Install linux Instructions

Installation notes

To install the Linux software distribution, you will need to start the installation program. This can be achieved by any of the following methods:

• Boot from the CDROM itself.
• Boot into DOS with CDROM Support.
• Create a boot floppy disk.

Boot from the CDROM itself.

Insert the CDROM into the drive and start your computer. Your computer should automatically boot from the CDROM and begin the installation process. If your computer does not boot automatically, either your computer does not support booting from CDROMs or it is disabled. In this case you may enable booting from CDROMs in the computers BIOS or use a different install method.

Boot into DOS with CDROM Support

i) Insert the CDROM into the drive and start your computer. You will need to boot into DOS with CDROM support, press ‘F8’ as ‘Starting Windows 95/98’ appears and then boot into ‘Command Prompt Only’. This may boot and enable your CDROM drive, if you are unable to access the CDROM you will need to use a boot floppy disk. Once you have booted your computer:
ii) type "d:" (where d: is the CDROM DRIVE)
iii) type "cd \dosutils\autoboot"
iv) type "autoboot"

Create a boot floppy disk

Boot normally into your operating system, if you are using Windows:

i) Locate the directory ‘\DOSUTILS’ on the CDROM.
ii) double click the makedisk.bat file and follow on screen instructions
iii) leave the floppy disk in the drive and the CDROM in the cdrom drive and reboot the machine.

Once the computer has booted into the installation program, simply follow the onscreen instructions. Additional help is provided online during the installation.

In order for the installation program to work, some disk space must be available for the installation program to allocate. If you only have one hard disk and your existing operating system uses all of the hard disk, you will need to either reduce the amount of space used by the operating system or reinstall the operating system with less of the hard disk allocated for it. Having ‘free space’ on the C: drive is not the same as having space available for the installation program. You may use a program to reduce the size of the C: drive to enable the installation to proceed. One such program is FIPS, this is provided on the install CDROM, however we are unable to support or warrant this product, we have not experienced any problems with this program. You are however, strongly advised to read the documentation that is provided with the program and reminded that incorrect use of the program may result in the existing operating system being damaged. Before using this, or any other such program, you should take all of the usual precautions, i.e. ensure that any important information is backed-up and that you have the appropriate re-install media to hand.

Removal notes