Programs
MS-DOS prompt. Then, insert your Debian GNU/Linux
CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. First, you change to your CD-ROM drive. In
most cases, this is D:.
It’s not hard at all to boot from floppies. In fact, your CD-ROM contains all the information necessary to create boot disks for you. For these instructions, you will need to get two disks. Label the first one “Debian 2.1 Install/Rescue Disk” and the second “Debian 2.1 Modules/Drivers Disk.”
Disk images are files containing the complete contents of a floppy disk in raw form. Disk images, such as resc1440.bin, cannot simply be copied to floppy drives. A special program is used to write the image files to floppy disk in raw mode.
First, you need to get to a DOS prompt. In Windows 95 and above,
you can do this by double-clicking on an MS-DOS icon or by going to
StartProgramsMS-DOS prompt. Then, insert your Debian GNU/Linux
CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. First, you change to your CD-ROM drive. In
most cases, this is D:.
Now, change to the directory containing the disk images.
\DISTS\SLINK\MAIN\DISKS-I386\2.1.8-1999-02-22
If you get an error, double-check what you’re typing. If the error persists, manually issue CD \DISTS\SLINK\MAIN\DISKS-I386, then run DIR, and then CD into the directory indicated. Note that the above commands, and some other examples below, may appear as a single line on your display even if they are wrapped here.
Now, you’re ready to create the first of two disks. Start the program to write them out, rawrite2:
2.1.8-1999-02-22>rawrite2
RaWrite 2.0 - Write disk file to
raw floppy diskette
Rawrite2 starts and displays its welcome message. Next, it asks for the filename and diskette drive. You tell it to write resc1440.bin to a:
Enter target diskette drive: a:
Rawrite2 now asks you to insert a disk into the floppy drive. Do so and press Enter.
drive A: and press -ENTER- :
At this point, rawrite2 will create the first of the two disks. Now, you need to repeat the process for the second disk:
2.1.8-1999-02-22>rawrite2
RaWrite 2.0 - Write disk file to
raw floppy diskette
Enter disk image source file name: drv1440.bin
Enter target diskette drive: a:
Please insert a formatted diskette into
drive A: and press -ENTER- :
By now, your disks are created. You can now use the first one to boot.
You are now ready to boot into Debian! Shut down your existing operating system, turn off your computer, and place the Install/Rescue Disk into the floppy drive. Now turn your computer back on. You should get a Welcome screen with a boot prompt at the bottom.