How to install Kubuntu (or UBUNTU) on a PC without internal CD drive

[Carlo]

how to install kubuntu or ubuntu on a pc that have no internal cd drive and with no access to the bios ?
The laptop has no operating system for the moment.
The laptop have a flopy drive, an usb 1.0 and a PCMCIA slot.

I think that a restricted version on discetes that can be loaded via the floppy drive will do.
of course the restricted version should have access to the USB slot for further update via an external CD drive.

but where to find such restricted version
and are ther other possibilities ...?

Kind regards

Carlo

[arochester]

Re: How to install Kubuntu (or UBUNTU) on a PC without internal CD drive

1) How much RAM does the computer have?
2) Can you get an external CD?
3) Does the computer have USB?
4) What make and model is the laptop?
5) Why is the BIOS not accessible?

Look at (Linux) "Installation From The Internet" at http://www.linuxlots.com/~jam/guide9.html and "Install GNU/Linux without any CD, floppy, USB-key, nor any other removable media" at http://marc.herbert.free.fr/linux/win2linstall.html It can also be done from one copmputer to another via a null-modem-cable or installed to a pendrive but I have lost the links for now

[Carlo]

Re: How to install Kubuntu (or UBUNTU) on a PC without internal CD drive

Hello,
the laptop is a Panasonic toughbook CF-27 it has the folowing configuration
Pentium II, 300MHz
128 Mb ram
6 Gb hdd
com port
1 floppy drive
1 USB port
PCMCIA slot
I think it has a touchscreen.

it ' s a nice laptop and unbreakable. I bought it for only 50 Euro.

It has no operating system inside and there is no internal CD drive.
The BIOS is password protected. and no password was deliverd.

I have a external USB CD/DVD drive (It seems that in the actual BIOS there 's no booting possibility from the USB).

The question is how to load Kubuntu or Ubuntu ?

from the floppy drive ?
From com port ? ...

Already thanks
greetz

Carlo

[arochester]

Re: How to install Kubuntu (or UBUNTU) on a PC without internal CD drive

With 128Mb of RAM, frankly, you would be better with a different distro. The recommended minimum for (K)Ubuntu is 256Mb. If you want to persist with (K)Ubuntu have a look at Installation/LowMemorySystems on https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...wMemorySystems. By the time you use a lightweight desktop you might be better to use something else.

Zenwalk or Xubuntu both need about 128Mb. They are both Xface based so there will be no pretty KDE or Gnome. Zenwalk was formerly known as Minislack and is based on Slackware. Xubuntu is a lightweight version of Ubuntu.How to install them?

Puppy Linux (I think) needs about 64Mb and it has various ways of installing - I think that includes a floppy install but look at their website.

[javierrivera]

Re: How to install Kubuntu (or UBUNTU) on a PC without internal CD drive

The easiest way will be taking out the hard disk, popping it in another computer, and install linux in it.

The second easiest will be booting from a floppy, and then switch to an external CD install:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SmartBootManagerHowto

Next to it, there is also the option of a network install:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/Netboot

I have Kubuntu runing on two 128 Mb machines, and it performs quite reasonable. The biggest problem seens to be aplication start time. I use it only for very basic task (browsing the web, IM).

Damm Small Linux is a kick-ass distro for old PCs. I love it and install it on anything with less than 128 Mb. The low memory wiki page is also very useful, but somewhat more involved than DSL. But you will get a real *ubuntu, with all this nice community

Javier.