compacted instalation

[fsiviero]

wouldn't be great to install Knoppix on HD in a compacted way, I have some old PCs working fine with the knoppix live-CD, but I can´t install in the 800 Mb HDs , so if somehow I could transfer the bootable CD image to HD I still would have 100 Mb to save my work .
Thanks

[baldyeti]

That's what we call the "poor man's install"; start reading here:
http://www.knoppix.net/docs/index.php/HdBasedHowTo
Then come back if you have questions...

[cgoodier]

Later: realised you're probably not starting from Windoze, but I'll leave this here anyway.


I found a way to do this from http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4174#19460

First off, thanks to all involved, especially KK and garyng.

I'll just run through the steps I took again for the benefit of others. I've done nothing new here, but you never know it might help.


All under Windows2000 on Fat32 (NOT NTFS):

1. Unzipped w32grub.zip to c:\

2. Executed w32grub.exe

3. Added c:\boot\stage1="Grub" to c:\boot.ini per garyng's instructions.

4. Edited menu.lst thus:

(Note: most people should replace (hd0,2) with (hd0,0) - Windows resides on the third partition on my hard drive).

# Sample boot menu configuration file

# Boot automatically after a minute.
timeout 60

# By default, boot the second entry.
default 1

# Fallback to the first entry.
fallback 0

# Gets me back to windows
title Windows 2000
unhide (hd0,2)
rootnoverify (hd0,2)
chainloader +1

# For booting Knoppix
title Knoppix
root (hd0,2)
kernel (hd0,2)/boot/vmlinuz knoppix screen=1600x1200 home=/dev/hda7 wheelmouse lang=uk
initrd (hd0,2)/boot/miniroot.gz


With the Knoppix 27-06 cd in the cd drive (e:\):

5. Copied the 686 Mb knoppix file from e:\KNOPPIX to c:\KNOPPIX

6. Created a boot floppy by double clicking the mkfloppy.bat file in e:\KNOPPIX

7. Copied the contents of the boot floppy to c:\boot

8. Rebooted to be presented with a menu with items "Grub" and "Windows 2000".

9. Chose "Grub" to get a grub prompt.

10. Typed and entered "root (hd0,2)". (This step should be unnecessary for most people - Windows resides on the third partition on my hard drive).

11. Typed and entered "configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst"

12. A menu came up from which I selected Knoppix. It booted. Fast.

Again, thanks everyone.

If these instructions stand the test of time, perhaps they could be copied to HDBasedHowTo, so please say if they work or not.

[garyng]

just want to add :

you can tell w32grub where the menu.lst file is(it is default to (hd0,0)) then you don't need to do the GRUB command prompt stuff.

w32grub -h

would give you a brief help.

for your case :

w32grub -m (hd0,2)/boot/grub/menu.lst

[cgoodier]

Worked a treat!

This w32grub really could be GNU's Trojan horse.

[garyng]

Worked a treat!

This w32grub really could be GNU's Trojan horse.

That is the objective I believe

Unfortunately, some users reported that it didn't work on their machine and I have no idea why(I am only the polisher of the stuff, and know little about GRUB internals). Luckily, because of its non-intrusive nature, no harm done.

[chook]

When I try to use win32grub, the system stalls with GRUB Loading stage2... on the screen right after I select it. Anybody know what this means? ...Or where I could find out?

[cgoodier]

I did have this problem once, when trying to install to a hard disk that wasn't the first as far as my BIOS was concerned.

I fixed it by changing the order of the disks in the BIOS. Or maybe I removed one - I'm afraid I can't remember.

Don't know if this is related to your problem.