Hi!

I've just gotten my hands on a quite old laptop (Dell Latitude CPi D, P1, 300MHz, 64MB RAM). I'm trying to install a linux system on this machine.

The problem is that the BIOS settings are blocked by a password I don't know, so I can't boot from CD (and I don't want to short any chips on motherboard to clear NVRAM either). Network card seems to be broken (the network cable plug input is totally useless as it seems like someone has smashed it with a hammer or something). No USB ports are available. Yes, I know how it sounds

So the only thing I am able to do is to log into windows (95, no service packs applied (I think) ).

Is there any way I can install linux from within windows? Or may be you've got any other advice for me on how to install a linux OS on this laptop?

Thanx in advance

My god, I can't imagine there is someone can use this laptop, you are unique man.

However, why don't you plug the harddisk to a better laptop, install linux on it and plug it back ?

Hehe... they couldn't. That's why they were ready to throw it away. But then I thought that may be I could find some use for it. So....

Yeah, that would be an option. The problem is though that I haven't got another laptop

If it's really old, take out the battery for a couple of hours (if it even has one!) That should kill the BIOS password from CMOS.

No, it's not that old. It stores the password in NVRAM, which cannot be erased by taking out the battery. The only option is to short a chip (24C02) on the mobo.