the only problem is linux isn't finding my cd rom so if anyone can help it would be great. My reckoning is its the cd-rom or that linux hasn't got the drivers for that cdrom.

deleted pthe partition with the "compaq-bios" ??

then he isnt going to boot from ANY cd...

-i did...