On Sat, 31 Oct 1998, Bill Miller wrote: > Dear Friends, > > I am brand spankin' new to Debian Linux. I am really looking forward to > using it for GIS and also as a way to learn Unix. The Debian Linux > Installation How-To says that you have to copy about six or so files to > floppy disk in order to install from floppy disks (yes, I read that this > is the worst possible installation method). I have chosen to install > from floppies because 1.) I am a cheap date, 2.) I am trying to use the > absolutely cheapest route to Linux nirvana, 3.) I am using a cheapo 486 > DX2/100 computer that has no modem or CD-ROM, 4.) I'm a glutton for > punishment (can't be any worse than NT 4.0).
Be aware that the floppy installation method will get you a minimal Debian system; it won't even have the man (manual=help) pages. In other words, you'll need a modem/cd/etc in order to get more stuff, like X Windows etc. > > I have several problems with the file copying that I baaadly need help > with. > > First, the instructions say to use the utility program, rawrite, to > write the appropriate files to my 1.44 MB 3.5" floppy disks. As both > rawrite and the other files are located on your server, how do I use > rawrite on your server to access the files on your server and indicate > the result should end up on my A: drive? Be aware that you need perfect floppies, and if you run into a problem copying files along the way try replacing the floppy on which the error occurs. But to answer your question, you need to download the 6 files or so to a Win95, DOS, etc computer. Then shell out to a DOS prompt and change to the directory to which you downloaded the files. Enter the command: rawrite (or rawrite2) It'll ask for a source; enter resc1440.bin for the first floppy (or the next filename for the next floppy, etc). Then it'll ask for a destination; enter A (or B, as fits your situation). Repeat this process for all the files. Then take the first floppy to your 486 and boot off of it and follow the instructions. > Second, when I format floppy disks in Windows 95 ( which exists on a > system that is not the target Linux box), the format program says I have > 1.45 MB free on each floppy. However, both the Windows Explorer and My > Computer screens say I have 1.38 MB free. This makes a direct copy (ie. > not run through rawrite) of the .bin files impossible as each file is > 1.44 MB. That's because Windows (and probably any OS, including Linux, but I'm not sure) chews up some of the drive space for overhead. Nonetheless, through the magic of rawrite, a 1.44MB file fits quite nicely on a 1.44MB floppy. > Please help me, as I'm spinnin' my wheels and hot to trot. > > Thanks in advance. > > Bill Miller > e-mail address: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
