Installation on a PC without working drive

Reploid · 2009-01-02 20:47:48

I have this old computer (2001) with a whooping 128mb RAM, that I want to install arch on and run it with openbox.

Problem is, the setup won't start when I insert the CD into the drive. (starts just fine on my other PC)

I tried to change the boot order in the BIOS, but to no avail.
I tried to swap the CD drive with an older one (from 96), but it wouldn't work.
I tried to take out the hard drive, insert it into my other computer, and install arch + master boot record on it there, and then put it back into the old one, but it won't boot up. Grrr...

I wonder if there is any connection to the last attempt to install xubuntu on it, which crashed mid-installation, and left my system broken.
Any ideas what could be wrong with my PC/if there is anything I can do to have it boot up with arch?

Mr Green · 2009-01-02 20:56:45

do any livecds boot on your old system?

there was a thing about old cd drives not liking some faster burnt cds [if that makes any sense!]

if you can use a livecd to chroot into install you have made you may be able to fix it

just some random thoughts

Reploid · 2009-01-02 21:08:08

No to all questions. I burnt arch on submax-speeds to avoid installation problems. But thx anyway.

Is there a way to pre-install arch on a hard drive, and then transfer the hard drive to the old PC? Why wouldn't that work for me? What is required to boot a hard drive containing an arch linux install??

Mr Green · 2009-01-02 21:11:00

You can install Arch on the hard drive but the it will/or may not boot that is why I suggested using a livecd to either boot it or fix it

Is the system capable of running i686?

Lets have some system stats

Reploid · 2009-01-02 21:40:43

OK

The processor is a celeron (first-gen, not M), so it is an i686.
The motherboard is an intel D815EEA
The CD-ROM is using IDE connection.
Hard drive is a quantum fireball plus.
RAM: 128mb
graphics card: 32mb

Can't fire up my PC, so this is taken from the top of my head.

How come arch won't boot when it is the only OS on the drive, and I have grub installed on it? What more do you need to boot a drive???? (I am a total n00b on this... )

Gauvenator · 2009-01-03 22:09:28

You could potentially put the arch install image in a partition on the hardrive (just move it to your main pc temporarily to partition it). I've not done this before, but I know there is a way to install linux distros off of the harddrive itself. I imagine you would have to extract the .iso to the first partition and then boot off the harddrive.

lilsirecho · 2009-01-04 02:02:21

What occurs when you attempt to boot with the HDD on your old PC? Is there a grub error? Does it even start the HDD or(CD?).

Any error message would be helpful..............

Reploid · 2009-01-04 17:21:45

Heh, the time zones. I should have replied earlier, but I realized what was wrong.

First, I had failed to understand that my old drive cant boot from any cd-RWs, they must be CD-Rs.
2nd, I had put the hard drive back in and connected it wrong.
3rd, I finally got it booting up correctly after transferring floppy drives back and forth between machines, using an XP cd, as I didn't have any more CD-Rs lying around for my arch dl - but there was only one minor problem.

The power supply commited suicide.

So now, I am a PC pathologist. Cause of death is clear. Dumpster next.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-01-02 20:47:48

Installation on a PC without working drive

#2 2009-01-02 20:56:45

Re: Installation on a PC without working drive

#3 2009-01-02 21:08:08

Re: Installation on a PC without working drive

#4 2009-01-02 21:11:00

Re: Installation on a PC without working drive

#5 2009-01-02 21:40:43

Re: Installation on a PC without working drive

#6 2009-01-03 22:09:28

Re: Installation on a PC without working drive

#7 2009-01-04 02:02:21

Re: Installation on a PC without working drive

#8 2009-01-04 17:21:45

Re: Installation on a PC without working drive

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