Re: Deleting XP and installing Debian

[Marc Shapiro <mshapiro_42@yahoo.com>]

Marty wrote:
> Scott Rebman wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >             I have recently acquired an older (Pentium II 350MHz)
> > computer from my work and I was planning on getting rid of Win XP home
> > that is currently on it and installing Debian.  We use Debian at school
> > and I was looking to play around with it at home to develop a better
> > understanding of how it works.  The problem is that I can't get it to
> > boot up from the Debian install disk. I have binary 1, 2, and 3 burned
> > and they seem to work fine on my main computer, but refuse to boot on
> > the old one.  If anybody has any ideas as to how I can get this done,
> > please let me know.  I do not need anything from the old computer so
> > formatting it is totally ok. Thanks!
> > Scott
>
> This is typical of old hardware.
>
> Try one of the installation floppy images on the installation CD-ROM, along
> with linux or DOS programs for making the install floppy.  There are 
> several
> kernels to choose from, depending on your hardware requirements.  Read the
> instructions.  After booting with the floppy, select CD-ROM as the
> installation medium.

Before doing that, have you checked the BIOS to see what the boot order 
is?  It may be that your old BIOS cannot boot from the CD-ROM, in which 
case you need to proceed as above.  It may also be that the BIOS can be 
set to boot from CD-ROM but this has not been done.  If this is the 
case, simply change the boot order to put the CD-ROM ahead of the HD and 
then reboot with CD #1 in the drive.

--
Marc Shapiro
mshapiro_42@yahoo.com