Re: installing on laptop

[Tony Godshall <togo@of.net>]

Another idea:

If you already have a somewhat working OS of another type 
you could always go the install-from-harddrive route.  
I've done that a couple of times.  Using a prior monopolistic 
OS, I downloaded the dos tools (loadlin fips etc), the 
kernel (linux), the diskette images boot.bin, root.bin, 
drivers.bin, and the base system (base_2_2.tgz), etc.  I 
then defragmented my big FAT partition in the old OS, and 
then shrunk its partition with fips, and started linux with 
'loadlin linux initrd=boot.bin'.  Went pretty smoothly.  But 
if something goes wrong you could end up without an OS at
all.


On Wed, Jul 04, 2001 at 11:22:17AM -0700, Heather wrote:
> > > I did this myself.  You might as well take the opportunity
> > > to upgrade the hard drive too tho.  20GB notebook drives are
> > > down to < $120 (per http://www.pricewatch.com/1/101/3329-1.htm).
> > > Plus add a bill or two for the adapter cable.  I got mine from 
> > > west-tech.com, installed it with an old P133 box that had been 
> > > in the closet, and then put it in the laptop, which booted it 
> > > just fine.  Had to use IBM's OnTrack diskette to do the 
> > > partioning... it loads a BIOS extension at boot that handles 
> > > the large partitions properly till lilo takes over.
> > 
> > I thinking to update my ThinkPad, what do you mean with cable? I found 
> > only Kingstone update has a PCMCIA-to-IDE but it cost to much.
> > 
> > Stefano
> 
> Carry Computers in Fremont had a gadget that could do it.  The one I have
> from them is a cord, and a little plastic case with a special-connector on
> it.  The cord is PCMCIA-to-special and drives work in the little case whether
> or not you put the little cover lid back on.
> Nowadays they seem to have a firewire connector for one... and what I have
> isn't listed on their pages, but I'd advise that you call and ask, because
> they might have it anyway.  Or USB - that'd be fine too.
> 	http://www.carry.com.tw/
> 
> I found them because I wanted to chase down who made a previous PCMCIA/IDE
> cord I had.  The previous one called itself "greystone" and was -waaaaaay-
> handy, because it was just card and a little strand of cord.  No muss, no
> fuss, fold over double and stuff in a pocket or even a wallet.  I keep 
> thinking someday I will find it under something.  Oh well.  I never found
> the manufacturer - but someone referred me to Carry.
> 
> For some size drives I needed to improve the amount of time before PCMCIA
> decides to reset (thinking there must be nothing there).  Ever since I did
> that, it mounted every drive I've tried.
> 
> What I'm still looking for, is an adapter that makes "large/normal" HD
> IDE connect to its little laptop-IDE connector, because then I could 
> perform the swap-into-another-machine trick on behalf of folks who do
> not have another machine... but have a desktop.  That'd be mucho handy
> for installfests.
> 
> * Heather Stern * star@ many places...
>