Any way to install using a PCMCIA CD Drive?

EwanG · 09-05-2003, 11:06 AM

Have a Toshiba Portege 3500 which has a fairly large internal HD, but no internal floppy or CD. Only way to install software is through the network, or from a PCMCIA CD ROM.

I've tried Knoppix and Lindows and Ark and ...

In all cases, the machine will boot from the CD, and I'll see the initial splash screen, but then it appears that Linux can't find it's way back to the CD ROM to finish the install.

Help...

EwanG · 09-05-2003, 12:46 PM

Dumber question than I thought? Or truly impossible?

EwanG · 09-08-2003, 10:19 AM

After playing with several distributions over the weekend, the only one I could find that could deal with this situation was Mandrake. So guess I know what I'll be running on this machine, and may convert my other couple to that just to minimize incompatibilities.

FYI for anyone else who runs into this problem...

Cuthbert · 09-10-2003, 08:32 AM

I've had some similar fun (bought a cheap second-hand laptop from work)

Here's how I did it

1) Created a boot disk for DOS. Loads of sites that you can download from
2) Edit config.sys to load the correct DOS PCMCIA drivers for the CD rom card. It's a bit of a funny one - needs two drivers, LOADED IN THE RIGHT ORDER to work
(Can supply the drivers if you really need them)
3) Boot from dos floppy, and then read the PCMCIA CDROM
4) Start install process from there

EwanG · 09-10-2003, 10:34 PM

The problem is that the machine I want to install on has no floppy drive, just the single external PC Card CD Rom and the internal HD. WIth only one PC Slot, even if I could find a PC Card floppy I'd be SOL.

Thanks anyway,
Ewan