Re: [PARPORT] Installing Linux from External Cd-rom


Grant R. Guenther (grant@torque.net)
Tue, 17 Mar 1998 11:08:02 -0500 (EST)


> I have recently wanted to install linux on a 386/22 in order to breath a
> new life into it. Since it doesn't have an internal Cd-Rom drive I have a
> MicroSolutions Backpack drive that connects to a printer port.

What is the model number of the Backpack ?

> I have two options for CD-Rom, other and SCSI, so i choose other. At This
> point it presents me with a list of CD-Roms and such and second on the list
> is the Backpack cd-rom. Using the autoconfig method it tells me unable to
> mount /bcpk. Using the set parameters setting and leaving it blank as I
> know no parameters to enter (if you do please help).

You don't identify the RedHat version. This may just be an incompatibility
between the bpcd driver on your boot floppy and the drive in your backpack
case. I have a boot floppy for 5.0 that contains a much newer version of
the driver.

> It accesses the
> Cd-Rom and informs me there is no Red Hat CD in the drive. So i remove my
> Red Hat CD from the drive and insert it again.

On the <ALT-F4> screen there will be some error messages from the bpcd
driver. The most common problem now is with the faster drives that take
up to 20 seconds to come up to speed. The bpcd driver on 5.0 cannot handle
those drives.

> Please help, I want to install Linux on this system so It can live a longer
> life, but If all this is in vain please tell me and I will junk the 386
> that our family hase become attached to.

If you are running 5.0, please download

        ftp://ftp.torque.net/pub/rh5bpcd.img

Use rawrite to make a floppy from that file, and try booting it.

Otherwise, please contact me directly.

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Grant R. Guenther grant@torque.net
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