nixCraft

Hi all,
I wanted to install RHEL4 WS in my Laptop. Unfortunately my Laptop's internal CDROM is defective and also my Laptop doesn't have the option of booting from USB.
The only thing I can do is to load it by starting the system with the Installation boot floppy and then pointing it to an FTP or an NFS Server in the network.

My problem is...They done have boot floppy images in the installation CDROM anymore. Is there any luck for me..

I guess you can boot using a USB pen. To boot using a USB pen you need to put raw image called /images/diskboot.img to the usdb pen. Use dd command (don’t just copy using cp command)
Replace /dev/sda with actual usb pen drive. You can use dd command from any Linux, BSD or UNIX system.

Then go to BIOS setup and set booting from USB and save BIOS and start installation from USB.

__________________
Vivek | My personal blog
Linux Evangelist
Play hard stay cool

Ricc,

Just to clear few things here Red Hat removed floppy images because of size. Newer Linux kernel is getting fattier these days.

Another option is to use Network booting but I think nixcraft instructions are quite good for single installation.

__________________
Rocky Jr.
You may have my body & soul, but you will never touch my pride!

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it.

Certified to work on HP-UX / Sun Solaris / RedHat

Thanks Guys,
I am out of luck. My Laptop is an old one. It doesn't have USB Boot support.

ricc

Ok.

You can try out pxeboot option (Provided that your laptop support network booting option in BIOS). If you can do pxeboot they I shell post a small tutorial for RHEL AS

Another option is to copy all files to DOS and then run installer from DOS and install it from hard disk.

__________________
Rocky Jr.
You may have my body & soul, but you will never touch my pride!

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it.

Certified to work on HP-UX / Sun Solaris / RedHat

Thanks rocky,
Not sure whether it supports PXE boot. I will check if it can. Anyways, its always nice to learn how to do it.

I guess we need so many things to boot from the network. Like, a DHCP server, Boot Server..etc....

ricc

Just wondering,

Can I install RHL 9 first and do an upgrade?.

ricc

Even if you manage to install RH9, how you are going to start installation for RHEL WS 4.0?

Rocky,
My Laptop sure supports PXE boot.

When I choose netwrok boot, it shows PXE 2.0, DHCP xx.xx.xx.xx ( MAC Addres and a cursor just keeps flipping.

What all do I need to install this way?.

ricc

Nice I will post info and I will update you

__________________
Rocky Jr.
You may have my body & soul, but you will never touch my pride!

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it.

Certified to work on HP-UX / Sun Solaris / RedHat