From: maniac@unlv.edu (Eric J. Schwertfeger) Subject: Re: Help! Floppyless Linux ? Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1993 21:21:44 GMT
In article <27l55a$4ql@europa.eng.gtefsd.com> niemidc@oasis.gtefsd.com writes:
>In article Ln9@cs690-3.erie.ge.com, teffta@cs690-3.erie.ge.com (Andrew R. Tefft) writes:
>>In article 15783@cc.gatech.edu, byron@cc.gatech.edu (Byron A Jeff) writes:
>>>In article <27ctjk$osb@aurora.engr.latech.edu>, Alex Ramos
>>><ramos@engr.latech.edu> wrote:
>>
>>>>I have a 386 SX/16 with 80meg of disk space (in 2 disks), BUT only a
>>>>360K floppy, which I'd call "floppyless" for all practical purposes. Is
>>>>there any way I can install Linux on this machine? I have a modem and
>>>>access to SLIP lines at school, if that would be of any help.
Rather than argue the merits of spending more money, I'd like just
one reason why someone couldn't set up a special disk for this person
to use? He'd need a root disk, and a way to boot the kernel, but I
see no reason that this can't be accomplished with existing tools.
Alex (If I read the attrib right), how much memory do you have? This
is an important question, as linux requires either 1.5 or 2 Meg, I'm
not sure which. Second, how much disk space can you give
to linux? would you have any problems making a partition of, say 20
Meg, and having about 1 Meg of stuff on your dos partition at the same
time?
Be aware, this will not be easy, as none of the packages will install
from a 360K floppy, but I'm sure we can get you up. Also let me know
if you have any unusual hardware. Once we get you up, you can install
standard SLS stuff by copying it to your hard disk and installing it
from there. It's just that first step that's difficult (actually,
only getting the root partition is hard, you can easily boot off a
360K floppy).
I realize I'm basically volunteering here to do a lot of work to
benifit very few people (how many 386 machines have 2 Meg of ram but
only a 360K floppy?), but I don't like "spend more money" answers when
someone wants to try something out.
-- Eric J. Schwertfeger, maniac@cs.unlv.edu