i will soon be trying to put linux (zipslack) on an old laptop i hav recently aquired. it is a 486dx/2 50 with 8mb RAM a 260mb hard disk a cdrom and no floppy drive. i cannot get the floppy drive because it is 2 expensive.

it currently has win95a on it. my plan was this and would like 2 know if anybody thinks it will work.

i will boot into DOS mode and after all the cd drivers have loaded i'll do format c: /s to make a bootable partiton. i will then copy all the cd driver files from a cd (this should work 'cos the drivers are TSR) then install the drivers and a copy of pkzip for dos. after this the cdrom drive should work (hopefully) so i can extract zipslack from its zip file on a CD.

from then i should be able to setup and run zipslack.

i'd b interested in anyones comments/suggestions

thanks:
daryl

have u got a cd writer, if so the best way todo it, I think is to boot into dos with cdrom drivers loaded then use loadlin to load a kernel, then the kernel will work from the memory instead of wiping windows.

If u need any more help email me

i do hav a cdrw drive but do u mean load a kernel 2 install it ir just 2 run? if u mean just to run wouldnt it not hav any apps etc? and i really don mind about the removing windows its painfully slow on there neway

and thanx

what u think of runnin off it zipslack?, u could make a cd to run the kernel off so that u could install zipslack or equivelent, I put slackware 8.1 on a:

486sx 25mhz
12mb ram
380mb hdd
floppy drive

i created my own kernel on my desktop then put it on a floppy and booted to it, then installed slackware through plip (paralel cable)

alfalinux is good

but for a list of boot floppys go to linux.org then click distrubutions then minimalist in the combo box

i would try that but theres no floppy drive

thanx neway

yes but u have a cdr drive so burn them into a cdr and boot them off that instaed of the floppy

it cant boot from a cd only an old 486

well write it all on cd then boot into dos and boot it using loadlin

ok didnt think of that thanks