lowrider wrote :

> I havnt tried looking for the dos nformat yet,

Its here: <URL: http://toastytech.com/files/nformat.html>

> but how do I mount the floppy to the fd0u1680 device?

You don't. After formatting you can mount the floppy as usual.

> I cant run mkdosfs.

Any error messages?
--
Thomas O.

This area is designed to become quite warm during normal operation.

lowrider <carlog11@netzero.com> wrote:
> I have been using knoppix frugal install because I have an old pII
> toughbook with no hard drive.

I've heard of knoppix, but never tried it. I'm assuming that there is
more than one way to install and "frugal" is a bare bones choice?

[snip]

> I used slax usb install script to write the cd image to the usb
> pendrive with no boot record. I want to use a floppy to boot slax
> and switch to usb load the kernel as I do with knoppix.

I've done something roughly similar. Perhaps I can help. However,
there are some learning steps involved, so I can only help so far.
Some of the learning you will have to do yourself.

What I did was to install Slackware 10.0 to an external USB hard drive.
Then I made a (legacy) Gnu Grub boot CD with a custom made initrd.gz
file to perform initial ram disk services. My initrd.gz includes
modules (usbcore, usb-storage, ehci-hcd, uhci) and executables (like
busybox, ldconfig, modprobe and insmod).

The CD is simple to make. Just prepare a directory (iso) with
initrd.gz, a kernel, file stage2_eltorito, and maybe menu.lst. Then run

mkisofs -R -b boot/grub/stage2_eltorito \
-no-emul-boot \
-boot-load-size 4 \
-boot-info-table \
-o grub.iso iso

Then use cdrecord to burn the disk using disk image grub.iso.

You would install your distribution (knoppix) to the usb pen drive and
boot it using a Grub boot CD with your knoppix kernel and a custom made
initrd.gz on it. That is, you might do this. I don't know if knoppix
will cooperate and I've never done this on a pendrive.

> The knoppix boot disk automatically searches for a kernel image on
> /dev/drive. Can I create a slax boot floppy to perform a similar
> task?

I don't know how to do it on a floppy. I tried to use a floppy before
I learned to do it with Grub on a CD. The floppy wasn't big enough to
hold Lilo files, the kernel and initrd.gz. That's why I switched from
Lilo to Grub. Grub handles CDs very easily.

[snip]

-Joe

Note, that I also wrote a longer reply to your post. You can find it
at

www.josephrosevear.com/link.html

in the section about Grub.

Joseph H. Rosevear wrote:
> lowrider <carlog11@netzero.com> wrote:
> > I have been using knoppix frugal install because I have an old pII
> > toughbook with no hard drive.
>
> I've heard of knoppix, but never tried it. I'm assuming that there is
> more than one way to install and "frugal" is a bare bones choice?
>
> [snip]
>
> > I used slax usb install script to write the cd image to the usb
> > pendrive with no boot record. I want to use a floppy to boot slax
> > and switch to usb load the kernel as I do with knoppix.
>
> I've done something roughly similar. Perhaps I can help. However,
> there are some learning steps involved, so I can only help so far.
> Some of the learning you will have to do yourself.
>
> What I did was to install Slackware 10.0 to an external USB hard drive.
> Then I made a (legacy) Gnu Grub boot CD with a custom made initrd.gz
> file to perform initial ram disk services. My initrd.gz includes
> modules (usbcore, usb-storage, ehci-hcd, uhci) and executables (like
> busybox, ldconfig, modprobe and insmod).
>
> The CD is simple to make. Just prepare a directory (iso) with
> initrd.gz, a kernel, file stage2_eltorito, and maybe menu.lst. Then run
>
> mkisofs -R -b boot/grub/stage2_eltorito \
> -no-emul-boot \
> -boot-load-size 4 \
> -boot-info-table \
> -o grub.iso iso
>
> Then use cdrecord to burn the disk using disk image grub.iso.
>
> You would install your distribution (knoppix) to the usb pen drive and
> boot it using a Grub boot CD with your knoppix kernel and a custom made
> initrd.gz on it. That is, you might do this. I don't know if knoppix
> will cooperate and I've never done this on a pendrive.
>
> > The knoppix boot disk automatically searches for a kernel image on
> > /dev/drive. Can I create a slax boot floppy to perform a similar
> > task?
>
> I don't know how to do it on a floppy. I tried to use a floppy before
> I learned to do it with Grub on a CD. The floppy wasn't big enough to
> hold Lilo files, the kernel and initrd.gz. That's why I switched from
> Lilo to Grub. Grub handles CDs very easily.
>
> [snip]
>
> -Joe
>
> Note, that I also wrote a longer reply to your post. You can find it
> at
>
> www.josephrosevear.com/link.html
>
> in the section about Grub.

You have some interesting reading on your site, which I plan to get to
later. I am happier with slax(2.6.x) now than I was with
knoppix(2.4.xx). My goal is to get a hdd type install to usb with
2.6.x,swap and all. I've got this zipslack(earlier post) on my 1gig
pendrive as well. I downloaded the makeinitrd pkg but havnt gotten
around to mastering it yet. There is this 2.4.26/2.4.31 mismatch that
I need to resolve.
I want to try a different distro to hdd, like PClinOS(2.6.x) and zip
in/out to my pendrive and try to make a custom boot cd like you
described to me.

Douglas Mayne wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 06:17:44 -0700, lowrider wrote:
>
> >
> > Douglas Mayne wrote:
> >> On Sun, 23 Jul 2006 17:38:21 -0700, lowrider wrote:
> >>
> >> >
> >> > Douglas Mayne wrote:
> >> >> On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 14:02:26 -0700, lowrider wrote:
> >> <snip>
> >> >>
> >> >> I am not an expert with Slax, but I did download version 5.1.7, a new
> >> >> version which is "hot of the presses." I performed some more tests with
> >> >> it today. I tried to match your working environment- I have an old laptop
> >> >> which won't boot from USB either. I used the script make_disk.sh to copy
> >> >> the files from the CD to a USB flash drive. I thought there was a chance
> >> >> it could work when booting from the CD-ROM (kernel and initdrd). I booted
> >> >> with the CD and specified the slax startup command line parameter,
> >> >> "slax from=/dev/sda1." In short I couldn't get it to work because flash is
> >> >> not recognized early enough in the startup sequence. (Flash becomes
> >> >> available only after it is recognized during the rc.hotplug startup
> >> >> script.) I think Slax must see its files on CD and not worry about the
> >> >> "from" directive. The Slax documentation says that booting from USB will
> >> >> require BIOS support, and without hacking the Slax startup scripts, that
> >> >> appears to be the truth. You could attempt to hack the script, but I don't
> >> >> think I will. There is also a Slax Q and A board here:
> >> >>
> >> >> http://www.slax.org/forum/
> >> >>
> >> >> Someone there may be able to help you there. Good luck.
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> Douglas Mayne
> >> >
> >> > I tried to make a boot floppy from the slax 5 livecd but it calls for a
> >> > 1.68mb floppy. Where can I get one of those?
> >> It's a 1.44MB written in a special mode. Other than that, I know nothing
> >> about making one.
> >>
> >> > Back to zipslack, I was
> >> > trying to start from scratch with umsdos but I keep booting to the
> >> > 2.4.26 kernel even after installing the 2.4.31 kernel. How is this
> >> > possible and how do I get around that?
> >>
> >> Are you using lilo as your loader? That is slackware's default. If so,
> >> you need to run lilo after installing the kernel package.
> >>
> >> man lilo
> >>
> >> The new kernel should also be referenced in the file /etc/lilo.conf
> >>
> >> does anybody knows?
> >> I don't remember lilo that well. I use grub as the loader.
> >>
> >> Test first before committing:
> >> # lilo -tv
> >> Watch for errors, if none reported proceed.
> >> # lilo -v
> >>
> >> This has the information in detail:
> >> http://www.slackbasics.org/html/kern...kernel-install
> >>
> >> This book is also an excellent starting point for learning about slackware
> >> in general:
> >> http://www.slackbasics.org/html/slackware-basics.html
> >>
> >> --
> >> Douglas Mayne
> > No! I am booting from floppy to usb. I need a good match of vmlinuz
> > and initrd. How can I build those files to suit my specific need?
> >
> Oops, I forgot you had no hard disk for a second. But if you had a lilo
> floppy with kernel 2.4.31, then you would need to run lilo.
>
> Because your target platform lacks a hard disk, you may need to use
> "development platform" with more resources just to get started. It's been
> a while since I used floppies, but you should be able to create a
> boot/root set which will load the kernel and proper usb modules to mount
> your flash as the real root filesystem. You would proceed as I outlined in
> my initial response to you, with the complication of writing your kernel
> and initrd to a floppy.
>
> I also tested booting Slackware (proper), when installed on a USB stick
> and posted the method here:
> http://groups.google.com/group/alt.o...5fd1173b080c3a
>
> and I corrected and expanded on a few things here:
> http://groups.google.com/group/alt.o...0ebe8bbc58ad3b
>
>
> You must have a reason for wanting to try zipslack, but if I were you I
> would do this:
>
> 1. Boot a Slackware rescue CD. Slax will probably work for this.
> 2. Format a spare flash drive ext2 and install the "a" series using the
> method in the links above.
> 3. Create your two floppy set: kernel and initrd.
>
> This doesn't achieve your goal of getting Slax on the pen drive, but it
> will show you the procedure in general. In the end, you be very
> familiar with the process and your hardware.
>
> I have been thinking more about the problem of getting Slax on pen
> drive without USB support and without hacking the Slax startup script. I
> have an idea which I may test later today.
>
> --
> Douglas Mayne

I like using vfat on the pendrive.

lowrider a écrit :
> No! I am booting from floppy to usb. I need a good match of vmlinuz
> and initrd. How can I build those files to suit my specific need?

short answer: you can't.

long answer.
theinitrd is more than 4MB (1.3MB compressed). It can't fit
in a floppy (initrd+kernel).

The problem is that slax is very dependant upon its initrd.
Without it you can't use slax.

Another way, perhaps:
you need to load the kernel together with the initrd. If your computer
can boot with a CD, the easiest way could be to boot from CD which
handle
the kernel + initrd and continue boot from USB pendrive.

If it complains that it booted from CD and CD is empty, look at the
initrd:
(around line 56)
# try to find livecd data directory. If not found, try modprobing
# USB kernel modules and repeat the find procedure again

and switch the way that slax is looking for its data directory.

like that:
power on PC
boot from CD
load kernel + initrd from CD
in memory uncompressing kernel + initrd
modprobe usb modules
mount usb pendrive
that's it.

octane@alinto.com wrote:
> lowrider a écrit :
> > No! I am booting from floppy to usb. I need a good match of vmlinuz
> > and initrd. How can I build those files to suit my specific need?
>
> short answer: you can't.
>
> long answer.
> theinitrd is more than 4MB (1.3MB compressed). It can't fit
> in a floppy (initrd+kernel).
>
> The problem is that slax is very dependant upon its initrd.
> Without it you can't use slax.
>
> Another way, perhaps:
> you need to load the kernel together with the initrd. If your computer
> can boot with a CD, the easiest way could be to boot from CD which
> handle
> the kernel + initrd and continue boot from USB pendrive.
>
> If it complains that it booted from CD and CD is empty, look at the
> initrd:
> (around line 56)
> # try to find livecd data directory. If not found, try modprobing
> # USB kernel modules and repeat the find procedure again
>
> and switch the way that slax is looking for its data directory.
>
> like that:
> power on PC
> boot from CD
> load kernel + initrd from CD
> in memory uncompressing kernel + initrd
> modprobe usb modules
> mount usb pendrive
> that's it.

I am booting from cd now and as soon as the initrd gives the ready. I
pop the cd tray out and let it find the slax root on the pen. You
still have to manually save your changes from ramdisk on command. The
umsdos zipslack is like hdd but currently configured 2.4.26. I will
try hacking that initrd file to suit my needs. So I wont always have
to load the root to ramdisk(albeit faster).

lowrider <carlog11@netzero.com> wrote:

> Joseph H. Rosevear wrote:

[snip]

> You have some interesting reading on your site, which I plan to get to
> later.

Thanks for visiting.

> I am happier with slax(2.6.x) now than I was with knoppix(2.4.xx).
> My goal is to get a hdd type install to usb with 2.6.x,swap and all.
> I've got this zipslack(earlier post) on my 1gig pendrive as well.

It's a funny thing, but I've found no real differences between
installing to a hard drive and installing to USB devices (with
Slackware 10.0). First you use fdisk to make some partitions (ext2 and
swap) on the device. Then you pick the partition that you want to
install to and do it. (Be sure you have the USB device attached when
you boot the install disk so that it will be detected.)

I skip the install steps that are about installing the kernel or making
boot disks, as I have my own boot disk with a 2.4.26 Linux kernel
(appropriate for Slackware 10.0). This is the boot disk that I've been
talking about.

So, I guess I used what you call a "hdd type install". Just today I
put Slackware 10.0 series A and N on a 512M flash drive.

> I downloaded the makeinitrd pkg but havnt gotten around to mastering
> it yet. There is this 2.4.26/2.4.31 mismatch that I need to resolve.

Did you get an incompatible mkinitrd? Mine came with my Slackware 10.0
distribution. Seems to me you need to start with a decent Slackware
distribution and go from there.

> I want to try a different distro to hdd, like PClinOS(2.6.x) and zip
> in/out to my pendrive and try to make a custom boot cd like you
> described to me.

If what you need is a Slackware distribution pre-loaded on a USB drive,
then you might try visiting my other website

http://josephrosevear.com/rs

from which I hope (soon) to sell exactly that. Or try

http://www.pendrivelinux.com

another site which seems to be already in business selling pre-loaded
USB drives.

-Joe

Joseph H. Rosevear <joe@airlink.hopto.org> wrote:
> It's a funny thing, but I've found no real differences between
> installing to a hard drive and installing to USB devices (with
> Slackware 10.0).

I don't know if it's what you meant, but you don't want to
be using a (usb or otherwise) flash memory device as swap,
since they have limits on the number of writes they can
survive.


--
#Paul

Paul Kinsler wrote:
> Joseph H. Rosevear <joe@airlink.hopto.org> wrote:
> > It's a funny thing, but I've found no real differences between
> > installing to a hard drive and installing to USB devices (with
> > Slackware 10.0).
>
> I don't know if it's what you meant, but you don't want to
> be using a (usb or otherwise) flash memory device as swap,
> since they have limits on the number of writes they can
> survive.
>
>
> --
> #Paul

OK! I will stick with the ramdisk. I am having difficultty with
backup/restore of FireFox1.5(yahoo toolbar). I was starting to load
packages to zipslack/umsdos(2.4.26). Thanx for the headsup. I am
having difficulty powering up 2.5 hdds through usb port. I have a
usb-ide(ac powered) connector as well, I will try try to find a
suitable drive for it. And then try a full 10.2 install.

Paul Kinsler <kinslerp@delillo.lsr.ph.ic.ac.uk> wrote:
> Joseph H. Rosevear <joe@airlink.hopto.org> wrote:
> > It's a funny thing, but I've found no real differences between
> > installing to a hard drive and installing to USB devices (with
> > Slackware 10.0).

> I don't know if it's what you meant, but you don't want to
> be using a (usb or otherwise) flash memory device as swap,
> since they have limits on the number of writes they can
> survive.

Good point, Paul. Lowrider was talking about installing to a flash
drive as if it were a different process. I was just explaining that it
was essentially the same (for USB flash drives and for USB hard drives)
as installing to the usual hard drive. Just do it in the normal way,
but skip the steps that install the kernal and make boot disks. And,
yes, probably best to put the swap somewhere else or use no swap at all
in the case of flash drives. Then boot with a custom (2-stage, grub)
boot disk that has the kernel on it.

I wonder, though, if the limits that you mention are low enough that
one would actually notice?

Anyone ever pushed a flash drive beyond it's limits? What happens?
Bad blocks?

-Joe