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Thread: stupid question

  1. #1
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    Question stupid question

    Hi, I was givin an old computer, its a little too outdated to run the latest microsoft OS, but I dont want to waste it. I've decided I might try to install linux, I dont know much about computers, and I've purchased a couple of books, but I've run into a problem that none of the books have answered, and I have not been able to find any information on the internet about it. I do not have the device drivers for the CD-Rom drive on the computer, so I have not been able to load linux off the cds i purchased. I can not download linux off the internet onto that computer because it doesnt have an operating system, I went to the manufacturers webpage, creativelabs.com and looked for the drivers, unfortunately they do not support anything but windows. I guess I am wondering if this cd-rom drive cannot work without windows, how did windows get on my computer in the firstplace? windows 95 must have came off of a CD. right now the only thing on this computer is BIOS. and when I start up it says "invalid system disk, strike any key when ready". the CD-rom drive in question is a creative labs 24x model#CD2423E. I know this is a security related board, but I would really appreciate it if you anyone knows anything relating to this problem, or could at least point me in a different direction. thank you in advance.

  2. #2
    IT Specialist Ghost_25inf's Avatar
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    whats on it now?

    tell you what I did with this old computer I got from the military first off you might want to make a bootable floppy so it can Identify the cd rom. and then you can start the installation.

    you can use the computer as a fire wall connect it to the internet and use your computer thru it and just scan everything you transfere over. handy when you dont want anyone to see what you really have on your computer.

    a nice paper weight too.

    polll

  3. #3
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    Originally posted by yayO
    I do not have the device drivers for the CD-Rom drive on the computer, so I have not been able to load linux off the cds i purchased.
    The error message you are getting ('invalid system disk,...') is not a device driver-problem, it's a BIOS-'problem'. Your BIOS is set to boot from floppy. Since there is no (operating system on the) floppy, you get the error message.
    --> Solution: change your BIOS (you can enter your BIOS by hitting 'delete' on start-up - some systems use other keys) to boot up from the CD-drive. Look for something like 'boot order', and change it...
    The Linux CD should have a general CD-ROM driver on it, so you can at least get started (for DOS this is the MSCDEX-driver. Don't know which one is used for Linux.)

    That should also answer your other question:
    I guess I am wondering if this cd-rom drive cannot work without windows, how did windows get on my computer in the firstplace? windows 95 must have came off of a CD. right now the only thing on this computer is BIOS.

  4. #4
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    Question more questions

    negative, I understand how you could have been mislead by my post. The CD-Rom is not being recongnized by bios at all. the options I have for boot order are a:\, c:\, c:\.a:\. or just c:\
    I do not have the option of booting from the CD, because as far as bios knows I do not have one.
    Im sorry, I should've been more speciffic in my original question, I know I probably sound ignorant to most of you better versed with computers, but how would I make bios know the cd rom is there? thanks to anyone with the time to reply

  5. #5
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    Enter the BIOS setup like negative said and change it to D:
    \"SI JE PUIS\"

  6. #6
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    A lot of older computers don't support booting from a CD-ROM..

    If you have access to a Windows 98 computer, grab a disk, stick it in and Add/Remove Programs in the control panel.

    There is a tab there called Startup Disk I believe... under that tab, you can create a windows boot disk, including CD drivers (which are generic in this case)...

    That should allow you to boot up the computer with CD-ROM Support.

    Although if you are going to be doing that, you could skip that stage completely, and on the Windows Machine, create a boot disk from the linux CD... I've only installed Red Hat before, so I don't know if other distributions have the same files, but on a Red Hat CD, you can find a utility called rawrite under a directory DOSUTILS..

    you can create a boot disk using this.. I can't remember the syntax, but there should be some docs for it in the same directory...

  7. #7
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    Thank you for the help guys, each of you offered a unique idea towards the end goal, and although im not quite done, Im a whole lot closer and Im hoping i can take it from here. thanks for putting up with a newbie.

  8. #8
    Senior Member faust's Avatar
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    Older computers dont support cdrom as a boot option. So you'll need to make a boot floppy with the cd-rom drivers on it. Easiest way is to make a win 98 boot disk, this will allow you to startup with cd-rom support.

    In win 98 go to control panel. Add/remove programs and then windows setup. theres an option for making a startup disk.

    To use it on the old pc be sure to change boot option to a: and then you will need to partition and format the hard drive before you can install the os.

  9. #9
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    If you have a decent net connection you could also go to http://www.debian.org and download 6 floppy images - rescue disk, root disk and 4 driver disks. Using the recue disk to boot and load the other floppys into a ramdisk - you can complete the installation over the net - with no need for w98 boot disks or cdrom drivers. There's pretty detailed instructions on how to do this avaible at http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/install

  10. #10
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    xxx

    hi,this is a stupid question, but can anyone point me to a forum that is just like antionline but concentrates strictly on web developement and programming (c++,java,vb)???

    any info much apprecitated!!
    /* oh boy */

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