Re: Newbie, linux only machine, College Linux. Install trouble.

From: Andy Fraser (andyfraser31_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 03/13/04 

Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2004 05:31:16 +0000

In alt.os.linux, Evan Cobb uttered the immortal words:

> 1) Boot Disk: I've copied the ISO for CL onto a CD-RW for installation.
> But, before I get to far into this, how do I know if I've made an Boot
> Disk or not, and how can I make sure that if I recopy it that it will be a
> boot disk?

If you now have a CD with a single file called "whatever_you_downloaded.iso"
on it won't work (thank God for CD-RW if this is the case). An ISO file
must be burnt as an image with an option like "Burn image". You'll need to
consult your CD writing software for the exact option if you can't find it.

If you have some files and directories on the CD then try to boot from it.
Someone else has mentioned BIOS settings etc.
 
> 2) Formatting: Yes, I AM a newb. And, being a newb, I can't figure out how
> to format. I'm currently going through DOS and running the command FORMAT
> C: DOS then replies with some nonsense concerning the safety of my soon
> to be deleted files, and when I instruct said DOS to continue anyways,
> despite the fact that programs are running, DOS says it can't override the
> current
> programs, and quits. Please, oh grateful God, HOW DO I FORMAT???

Linux has it's own partitioning and formatting tools so use those. They
should be invoked automatically by the installer. Linux doesn't run from
NTFS or FAT partitions like Windows does. It uses ext2, ext3, ReiserFS,
XFS, JFS and others that I've probably forgotten. 

-- 
Andy.

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