On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 00:22, you wrote: > I have tried this route with no success so far. �Both > laptops that I have recently acquired have usb based CD-ROM > and one of them has centrino, the other a transmeta. �In > each case, finding a distro that could actually read the usb > cd-rom once booted was a real challenge.
Ah, but you don't need to boot from CD to install! Virtually all such laptops (all I tried so far) have either Etherboot or PXE network boot capabilities. What I usually do is having one computer booting Knoppix, starting Knoppix "Terminal Server" via "start menu", coupling that machine via crossover Ethernet cable to the laptop to install, and boot the laptop via net. That way, it typically takes LESS THAN 3 MINUTES from booting until you have your new laptop running Debian Gnu/Linux. You can then check whether hardware detection has worked etc, and if you are happy, you start qtparted, repartition the harddisk (you can shrink exisiting partitions too), and run the hdinstaller. Another 10-15 minutes later you have completed your harddisk installation. Another way to install Debian Gnu/Linux on such machines is using the new glorious Debian installer (http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/) which can be booted from an USB stick as well (http://d-i.pascal.at/). Your last option is to just reconfigure Knoppix or any other distro boot CD (compile USB and Firewire support into the kernel instaed of modules, regenerate the boot CD of your choice with that new kernel (or the appropriate modules loaded into initrd), and off you go. If you can't do it yourself, Klaus Knopper himself (Knoppix author) usually is very responsive to such requests. Horst -- A non-free program is a predatory social system that keeps people in a state of domination and division, and uses the spoils to dominate more. -- Richard Stallman
