Problem installing Knoppix on Hard drive

[cantlin]

I am using Knoppix 3.2, and am new to Linux, I am trying to install Knoppix on a hard drove, but hit a brick wall. The instrictions say "use parted /dev/hdb.

The problem is how do I "use parted"? I can't find it anywhere. I would greatly appreciate it if somebody could get me pointed in the right direction,

[rickenbacherus]

If you're using the latest version (7-25-03) then just open a termianl and do this:

sudo knoppix-installer

That will launch the installer and run Qtparted so that you may partition your drive. If you're using the 6-6 version the do

sudo knx-hdinstall

That will run cfdisk which will also allow you to partition your drive.

[cantlin]

I ran sudo knx-hdinstall. It ciimplained that there was no swap partition defined and terminated the script.

[Stephen]

I ran sudo knx-hdinstall. It ciimplained that there was no swap partition defined and terminated the script.

As stated above by rickenbacherus you have to run cfdisk or either fdisk or if you have a late enough version QTParted during or before the install this allows you to create a swap partition on your HD to install too. When booted from the CD before you use the install script use sudo in front of one of the above commands I would recommened cfdisk if QTParted is not present. Also rickenbacherus has a fine how-to here on using cfdisk.

[cantlin]

I finally got the partition stiff figured out for the most part. One thing still puzzles me though, I initially defined a 40GB drive as 20GB Knoppix primary and 20GB Swap. After thinking about it, I decided to re-partition the drive to leave a fat32 partition. Qtparted allowed me to delete the Knoppix partition, but would not allow me to delete the Swap partition.

I finally gave up trying to delete the swap partition and left it at 20GB. I defined a 10GB Knoppix partition and a 10GB fat32 partition and then ran sudo knx-install. It started copying files to the hard disk, but I think I have CD drive hardware problems, as I got numerous read errors from the CD (the 2nd CD I've tried). I don't have the money to replace the drive.

Is there any way to download the files and install on the hard drive without using CD's? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[rickenbacherus]

Yes- you can boot the .iso from your hard drive. Here is the how-to

[cantlin]

Here's what I've ggitten accomplished so far:

1. Downloaded lateest (7.25) ISO file using Win2000
2. Ran Magic ISO program to extract /Knoppix files from ISO file to
c:\knoppix
3. Ran mkfloppy.bat
4. ran knoppix from HD after booting using diskete created in step 3
5. started konsole and entered "sudo knx-hdinstall"
6. got through HD install ok, put boot info in partition, not MBR

The question is how do I create a boot floppy or CD to boot the normal HD installation?

[aay]

Perhaps it would just be easier to use something like this for the time being. Others on this forum have found GAG helpful and I believe that it can also be setup to run from the floppy.

[garyng]

I would advice everyone to stay away from GAG/SBM, at least don't install it on the harddisk, straightly use floppy if you want.

Both said, "I don't touch your partition" and only the first track of the harddisk. The truth is, this is a no man's land and everyone wants to play with it(including grub, but that can be disabled).

The most obvious problem one will see is that if you have W2K/NT/XP installed and later trust this GAG/SBM stuff(and let it install to the harddisk thinking it is harmless), you can no longer boot any of the MS program as the NT boot loader also think that the first track is free to use, and put itself there, which got overwritten by GAG/SBM.

[cantlin]

I definitely want to stay awy from anything that nstalls on HDA. I have HDB set up for Knoppix. Anything that boots Knoppix must be CD or floppy based..

I downloaded GAG 4.1. Its installation instructions were too vague. I got disk.dsk down to a floppy and booted from it. After looking at the screen, I hit alt-ctrl-del