Re: [TCLUG:11541] Little Ol' Install

[Philip C Mendelsohn <mend0070@tc.umn.edu>]

On Mon, 27 Dec 1999, Carl Wilhelm Soderstrom wrote:

> >I thought that I should at least be able to get a basic install working,
> >then worry about throwing a little more disk space and memory at the
> >system.  The whole deal was supposed to be an educational xmas present,
> >but I'd kind of like to keep it from being a lesson in frustration
> >management for my son, so if there are any groovy suggestions (short of
> >punting to a new box) I'd appreciate them.
>     
>         try a single-floppy distro on it. tomsrtbt (www.toms.net) can be a
> lifesaver for hardware problems. :) make the floppy (good instructions on
> the website), stick it in the questionable machine, and turn the power on.
>         see if a kernel will at least boot on it. :)
>         just for amusement value, make a DOS boot floppy, and see if *that*
> will boot.

Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear.  The machine is known good -- it was a
network workstation.  I stole the 3c509 card out of it, but it boots DOS
ok.

I was able to get the CD-ROM running with Mandrake by utilizing the IDE
controller on the multimedia card that came along with the
drive.  Unfortunately, I had to set addresses / IRQ with the DOS setup
software.  It seems that this is not non-volatile or EEPROM data.

Does anyone know of a way around booting twice everytime the system has to
come up?  (I know, I know... don't shut the system down.<g>)

>         I've got a 486/33 at home, which refuses to boot Linux or OpenBSD.
> DOS will boot and run fine, tho. I have no idea why. 
>         if anyone wants it, they're welcome to have it. maybe they can
> figure out something to do with it. (build a DOS-based firewall/router? I
> have heard of such things... supposedly better than one might expect. I
> still wouldn't use one myself. ;> )

I'd take it off your hands if you really don't want it.  The parts can't
all be bad, or if I get it doing anything, you can have it back.

Phil M.

-- 
Life is complex:
It has real and imaginary components.
                     --Unknown