Creating a 8.1 bootdisk

squirellplaying · 03-07-2004, 09:56 AM

I am ever so confused. I downloaded slackware 8.1 to run on my computer. I burned the ISO to a cd. But since my computer that I will be installing it on does not boot from a CD, I need to create a boot disk and root disks. I have been all over these forums and the internet trying to figure out what to do. There is no rawrite.exe on my cd or no directory called bootdisks. At the slackware site under boot disks there is a whole list of items ftp ://sunsite.ualberta.ca/pub/Mirror/Linux/slackware/slackware-8.1/bootdisks/
and I don't know which one I need! I haven't even looked at root disks yet because I don't know how to make a boot disk. Please help.

320mb · 03-07-2004, 10:10 AM

under bootdisks.......use the bare.i kernel
under rootdisks......use install 1-5
these will install the loader so you can install the programs from the disk.

read the readme....it is simple actually
you can do it on a windows box from DOS using the rawrite.exe command........

exp....C:\> RAWRITE INSTALL.1 A:
exp.....C:\> RAWRITE BARE.I A:

squirellplaying · 03-07-2004, 10:40 AM

Like I said before:

Quote:

There is no rawrite.exe on my cd or no directory called bootdisks.

There lies my problem.
I read the read me. Since I didn't have rawrite.exe or the directory called bootdisks, which it tells me to use, it didn't work.

squirellplaying · 03-07-2004, 11:00 AM

Oh! I think I understand now. Sorry for being stupid.

squirellplaying · 03-07-2004, 11:16 AM

I downloaded and use rawrite to write bare.i to a floppy, put it in the computer and says boot failed.

itsjustme · 03-07-2004, 11:32 AM

ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackwar...9.1/bootdisks/
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackwar...sks/README.TXT

Quote:

A bootdisk is created by writing the image to a formatted floppy disk
with RAWRITE.EXE under DOS. For example, to use RAWRITE.EXE to create the
bare.i bootdisk you'd put a formatted disk in your floppy drive and issue
the following command (in this directory):

RAWRITE BARE.I A:

**********************************************************
* Tip: If you have no idea which bootdisk to use, start with "bare.i". This *
* is the correct disk to use for most systems with IDE peripherals. *
**********************************************************

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's a description of the disks:

These are the bootdisks for IDE based systems. All IDE bootdisks support
IDE hard drives and CD-ROM drives, plus additional support listed below.

bare.i - This is the disk to use for installation on most IDE
based PCs, with support for nearly all IDE controllers
and support for IDE/ATAPI CD-ROM/DVD drives.
Most CD-ROM drives made today fall into this category.

ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackwar...9.1/rootdisks/
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackwar...sks/README.TXT

Quote:

Here's a description of the disk images in this directory:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
install.1, install.2: These are the Slackware installation disks, used
to install Slackware Linux to its own partition.

To load the installer from floppy disk, you'll need to write
each to these to a floppy disk, and use a bootdisk to load them.

You'll create 3 diskettes.

Edit: oops... this is for slackware 9.1. But the same should be true for 8.1 starting here:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-8.1/
And as 320mb said, use install.1 through install.5
Also, I just wasn't familiar with the ftp link you provided.
Can you download the most recent 9.1 iso's??

squirellplaying · 03-07-2004, 11:38 AM

I did that

. Still says boot failed.

itsjustme · 03-07-2004, 11:42 AM

Well, I guess you're out of luck.

Ok...
"I did that." - Did what??
"Still says boot failed." - Doesn't give enough info for anybody here to help with.

All the info you need is there in the readme's. There must be some issue with the system you are trying to use, eh?

squirellplaying · 03-07-2004, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by itsjustme
Well, I guess you're out of luck.

Ok...
"I did that." - Did what??
"Still says boot failed." - Doesn't give enough info for anybody here to help with.

All the info you need is there in the readme's. There must be some issue with the system you are trying to use, eh?

"I did that." - Did what?? Created the boot disk from bare.i using rawrite, and the 5 install root files.

"Still says boot failed." - Doesn't give enough info for anybody here to help with. That is all it says" Boot failed." Nothing else. Rather discouraging.

I'm using an old machine (8years) and trying to use it as a web browser for a small chemistry site I made. Only uses html and javascript. It only has 16 MB of RAM. Pathetic I know. Not sure about the hard drive. There is no other OS on there. I'm trying to get linux to be the only operating system on there, because of the size restraint. Should I try Damn Small Linux, that looks promising.