Installing Knoppix 5.0

nekhelesh · 08-25-2006, 05:34 AM

I want to install Knoppix 5.0 in my hard drive.I need to know how you do this.I tried trying a command in the root console.

knx-hdinstall but it didn't work.

nekhelesh · 08-25-2006, 06:14 AM

Can I install Knoppix 5.0 in my hard disk without erasing the existing files?

The Seeker 11 · 08-25-2006, 07:25 AM

I strongly suggest you take a look at Kanotix; a Knoppix-based distro with superb hardware detection and a very easy to use installer.

nekhelesh · 08-25-2006, 11:52 AM

I will try that out.I don't want to lose my existing files as they are very important.

twoHats · 08-25-2006, 12:10 PM

Hi nekhelesh - What does your HD look like before the install?

Linux will want to create at least 2 partitions - The root partition and the swap partition. How this wiil affect you current data depends on how your HD is currently partitiond. If you boot into Knoppix - get a root command line and try:

Code:

fdisk -l /dev/sda

This should give a list of partitions and their sizes. If this doesn't work try /dev/hda ... Then copy and paste the results into your reply.

Mine looks like

Code:

Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1        1335    10723356    c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda2   *        1336        3768    19543072+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3            3769        6201    19543072+  83  Linux
/dev/sda4            6202       30401   194386500    5  Extended
/dev/sda5            6202        6326     1004031   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6            6327        7572    10008463+  83  Linux
/dev/sda7            7573        8818    10008463+  83  Linux
/dev/sda8            8819       10064    10008463+  83  Linux
/dev/sda9           10065       17535    60010776   83  Linux
/dev/sda10          17536       25006    60010776   83  Linux
/dev/sda11          25007       30401    43335306   83  Linux

There are ways of resizing partitions - also risky unless you are *very* careful - if you have enough space available.

When you get that far let us know and we can probably be of more help ...

Have fun

nekhelesh · 08-26-2006, 08:20 AM

This is how mine looks like when I typed the command

Disk /dev/hda: 60.0 GB, 60011642880 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7296 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 1 383 3076416 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/hda2 * 384 2240 14916352+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda3 3829 7296 27856710 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda4 2241 3828 12755610 83 Linux
/dev/hda5 3829 7296 27856678+ b W95 FAT32

Partition table entries are not in disk order

nekhelesh · 08-26-2006, 08:23 AM

/dev/hda4 2241 3828 12755610 83 Linux

I have Xandros 3.01 OS installed in my computer with Windows XP.Now I want to remove Xandros and install Knoppix 5.0. Then someone told me that when you install Knoppix it will automatically delete Xandros as the partitions will be removed.But then I will also lose my other windows files.

twoHats · 08-29-2006, 12:37 PM

The Knoppix installer is known to be weak. It may just do what your friend says ... If you poke around in the readme or on the web you will find instructions for manually installing knoppix, which requires a little twidling, but is much safer. <sorry - no time to look for it myself right now>

This is just copying the image to the Linux partition. which you may want to clean out first, and then setting the boot through lilo or grub. You then need to set up a user etc.

I would definitely make a backup of hda2 b4 you do anything.... that way if something does go wierd, you still have your data.

Have fun

hpladd · 08-29-2006, 02:49 PM

Hey nekhelesh,

Did you install the Xandros? I'm guessing that you did not as the person who created the relatively complex partitioning scheme (below) would not be asking a "howto install question."

Quote:

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 1 383 3076416 12 Compaq diagnostics
/dev/hda2 * 384 2240 14916352+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda3 3829 7296 27856710 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda4 2241 3828 12755610 83 Linux
/dev/hda5 3829 7296 27856678+ b W95 FAT32

Partition table entries are not in disk order

A couple of cautions for you:

1. I not familiar with the "Partition table entries are not in disk order" warning. But it appears to me that your linux partition is sandwiched in between windows partitions. This is an interesting choice.

2. I don't see a swap partition anywhere, and there has to be one, or the linux would not run at all! So, I'm confused. Any chance you ran the fdisk -l while running Knoppix from the cd?

3. It is interesting that your hda1 starts at block 383 and ends at 3076416. Yet the last block on your hda5 is 27856678. It appears to me that from 27856678 onto 3076416 is unpartioned disk space. However, I am unfamiliar with Compaq Diagnostics partitions, but I don't see why it would include blocks that don't exist? Perhaps it is including the cd drive? Or perhaps you have another drive? hdb?

IMHO -- You'd be much better off to back-up all data, then reinstall windows 95 and then install Knoppix. This would leave you with fresh back-ups, and most likely a cleaner, better performing partition table.

twoHats · 09-02-2006, 05:49 PM

1. After a HD has been mucked around through many partitioning schemes, sometime the partitions get out of order as in the case with 3 and 4 above ... notice 4 starts where 2 ends and 3 is really setting aside the rest of the disk for logical volumes of which 5 is one <whew> at least i think that is what is happening.

2. Right you are about the swap - but that linux partition could be used for a docking partition when a live CD runs.

3. The numbers are really 1 -> 383 for partition 1 - just bad formatting ;-) Once you see that the rest falls into line.

I agree with the "back it up and redo the drive" plan- otherwise you will be dealing with this strange partitioning until you do.

Have fun -