I want to try linux for first time
 

:banghead:Does anyone have any thoughts on getting linux on a x86 Compaq N600c with only a floppy drive, and the USB and PXE options are out of queastion (already tried with Win XP), only option I figure I have is to find a downloadable version that will install from current OS (Win 98se, freeware Service Pack 2.0 patch), but does such a thing exist, and if so where can i find it, (must be GUI). For those of you scratching your head as to how i intend on getting the download to it since i don't have internet... infrared import from another computer that is my gf's and will kill me if i get any linux software on her comp.:banghead:

There are Linux distros which can run from a floppy disk. But I doubt you are looking for such a special case. If you want to get a regular desktop distro on your computer by booting from floppy then using a media such as optical drive (CD/DVD), HDD or Network (no PXE needed).

Or else you could just download any new Ubuntu ISO image. Transfer it to the PC in question. Mount it (using any tool you prefer. Eg: DAEMON Tools Lite) and run the autorun program. From there you can install Ubuntu inside Windows system and run it. You want Windows back you just have to reboot.

This is all I can tell from what you tell us. And welcome to LQ!

If I'm not mistaken, I think Ubuntu will actually install from Windows.

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ub...dows-installer

Check it out, and give it a try.

Windows 98SE only supports the FAT-filesystems. It is not possible to create files larger than 4GB on this filesystem. If Ubuntu is installed from inside Windows it will install itself in a filesystem-container. I doubt that a 4GB container will be sufficient for that, so I think that this option will not work.
I think the simplest options would be either to install from CD, or to dismantle the harddisk and install on a different computer.

Why don't you repartition the harddisk: create two linux partitions, extract the iso of the distro you want to try to the first one, boot it and install it to the second (you could use a boot floppy to start setup). Or is resizing the 98 partition out of question?

ok so let me see if i understand this right... i could create a 2nd partition on my HHD, download the linux iso, and install linux on the 2nd partition from the 1st in Windows??? or am i completely off base?

I dont have linux software on my computer yet or any way to get it there, but i am exploring and figuring out other methods that i did not think of until you said : keyword == 'partition', thank you, and that is in respect to my previous post.

Actually I meant to create two additional partitions - one small about 1GB, where you extract the contents of installation cd/dvd and another linux partition for the actual installation (10GB at least).
Glad that my post was inspiring. :D

You can go to your local library or a coffee shop that has wifi to dowload. If it's a laptop.

Take harddisk out of computer. Put harddisk in a computer with an optical drive. Install Linux from CD/DVD in the usual manner. Check contents of /etc/fstab and if it's using device names rather than /dev/sdaX to reference the partitions change them to /dev/sdaX. Or /dev/hdaX is it's not SATA. Put harddisk back in the Compaq. Boot. Should work. Probably :) Minor adjustments might be needed like X configuration.

Why is USB 'out of the question'? Does the BIOS not support booting from USB media?

Well I've taken quite a few post to heart.. minus the one about smashing my comp, *smiles*, but I took some advise and if it works will install Ubuntu as a guest os with Oracle Virtual Box... my only question here, will a guest os be able to use usb and wlan card if the host can't? Oh, and to answer you queastion , My bios doesn't have a boot from USB option... i've tried every troubleshooter i could think of e.g.: hp.com support page, download (albight dangerous) 2nd party bios update freeware... you get the picture. But my bios does recognize PXE, i just can't afford to parts to set up a hard line between it and my secondary (gf's) computer, tried and failed to use PXE through wireless (which i believe that's due to the fact either PXE wasn't developed for wireless or I just don't know enough on that particular topic.