VectorLinux HOWTO install it. 2/27/00 ##################################################### # S E C T I O N 1. Requires Repartitioning # ##################################################### Splitting your existing DOS/WIN for true Linux Native ext2 Partition. NOTE: you can split the C:\ Partition without deleteing anything from your DOS/WIN Partition if you have lotsa extra space:-follow everything below and PLEASE print it out before or hand rite it all down on paper. ALSO NOTE: Some people feel more comfortable using the program "Partition Magic" or similar for Win9x for creating or splitting DOS Partitions. My method as illustrated below has been with using 'fips20.exe' for splitting Partitions. Here are my few steps, and I will run through them quickly to give you an idea then I recommend you read the ".Doc" file that comes with the ' fips ' utility that will be used to split your existing Partition. What the FIPS utility does is splits msdos fat-12 vfat-16/32 partitions without erasing your games and/or current Win95/98 applications and software. BE SURE TO USE MY FIPS CAUSE OLDER ONES CANT DO FAT32. Pre 1. Make a directory called: "C:\veclinux\". Pre 2. You'll need three 1.44 floppy disks. (Step.1) run "chkdsk.exe" on your C:\ drive. . (Step.2) run "scandisk.exe" on your C:\ drive . (Step.3) run "defrag.exe" on your C:\ drive ***De-fragmenting**** the C:\ drive is most important so make sure you do it. (Step.4) Format a MS-DOS floppy disk and make it bootable e.g "SYS A:" press . OR use Win95/98 to create you a bootable floppy. (Step.5) Download the two files below from: http://vectorlinux.50megs.com and place them in a directory called C:\veclinux. Unzip veclinux.zip ... (Step.6) UN-zip "fips20.zip" and copy those four files to your newly created DOS/WIN floppy boot disk. VecLinux will have to have at least 300mb for the EXT2 Partition we are about to create 250mb for linux 50mb for swap So make sure you have enough hard disk space. So now you should have a DOS/WIN floppy boot-disk with these three files below copied onto it. A:\fips.exe A:\restorrb.exe A:\fips.doc A:\fips.faq (Step.7) Now is a good time to browse through "fips.doc" file and jot down some tips from it if you should need to. (it's straight forward but recommended!.) ***TIP! Don't forget to delete the new 'UNKNOWN' Partition after using fips***). Some pointers, listen up!. What DOS/WIN call drives e.g C:\ , D:\ etc.. Linux calls them file systems e.g /dev/hda1 , /dev/hda2. So in theory "/dev/hda1" is actually the first partition which usually is C:\ in DOS. We want to create "/dev/hda2" which will contain the EXT2 partition. But before we can, we have to split the main partition C:\ which in Linux is really /dev/hda1 into 2 partitions. (confusing at first it may seem but you'll understand after a very short time). Now were ready for the main step of splitting the Partition (don't worry its fairly simple to do). (Step.8) Reboot now and insert the DOS/WIN floppy boot-disk we created and type "fips.exe". (It's pretty straight forward from here on in, just answer the questions fips asks you). The idea here is to split the C:\ Partition, so you'll end up with 2 Partitions on your Hard Disk, the first will be your original C:\> Partition and the Second Partition will be the newly split PRI-DOS UNKNOWN Partition /dev/hda2 which in time will be the ext2 Partition. Exit fips now, and delete the new split 'UNKNOWN' Partition with the DOS fdisk.exe utility. Fdisk.exe will show an 'UNKNOWN' delete that one okay. If you forget to or dont know how to use DOS fdisk.exe utility, follow [Step 10, 1-5 below using Linux to make sure the new empty partition is really deleted. Sounds dumb but fips just splits the partition so were left with 2 MS-DOS V- Fat-16/32 partitions. We need to delete the NEW second one "PRI- DOS UNKNOWN" so we can procede to the next steps. Please do it, then reboot. into DOS mode, the [F8] will bypass Windows9x (Step.9) Now enter your C:\veclinux directory and type: 'ram.bat' Login as "root" (Username is root). (Step.10) **Substitute /dev/hda2 with the true location of your wanted EXT2** And type the commands below as I have them from 1-11, substituting '/dev/hda2' with the real location e.g /dev/hda1 , /dev/hda3 etc. 1. (login as "root") . 2.fdisk Starts linux's fdisk. 3. m Shows menu options. 4 d Deletes partition, doesn't effect till reboot. 5. 2 Selects /dev/hda2 as the partition to delete. 6. n Preparing to add ext2 partition on /dev/hda2. 7. p Getting ready to make a ext2 primary partition. 8. 2 Makes /dev/hda2 primary. (OR /hda1, /hdc1, etc) 9. Just hit enter -or you can change ext2 size mb. 10. Just hit enter again -or change again ext2 size. 11. w ***Writes*** the partition table to disk. (Step.11) # mke2fs /dev/hda2 now 'reboot' back to DOS. (Step.12) cd C:\veclinux > ram.bat -and login as root (Username is 'root'). Now type these commands. # setup # mount -o user /dev/hda1 /DOS # linux -install After 'linux -install' unzips the veclinux.bz2 file to your new Linux Partition, you can 'CTRL+ALT+DEL' cd C:\veclinux > linux.bat for your NEW High Quality Premium OS Vector-Linux. To use LILO you'd type 'liloconfig' for easy setup for booting DOS/WIN9x, Linux, OS2 Partitions. More info on LInux LOader type: # man liloconfig, and/or # man lilo. ##################################################### # S E C T I O N 2. Linux to Linux Install # ##################################################### [I have no DOS or Windows, but i have Linux and want to replace it with VectorLinux] Okay you want to install VectorLinux over your old bloated existing Linux OS :) (Step.1) Download all these files below to ~/veclinux directory e.g. veclinux.zip veclinux.bz2 # mkdir /veclinux # mkdir /veclinux/old # mv filename(s) from the download to /veclinux # cd /veclinux # unzip veclinux.zip (Step.2) Now you'll need two 1.44 floppy disks which will be using for the complete installation, so type: # cd /veclinux/images # fdformat /dev/fd0u1440 # cat boot.img >/dev/fd0u1440 # fdformat /dev/fd0u1440 # cat root.img >/dev/fd0u1440 (Step.3) Nows a good time to backup anything you may need or want from the other distribution were going to replace it with VectorLinux e.g. Glibc2 Applications, Multimedia etc ... Back them all up to: '/veclinux/old' directory. ` (Step.4) Now delete everything, but DON'T delete the /veclinux directory. Okay you should have an almost empty ext2 Linux Native Partition with only /veclinux. If this is true, than you're ready to insert the first floppy boot disk & CTRL+ALT+DEL or type 'reboot'now. (Step.5) If installing from floppies, type 'ramdisk', all others just hit [ENTER] or [RETURN] Login as 'root' (Username is root). Mount the Linux Native ext2 Partition that has /veclinux like this: # setup # mount /dev/hda1 /DOS Substitute '/dev/hda1' for the true location of /veclinux e.g /hda2 /hdb1 /hdc1 /sda1 etc ... (Step.6) Type this below for the installation wiZaRd :o) which will do the rest of the install:) # ext2 -install Just answer the few Questions when asked & sit back and relax for a bit & let the wizard do its work. (Step.7) Now that VectorLinux is fully installed, you can reboot once more with the floppy boot disk, but this time don't type 'ramdisk', type this: # linux root=/dev/hda1 ro Again substitute '/dev/hda1' with your ext2 VectorLinux Partition. (Step.8) LInux LOader is all NEW! and easily setup, for Linux & Win9x. Now, if you have many Partitions and want to configure them all for use with LILO,so you can pick which one to boot once your computer has been turned on, type: #liloconfig # reboot <---= This time remove the boot floppy. ============================================================= thats all folks.........