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Linux - Laptop and Netbook Having a problem installing or configuring Linux on your laptop? Need help running Linux on your netbook? This forum is for you. This forum is for any topics relating to Linux and either traditional laptops or netbooks (such as the Asus EEE PC, Everex CloudBook or MSI Wind).

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Old 07-13-2004, 12:38 AM   #1
bayoumama
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Question Using pre-installed Linux hard drive on another laptop


Hi, I'm new to this forum and to the Linux world. I'm trying to install RH9 on a Toshiba Libretto 110 which doesn't have recognizable CD-ROM. After numerous attempts to work around my handicap, I thought I might be able to "trick" the system by installing RH9 first on an IBM Thinkpad 570E then using the same harddrive on the Toshiba machine and hope that the plug/play features would autodetect the new hardware...borrowing a thought from my Windows background. However, when I plugged the hard drive back into the Toshiba, the computer doesn't seem to be able to boot. In fact, it just keeps restarting right after the GRUB splash screen.

I have 2 questions:

1) Can I do what I am doing?
2) If so, any clue as to why I'm not able to boot? Or how can I configure or manipulate the boot files to think it's a Libretto and not the Thinkpad?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
BM
 
Old 07-13-2004, 02:25 AM   #2
KenCo
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you should be able to copy the .iso or .img file to the harddrive then install from there, just delete the .iso/.img after the install.
 
Old 07-13-2004, 11:42 PM   #3
bayoumama
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I just spent 3 hours trying various methods of copying the .iso file onto the hard drive. I assume I have to convert the individual cd installs into their own .iso files right? i even mimicked RH's .iso file name (e.g., shrike-i386-disc1.iso, etc.) I tried copying through the network but found out real quick file sharing is not very intuitive through linux and thus gave up that idea. I then burn the .iso's onto 3 seperate CD's but for some funny reason Linux is not showing the CD's when I pop them in...normally the CD icon would be on the desktop (like a MAC), but it doesn't appear now and I don't know how to get back. I also tried using one of those USB external HD cases and tried to do it through my Windows XP box, but it didn't mount the drive...even though the wizard recognized new hardware. But even if I could copy it do I just copy it to the / directory?

Isn't there another way to manipulate the boot record or something to that nature...since I already have a working copy of Linux on that hard drive. Why doesn't Linux have plug/play abilities like MAC and WIN?
 
Old 07-13-2004, 11:44 PM   #4
bayoumama
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I just tried another HD with RH9 installation from my other laptop (ThinkPAD T20) and am experiencing the same rebooting issue. I think it is safe to assume I cannot install Linux from one machine and use that drive in another machine.
 
Old 07-14-2004, 03:39 PM   #5
KenCo
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can you format the drive for DOS, find/load the CD drivers, then install??
 
Old 07-14-2004, 03:43 PM   #6
hp46168
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Lightbulb Re: Using pre-installed Linux hard drive on another laptop

Quote:
Originally posted by bayoumama
Hi, I'm new to this forum and to the Linux world. I'm trying to install RH9 on a Toshiba Libretto 110 which doesn't have recognizable CD-ROM. After numerous attempts to work around my handicap, I thought I might be able to "trick" the system by installing RH9 first on an IBM Thinkpad 570E then using the same harddrive on the Toshiba machine and hope that the plug/play features would autodetect the new hardware...borrowing a thought from my Windows background. However, when I plugged the hard drive back into the Toshiba, the computer doesn't seem to be able to boot. In fact, it just keeps restarting right after the GRUB splash screen.

I have 2 questions:

1) Can I do what I am doing?
2) If so, any clue as to why I'm not able to boot? Or how can I configure or manipulate the boot files to think it's a Libretto and not the Thinkpad?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
BM
If it's got a floppy, here's what you could do:

Install RedHat 9 on the hard drive on the stinkpad.
when prompted, create the rescue disk.
transfer hard drive to toshiba.
use rescue disk when it doesn't boot

The toshiba does have a 1.44 MB floppy? Or is it older than that?
 
Old 07-14-2004, 03:53 PM   #7
NoxVampyre
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The problem with a libretto is that it is so small that all drives are external. That said,(and bear in mind that I haven't used a libretto in quite a while) I thought there was an option in bios to boot from the external floppy. Problem here is that you have to have the Libretto floppy as the bios won't see other types.

Don't know if that helped any but, it might stimulate ideas from others.
 
Old 07-14-2004, 04:03 PM   #8
hp46168
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I didn't think of that.

Is there an update for the BIOS that would support booting off of a USB removable thumb drives? You can pick those up from Wal-Mart for cheap.
 
Old 07-14-2004, 04:14 PM   #9
NoxVampyre
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Hmmm...
Good idea there may well be bios updates available for it. I honestly don't remember if the 110 has a USB port or not. But with a bios update it might be possible to boot from other devices of some sort. Damn, I wish I still had one so I could get the bios info from it. Probelem is they are collectors items and sell for ridiculous money(which is why I don't have one LOL)
 
Old 07-15-2004, 04:24 AM   #10
KenCo
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before starting hold the ESC or F1 key down to get into most BIOS setups,

then set boot sequence, FDD or CD if its avail then HDD
 
Old 07-21-2004, 10:46 PM   #11
bayoumama
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Thanks for all the replies. The Libretto does have an external floppy that is recognized w/o configuration...thank god. I did manage to get RH9 installed on a different hard drive by using Partition Magic 8 and creating 2 partitions. 1 partition for Dos just big enough for the 3 .iso's and 1 Linux ext 3. After the installation I used PM 8 again and reformatted the DOS to Linux, therefore there are 2 Linux partitions.

After all that hard work, not to mention jamming a normal laptop HD into the miniture slot...I realized the Libretto just can't handly RH9. RH9 is too resource intensive and take eons for anything thing to load. I think I may be force to go back to Windows.
 
Old 07-22-2004, 05:09 PM   #12
NoxVampyre
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OK, if you would like to run linux you might want to check out:
http://delilinux.berlios.de/

This distro is probably better for an older unit like yours. Check it out and see if it fits your needs. You really won't be terribly happy with windows on that unit either I think.
 
  


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