Author Topic: Installing Debian on Old Windows 95 Chembook (Read 5967 times)

wm.m.thompson · « **on:** March 06, 2007, 12:30:00 AM »

I have gotten this iso file and expanded it to a CD which I have moved to the laptop.

http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/weekly-builds/i386/iso-cd/debian-testing-i386-xfce-CD-1.iso

From what I have read so far from the installation guide, the next thing for me to do is to boot off of the CD drive.

The only thing I am wondering right now is this. Since this is an installation using just once CD (I double checked the readme file, and it is), does this mean that I am required to be on the internet when I install this version of Debian?

zelo · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2007, 06:58:50 AM »

I don\'t pesonally use Debian but the fact that the CD says CD-1.iso sounds to me like it may be more than one CD for installation. That would be the first thing I would check (make sure there is not a CD-2/CD-3...).

Second, no, unlike Vista you DO NOT need to be connected to the internet before you install Linux.

Make sure you have your partitions done (or do them when you are installing [make SURE you know what you are doing and make SURE to make a SWAP file no larger than 512MB]).

Go through the installation process... you will find that Linux will find almost all if not all of your hardware... wireless is still a little tricky with some versions so be prepared to hard-wire your computer to get updates etc....

Update your packages to get the latest distro/upgrades/drivers/etc....

You should be ready to go.

Just as a FYI, I use MEPIS and SuSE distros. The nice thing (one of many) about Linux is you can use the \'flavor\' you like and not the kind that either shoved down your throat or you are able to afford (there are 5 different versions of M$ Vista and NONE of them meet my exact needs except for the Ultimate Edition which is $400/computer... I\'ll pass thanks.)

Welcome to the World of Linux!

wm.m.thompson · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2007, 11:35:04 AM »

Yes, it is one CD in a series of one CD\'s. I read the readme file and made sure of it.

The installation guide suggested that I should change the BIOS settings in order to boot from the CD.

I have done that.

It did not work.

But the startup says:

Quote

Quote

INITIALIZING BOOT CD

and then

Quote

Quote

STARTING WINDOWS 95

:confused:

The only thing I can think of is that there must be some sort of hidden file that was not copied over in the process of generating the CD from the iso file.

zelo · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2007, 11:37:42 AM »

You should see something that says

Press any key to boot from CD...

If not it will boot into windows.

dynaweb · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2007, 11:47:55 AM »

Did you burn the CD correctly? Are you sure you properly burned the CD image to the CD and not just burned the .iso file on the CD? If you have a different "bootable" CD and it will boot that one, that would mean that the BIOS is functioning properly and the error is most likely in the CD itself. CD burning is not always 100% as you well know.

wm.m.thompson · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2007, 11:57:26 AM »

Quote from: dynaweb

Did you burn the CD correctly? Are you sure you properly burned the CD image to the CD and not just burned the .iso file on the CD? If you have a different "bootable" CD and it will boot that one, that would mean that the BIOS is functioning properly and the error is most likely in the CD itself. CD burning is not always 100% as you well know.

I used a program called winimage http://www.winimage.com/winimage.htm to first examine the contents of the ISO image. Then I moved them onto a seperate directory and then I created the CD based upon those files.

There is no "hit button to continue" prompt. It goes right into windows 95 after it taunts me with the message that it is booting from the CD. Curse you, laptop!!

zelo · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2007, 01:18:42 PM »

When it \'taunts\' you... hit a button... any button... that should solve your problem.

If that doesn\'t

What EXACTLY does it say when trying to boot from CD?

My next guess is that you didn\'t burn as an ISO but rather burned the image onto a CD. Check this by inserting the disk while in Windoze and if you see a bunch of files and folders all should work well... if you see one file called [filename].iso you have a coaster.

dynaweb · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2007, 02:09:23 PM »

Quote from: wm.m.thompson

There is no "hit button to continue" prompt. It goes right into windows 95 after it taunts me with the message that it is booting from the CD. Curse you, laptop!!

Yes that\'s probably the problem. A "bootable" cd is more than the sum of the files contained on it. Since you just put the files on there, the CD does not contain the sectors to be bootable.

If you have NERO you can use that to "burn .iso image to cd". If not, you can find a freeware product to do it. I have never used it, but try ImgBurn or Active Iso Burner.

zelo · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2007, 02:31:24 PM »

Look on the internet for

FREE .ISO tools

There are hundreds of sites with freeware to burn the .iso. That will get you on your way.

wm.m.thompson · « **Reply #9 on:** March 07, 2007, 01:13:32 AM »

I was using the wrong tool.

But I have gotten a lot further now.

I have installed Debian but when I run the computer and after it seems to successfully boot Debian it comes to a blank screen. THe screen is not dark as if there was no power. It is glowing black, as if that was the chosen color.

I am wondering if the laptop screen resolution does not meet the minimum requirements for Debian.

zelo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 07, 2007, 07:32:35 AM »

#1. Did you install GRUB (does it give you a choice to boot into Windoze or Linux)
#2. Are you actually seeing Debian loading?
#3. If yes to the first two then you need to load \'safely\'.

Quote

If your screen begins to show a weird picture while the kernel boots, eg. pure white, pure black or colored pixel garbage, your system may contain a problematic video card which does not switch to the framebuffer mode properly. Then you can use the boot parameter debian-installer/framebuffer=false or video=vga16:off to disable the framebuffer console. Only the English language will be available during the installation due to limited console features. See Section 5.2, “Boot Parameters” for details.

Source: http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/ch05s03.html.en#i386-boot-problems

That should help you out.

dynaweb · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2007, 10:05:31 AM »

Quote from: wm.m.thompson

I was using the wrong tool.

But I have gotten a lot further now.

I have installed Debian but when I run the computer and after it seems to successfully boot Debian it comes to a blank screen. THe screen is not dark as if there was no power. It is glowing black, as if that was the chosen color.

I am wondering if the laptop screen resolution does not meet the minimum requirements for Debian.

That IS a lot further. Good. Say, when you get the glowing black screen, try doing Ctrl-Alt-F6 or Ctrl-Alt-F7. Does that do anything? It should escape from the GUI and give a command prompt.

wm.m.thompson · « **Reply #12 on:** March 07, 2007, 07:04:23 PM »

There was a moment during start up that requested I start in single user mode or a default. This time, I picked single user mode and it ran through the installation without going to this dead screen. Instead I get to a command line prompt for the root password which I give. Now I am at a command line interface. Now what?

zelo · « **Reply #13 on:** March 07, 2007, 09:25:50 PM »

You are at the point where you want to start your GUI (Graphical User Interface)...

type

StartX

That should get you a graphical Windoze looking screen that will allow you to feel comfortable when using Linux.

wm.m.thompson · « **Reply #14 on:** March 08, 2007, 11:03:36 AM »

typing "startx" causes a few lines of text to go by on the screen and then the screen flickers and I return to my glowing blackness.

I am tempted to see about plugging in an external monitor to see what happens. I suspect my ancient laptop\'s screen resolution is not up to current expected standards.

{edited update follows}
No, this is not the case. I just plugged in a modern monitor and the screen is blank. I mean, it is completely blank, not a blue screen.

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Author Topic: Installing Debian on Old Windows 95 Chembook (Read 5967 times)

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