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Re: FLOPPY DISK INSTALLATION & RAWRITE



On Sat, 31 Oct 1998, Bill Miller wrote:

> Dear Friends,
> 
> I am brand spankin' new to Debian Linux.  I am really looking forward to
> using it for GIS and also as a way to learn Unix.  The Debian Linux
> Installation How-To  says that you have to copy about six or so files to
> floppy disk in order to install from floppy disks (yes, I read that this
> is the worst possible installation method).  I have chosen to install
> from floppies because  1.) I am a cheap date, 2.) I am trying to use the
> absolutely cheapest route to Linux nirvana, 3.) I am using a cheapo 486
> DX2/100 computer that has no modem or CD-ROM, 4.) I'm a glutton for
> punishment (can't be any worse than NT 4.0).

Be aware that the floppy installation method will get you a minimal Debian
system; it won't even have the man (manual=help) pages. In other words,
you'll need a modem/cd/etc in order to get more stuff, like X Windows etc.

> 
> I have several problems with the file copying that I baaadly need help
> with.
> 
> First,  the instructions say to use the utility program, rawrite, to
> write the appropriate files to my 1.44 MB 3.5" floppy disks.   As both
> rawrite and the other files are located on your server, how do I use
> rawrite on your server to access the files on your server  and indicate
> the result should end up on my A: drive?

Be aware that you need perfect floppies, and if you run into a problem
copying files along the way try replacing the floppy on which the error
occurs.

But to answer your question, you need to download the 6 files or so to a
Win95, DOS, etc computer. Then shell out to a DOS prompt and change to the
directory to which you downloaded the files. Enter the command:
  rawrite (or rawrite2)
It'll ask for a source; enter
  resc1440.bin
for the first floppy (or the next filename for the next floppy, etc).
Then it'll ask for a destination; enter A (or B, as fits your situation).
Repeat this process for all the files. Then take the first floppy to your
486 and boot off of it and follow the instructions. 



> Second, when I format floppy disks in Windows 95 ( which exists on a
> system that is not the target Linux box), the format program says I have
> 1.45 MB free on each floppy.  However, both the Windows Explorer and My
> Computer screens say I have 1.38 MB free.  This makes a direct copy (ie.
> not run through rawrite) of the .bin files impossible as each file is
> 1.44 MB.

That's because Windows (and probably any OS, including Linux, but I'm 
not sure) chews up some of the drive space for overhead. Nonetheless,
through the magic of rawrite, a 1.44MB file fits quite nicely on a 1.44MB
floppy.

> Please help me, as I'm spinnin' my wheels and  hot to trot.
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> Bill Miller
> e-mail address:  rshayes@jps.net


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