Computer Hope

Software => BSD, Linux, and Unix => Topic started by: lifesvoyager on January 02, 2008, 01:32:25 PM

Title: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: lifesvoyager on January 02, 2008, 01:32:25 PM
Although I'm an old hand at computing, I don't know how to create a bootable CD-ROM with Linux on it - apparently this can be done, avoiding actually loading Linux on each the machine.

I've downloaded feather0.7.5.iso  and boot.iso from the Linux feather site. Unfortunately, the forums system on that site won't allow me to register, which is why I'm here.

So, what do I do next with these files to make a bootable Linux feather CD?

(Is this going to be hideously complicated and not worth the candle, or is Linux a worthwhile escape from MS?)
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: michaewlewis on January 02, 2008, 01:54:37 PM
Instead of making your own bootable cd, get one that someone else has already made.... check out www.opensuse.org (my fav) or www.ubuntu.com (everyone else's fav)
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: lifesvoyager on January 03, 2008, 04:59:52 AM
Instead of making your own bootable cd, get one that someone else has already made.... check out www.opensuse.org (my fav) or www.ubuntu.com (everyone else's fav)

Excellent, thank you, I now have opensuse on CD, absolutely painless and it boots fine - I even got 500KB/sec download - amazing.

So, now I'll be a regular here with more questions.

Firstly - it doesn't seem to recognise that I have any HDs on the system, in fact there are 2, and it seems to be accessing one of them at times.   What do I do about this, do I need to configure the software in some way. It doesn't see my soundcard either.
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: michaewlewis on January 03, 2008, 09:35:59 AM
What kind of system do you have? What are the specs?
Do you have windows installed on another drive?
Which suse version did you get?
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: lifesvoyager on January 03, 2008, 10:03:45 AM
What kind of system do you have? What are the specs?
Do you have windows installed on another drive?
Which suse version did you get?

Its a Colossus (from Time! as was) Athlon 1800+ with 512Meg of ram, 80Gig main HD with 250Gig HD slave.
The soundcard is on the motherboard, nothing fancy.

Linux is openSUSE 10.3  Gnome on a CD, not DVD.

It shows only the floppy drive and the CD, ignoring the HDs, but when I downloaded some drivers, it used the HD, so it knows its there. Odd.  I guess I have to load printer drivers too . . .
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: michaewlewis on January 03, 2008, 11:08:35 AM
Did you install the operating system, or is it a live version?
If it is a live version, you may have to mount the hard drives manually.
If you installed it, then one of the hard drive partitions is now a linux partition and that is why you are able to see it. But in my suse experience, when you install the os (instead of running with the live cd), the hard drives mount automatically.

To mount a hard drive, you need to know where the hard drive is located, which will require a few command line entries. Open the terminal or console.
Enter "su" for super user (gives you all access rights). then the password, if required.
Then create a folder that you can mount the hard drives to: mkdir /media/hda1
Enter "ls /dev". This will show you a whole bunch of attached hardware devices on the computer. Look for the hd files. hda would be the first hard drive device and hdb is the second, etc. You'll have to determine for yourself which drive you want to mount.
When you figured out the drive you want to mount, enter "mount /dev/hda1 /media/hda1"
You should then be able to access that drive.
Code: [Select]
-> su
-> //Enter Password:
->
-> mkdir /media/hda1
-> //folder created
->
-> ls /dev
-> //contents of /dev listed
->
-> mount /dev/hda1 /media/hda1
-> //Drive is mounted
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: lifesvoyager on January 04, 2008, 05:00:59 AM
I'm running live directly from the CD, to see if I like it or not, prior to actually installing on the HD. I'm guessing that if I mount a drive while running live, this will not carry over to the next session but will have to be done each time.

So, I think it is now time to install. Would it be sensible to do this before  following your previous instructions? If so, how do I go about installing, please?
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: Sid on January 04, 2008, 07:31:40 AM
I'm running live directly from the CD, to see if I like it or not, prior to actually installing on the HD. I'm guessing that if I mount a drive while running live, this will not carry over to the next session but will have to be done each time.

So, I think it is now time to install. Would it be sensible to do this before  following your previous instructions? If so, how do I go about installing, please?

It'd be worth while to defrag the drive you're planning on putting your Linux Distro on.

It helps when repartitioning.
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: michaewlewis on January 04, 2008, 10:57:02 AM
If you're going to install, the drives should be automatically mounted and available each time you boot. I think the automount is disabled in live mode because of possible security issues or other limitations.
And as far as defragmenting the hard drive beforehand, that's ridiculous. Defragging just reorganizes the files on the drive. Repartitioning destroys all files on the drive whether they're fragmented or not. Defragging the drive would be a waste of time.
When installing, just follow the instructions and if you have any questions, feel free to start a new topic. :)
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: Sid on January 05, 2008, 09:32:38 AM
If you're going to install, the drives should be automatically mounted and available each time you boot. I think the automount is disabled in live mode because of possible security issues or other limitations.
And as far as defragmenting the hard drive beforehand, that's ridiculous. Defragging just reorganizes the files on the drive. Repartitioning destroys all files on the drive whether they're fragmented or not. Defragging the drive would be a waste of time.
When installing, just follow the instructions and if you have any questions, feel free to start a new topic. :)

I'm sorry but you're wrong.

Defraging to get all the files at the "front" of the volume before using a live-partioner is not a waste of time.

Repartitioning within the bundled Windows system is destructive, yes, but not ALL partitioners are.  IE the ones that come on the Ubuntu Live CD.
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: Rob Pomeroy on January 07, 2008, 03:10:43 AM
Agreed.  And using a professional-grade defragger with "move to start" options would be a good plan: JkDefrag GUI (http://www.emro.nl/freeware/).
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: michaewlewis on January 07, 2008, 09:59:17 AM
I've never had problems installing linux without defragging the hard drive beforehand... Could it be because I have always used an entire drive for linux and swap? I'm having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around this idea. Do you have any examples/proof or some article that explains it.... ???

Nice to see you back at CH Rob!
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: Rob Pomeroy on January 07, 2008, 01:28:55 PM
Thanks.

What's being proposed here is adding an operating system to a drive that already contains another o/s.  A typical approach is to shunt all the existing content to one "end" of the drive, create a new partition in the left over space at the other end, and install the new o/s there.  No more complex an idea than that.  Gparted is the common Linux partitioning utility that can resize partitions.  Without gparted, you pretty much have to buy a partitioning tool - Windows doesn't come with non-destructive partitioning tools.

Does that help?
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: michaewlewis on January 07, 2008, 04:09:36 PM
so basically, if you have a spare hard drive that you can blow away and use solely for a single os, you won't need to defrag.... But if I were planning on resizing a partition, then I would want to defrag. right?
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: Sid on January 08, 2008, 11:18:49 AM
so basically, if you have a spare hard drive that you can blow away and use solely for a single os, you won't need to defrag.... But if I were planning on resizing a partition, then I would want to defrag. right?

Yeah.
Title: Re: Creating a bootable Linux CD-ROM
Post by: michaewlewis on January 08, 2008, 11:26:25 AM
thanks.... I learn something knew everyday. :)