I'm trying to install Zipslack 9.1 onto a FAT 32 partition, but every time I extract zipslack.zip, the long file names get truncated. I've tried unzipping under SuSE Linux as well as Windows. I've used 2 different windows unzippers (I'm pretty sure they're 32-bit). I've even tried re-downloading from a different mirror, but the file names still get messed up.

For example, instead of /etc/hosts.allow I get /etc/hosts_al.{1b

What am I doing wrong?

That's correct - that's how Slack and UMSDOS get around FAT's limitations. When you boot into ZipSlack, they'll look right. Unless that's how they look when you *have* booted, in which case you do have a problem.

I appreciate the quick answer, digiot. And boy, do I feel silly for not realizing it. I was able to boot into the system and didn't think to check the names from there. The reason I thought I had a problem was that I got an error when I tried to start X.

I'll have to post a new question on that after I figure out what I did and re-check what the error message said.

Nah, they do look like some seriously messed up files. It's understandable. With X, it may be normal - just to have to do some configuring to get it working - I like 'xf86cfg -textmode' (if I'm remembering that right) and then hand hacking from there if necessary - but I always get X working by luck and persistence more than knowing what I'm doing, so I probably can't help beyond that. Good luck.

The other side of the coin is that if you have other stuff on the same partition as linux it will be visible in a directory in / called /DOS. The file names there will be 'scrambled' also and you should not try to write to files there.
If you need to work on files on another system, it's best to install ZipSlack on a separate partition. Also, even though it IS possible to move files around or remove/add files in the linux folder under DOS/WIN you should avoid it. It's safe to open and edit files under DOS/WIN, such as when you edit linux.bat
See www.amigolinux.org for a slick way to install a ZipSlack-compatible with X already installed. Knoppix-style autoconfigure sets up your system- you can be online and browsing within about 5 minutes after unzipping. 100% Slackware compatible.

Thanks, gnashley. I checked the amigo website, and it looks almost exactly like what I was looking for.