Arch Linux

originalsurfmex

Member

Registered: 2008-11-13

Posts: 150

trying to install on old computer with no usb or cdrom boot (SOLVED)

i am trying to install arch on an old computer.  the cd-rom drive is out, the bios won't allow a boot from usb and so it seems the only option i have left is to do some sort of "network boot".

is it possible to install arch in this manner? does anyone have any other ideas?

<edit> it is able to boot from the 3 1/2 diskette...is that helpful?? at this rate im not even stuck with arch, i'll install any linux on the thing...but arch is the distro of choice

Last edited by originalsurfmex (2010-05-24 01:37:34)

Cdh

Member

Registered: 2009-02-03

Posts: 1,098

Re: trying to install on old computer with no usb or cdrom boot (SOLVED)

You can boot from usb using this bootmanager (has usb drivers integrated):
http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanagerdl.html

It can be started from a floppy disk, you have to dd the .img file to it.

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XazZ

Member

From: Munich, Germany

Registered: 2006-12-30

Posts: 72

Re: trying to install on old computer with no usb or cdrom boot (SOLVED)

Hi,

installing arch via PXE should work
see here: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Off … booting.29

you can also take a look at this: https://boot.kernel.org/
they offer DSL (damn small linux) for example, which might be a better choice for that machine

originalsurfmex

Member

Registered: 2008-11-13

Posts: 150

Re: trying to install on old computer with no usb or cdrom boot (SOLVED)

awesome! thanks, the pxe thing looks a little daunting...im goin for plop...

i followed this:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16822/bo … t-let-you/