[ltp] thinkpad with floppy OR cdrom but not both

[Robert Kiesling]

I don't remember reading this.  Let me know if you would like me to 
check it out and include it in the Linux RAQ.

On Wed, 24 Nov 1999, you wrote:
> Michael,
> 
> >>
> i seem to remember an article somewhere on how to load linux onto a
> thinkpad
> that can have either the floppy drive OR the cdrom, but not both, but i
> can't find that article. can anyone point me to it?
> <<
> 
> Here's the info from a note I sent a while back. I don't think it made it
> into a FAQ or anything.
> 
> ==========================================
> Robert,
> 
> >>
> I'm new to Linux and am trying to load Linux Mandrake 6.0 onto the system.
> The only problem I've run into (so far:)) is that the floppy and the CD-Rom
> share the same bay. When I boot up using the floppy, it doesn't recognize
> the CD-Rom. Any suggetions? TIA
> <<
> 
> Although I don't have a 755CD on hand, I do have a 760CD, which also
> requires swapping the CDROM drive and diskette drive in its single bay. So,
> last night, I used the 760CD to create a procedure for you. I used Red Hat
> Linux 6.0 for the install. The trick is to suspend the machine (via Fn+F4)
> and switch from diskette to CD at just the right time -- when the loader is
> done with the diskette and before the kernel has begun execution. The
> method below performs the switch-a-roo during the uncompressing of the
> kernel image.
> 
> 1. Boot the RH6 install diskette.
> 2. Press Enter (or let the loader time-out) to begin the loading process.
>     - You'll see the message: "Loading initrd.img........."
>     - You'll see the message: "Loading vmlinux.........."
>       (About 10 progress dots -- keep your finger on the Fn key!)
> 3. As soon as you see the message, "Uncompressing Linux," press Fn+F4 to
> trigger the suspend. If you see the kernel spewing out information before
> the suspend occurs, you've waited too long.
> 4. Replace the diskette drive with the CDROM drive.
> 5. Resume. The loader should continue uncompressing the kernel.
> 6. When the kernel starts execution, if you watch very closely you should
> see it report the CD-ROM drive.
> 7. On one of my attempts, the kernel trapped during the device probing --
> possibly a result of the suspend. If this happens, simply go back to step 1
> and try again. This procedure has worked for me 3 out of 4 times.
> 8. Continue with the install. When asked to insert the RH6 install CD:
>     a. Open the CD-ROM drive (ie., eject).
>     b. Insert the RH6 CD if it is not already in the drive.
>     c. Close the drive and wait a few seconds for the drive to scope out
> the CD.
> 9. Continue with the install. If the installs says that it could not
> recognize the media, go back to step 8 and try again. It seems that after a
> suspend, the eject-close drive sequence is necessary, even though the RH6
> CD may have already been in the drive.
> 10. Once the CD is recognized, proceed with the install.
> 11. Skip the "Make boot disk" phase or any other option that requires going
> back out to diskette. As long as you put LILO on the hard disk (master boot
> record or first sector of boot partition), you should be able to boot into
> Linux and make a boot disk at that time.
> 
> I hope this works for you. It's usually a good idea to make sure you are
> running with the latest level of BIOS.
> ==========================================
> 
> Keith Frechette
> Linux Development Lead, Mobile Computing Options and Software Development
> IBM Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
> kfrechet@us.ibm.com / 919-543-3761 / TieLine:441-3761
> 
> 
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