Hi,
I downloaded the Mandrake 9.2 ISO images and burned them to CDs. How do I install Mandrake? This is on a computer that won't boot from a CD. Please help!
Thanks.

Can't boot from a cd, or won't boot from a cd.

Personally, I check the BIOS settings.

reboot it, and when you get the initial info screen it usually says something about pressing F1 or F10 or delete to access the BIOS settings, do that then follow the advice about navigating around with the direction arrow keys to find the section that tells the system in which order to boot - that usually works.

Then it checks, say floppy, then cdrom drive, then hard drive for bootable media, in that order (the BIOS set up may call it that or define it as boot order A,D,C but which ever you use/select you want it to look at the cdrom drive before the hard drive) then when you reboot, it should go into the mandrake install routine

regards

John

The computer cannot boot from a CD - only floppy or HDD. Any other way?

Wow, that's really strange. I've never come across a system that can't have the BIOS modified to change the boot sequence or method.

Still, "they" say that you learn something new everyday.

So, if you follow the following links, that's what Mandrake have to say on the matter

and this is the link to follow to get mandrakes instructions on how to do that.

It also makes mention of installing via a network, but as I've not done that, or used a floppy to install I can't give you a "punch by punch" routine.

But, additionally to the mandrake forum here at LQ (a sub forum in the distributions forum), you should also be able to find idea's and suggestions here I've always found the advice good, though you often don't get answers quite as quickly.

The last thing that I was prompted by at mandrakes site, is the "old cherry" of modem's. If you are using dial up, then you may still have problems. You would need to check to see if your modem is what is know as a "winmodem". If you hit the "next" page when looking at the mandrake page that I've linked above, you get the page about "supported hardware" and there's a link about winmodems at the bottom of that page.

Sorry I can't be any more specific.

regards

John

This is an older system...maybe I'll try to make my machine dual-boot.

Again, I can only suggest that you search the hell out of both LQ and the mandrake site.

I wouldn't have thought that the age of the system should be much of an impediment. The only thing that you may have to concentrate on would be stuff like window managers etc - but only if you have to put up with a lack of space on the hard drive or smaller amounts of available ram.

Then you may have to make sure that during installation you choose a smaller/lighter window manager - which may not have all the "bells and whistles" of kde or gnome.

good luck

regards

John