This web space is dedicated to the dual boot installation of Linux/Windows98 system on one specific little laptop box that I couldn't find information for anywhere in the world. 'Course many of the things said about similar Compaq systems are applicable to us 1800T folk -- so you'll get gory detail here only about issues specific to 1800T installation as I came across them. The install is presented from my point of view: got the box as a gift from a very generous relative to whom I literally owe life itself, wanted to keep Windows98 on there for some crazy reason, but needed Linux in order to get anything done. This'll be a step-by-step intro for idiots, like myself. I ain't no hacker, just a fella who spent too much time working this stuff out not to pass it along.
Warning: Partitioning overwrites the hard drive.
To get ready to partition:
1. Boot Win98. Start -> Run scandisk to check your drive
for errors. Correct as needed. This isn't really that necessary but
it takes no time so what the hell.
2. Start -> Run defrag. This program shuffles
information to the `top' of each partition so that repartitioning
doesn't overwrite your files. NB: Defrag restarts each time
the hard drive is accessed, so if you're running a lot of crap under
Win98 you'll never get this done. So: Start -> Run msconfig. Get rid of
the check from everything but: System Tray, Load Power Profile, AtiPTA,
Ati2cwxx, SynTPLpr, SynTPEnh, CPQEASYACC, EACLEAN, Service Connection,
AvconsoleEXE, VsecomrEXE, Vshwin32EXE, VsStatEXE, Scheduling Agent; and
fer chrissake don't have Fast Find running.
1. Reboot into M$ dos
2. Run part.exe from the a: drive.
PM fills the screen.
Don't run part.exe under Win98.
3. Partitioning:
Don't touch the MBR or the partition labeled 1.
Shrink the Windows FAT-32 partition 2 to the desired size by selecting partition 2 with the up-down arrow keys. This partition should start at cylinder/head/sector=CHS=0/1/1. Move the cursor using left-right arrows to get to the `Ending' column of the partition. Edit CHS using + to add, -, backspace to delete and numerical keys to enter, to the appropriate size. (The program is simple to get -- this explanation is probably way too detailed, but there ya have it anyway.) Calculate the number of bytes per sector, per head, and per cylinder so you can figure out in advance roughly what numbers you'll need to enter. When you reduce the size of the partition, PM opens up another `unused' partition that will later become your Linux swap and Linux primary partitions.
*Important*
You also need to change the partition size in the "setup" section, at
the base of the screen. Press return with the cursor on
`Windows FAT-32 LBA'. Then just type in the partition size calculated
by the PM in the row for that partition in the upper window into the
`Partition size:' in the lower window.
Next you'll create two partitions: `linux ext2fs' and `linux swap'. I gave the swap partition 128MB (the maximum allowed) and the rest (up to the D: partition, extended VFAT) went into a single partition which will be mounted on the / (root) directory when installing Linux. To create partitions go to the `unused' partition that was newly created when you shrunk the C: partition and make your swap and ext2fs partitions by hitting insert, `Ins', with the cursor on the `unused' row. Then select `linux ext2fs', dimension it so that there's room left over for the swap partition, and then create the swap in the remaining unused space, using the same procedure (`Ins' on `unused') selecting `linux swap' this time. It is recommended by a lot of folks that you create a separate partition for /home, /usr, /var, /usr/local, etc. I didn't do this since I'm running this box strictly as a client (as opposed to a server) -- I'm not saying there's no use to it, I'm just lazy.
(Perhaps you're reading this on a friend's computer and wondering how in hell you're going to download without the ethernet card working? Easy: turn your useless ``winmodem'' into a Linmodem. Here for a Lucent winmodem driver and here for the Linmodems.org website.)
Boot up. At the `LILO boot:' prompt type `linux' (or login if you chose graphical login) and then `startx' from the command line to start the Xwindows system.
Now mv the old tulip.c in the /usr/src/linux/drivers/net directory to tulip.c.0.89, or something and cp the new one there (in case this isn't the problem for you). Then `make xconfig' making sure that the loadable modules options is selected and that your CPU (Pentium) is set correctly. Then from the /usr/src/linux `make modules', which takes a long time if none are made.
Use the kernal configurator: System menus -> AnotherLevel menus -> Kernel Configuration. Remove the eth0 tulip entry. And then Add it again. Then reboot. Should work now.
Installation guide for Linux RedHat 6.0
General linux RH6.0 installation guide
Software
(1) Mikhail
Ranish's righteous rockin' shareware to help you partition that
hard drive
(2) Download the RedHat 7
distribution of that fine Linux alternative OS
HOWTO
The Linux Documentation Project HOWTO mirror at RedHat (the UNC site goes
down quite a bit, mmm-hmmm)
Updated 14 Dec 2000
As with any web based advice, you're stronly encouraged to figure out if what I'm saying is correct before you actually do it. This work is completely fictional. Any relation to computers, computer programs, or computer related technology, living or dead, is completely coincidental. The author is not responsible for any loss of data, hardware, or life arising from the fictional material on this page. Umm.