[RULE] Update: That old laptop now runs Slack

[Gabriel M. Beddingfield]

This is a long post, so I'll start with an ABSTRACT:

I just had a successful install of Slackware (with Xorg) on a P100 Laptop with 
16MB RAM and 500MB hard drive.  This laptop had previously had Rule, but the 
XFree didn't work.  The problem with the display was a conflict between TinyX 
and a NeoMagic 2070 video card.  The install was performed using LILO to boot 
a CD's kernel and initrd from a small "Beachhead" partition.  At the end, 
there was about 100 MB left for more applications and user files.

And the full story:

If you'll recall (and it's OK if you don't), I tried to get RULE installed 
using RH9 on an old Dell Latitude LM laptop (P100, 16MB RAM, 500MB Hard 
Drive).  This was about 18 months ago.  While the slinky install was 
successful, the system had two major problems:

1. X-windows wouldn't work with the video card.
2. An X install filled up the hard drive -- almost no room left over 
for /home.

Here's what I've learned since then:

1. The reason why the video wouldn't work was TinyX.  TinyX doesn't support 
the NeoMagic 2070 video card... but recent Xorg and XFree versions do.
2. While TinyX has a smaller memory footprint, it has a larger hard drive 
footprint.  (Unless I'm mistaken.)
3. I've learned how LILO works.  :)  Using mulinux I can create a 'beachhead' 
linux install with LILO.  Then, I can install the kernels and initrd's for 
the various LiveCD's and boot the CD from the hard drive.  (Note:  Smart Boot 
Manager didn't work on this laptop, either.)
4. DamnSmallLinux also uses TinyX, so it had the same video problems as 
slinky/RH9 when installed on this laptop.  I don't know if a non-TinyX 
slinky/RH9 would have worked.  (Have to check version numbers.)

Roughly, here's what I've done to install Slack:

Phase 1:  BEACHHEAD  (***)
1. Download mulinux (http://mulinux.sunsite.dk/) boot floppy.
2. Partition and format hard drive:
	hda1 mulinux / 10MB
	hda2 (swap) 32MB
	hda3 future /	(balance)
3. Install mulinux to hda1 (with LILO).

Phase 2:  INSTALLING SLACKWARE
1. Download and burn Slackware 10.1.  Both disks, but you can get a minimal 
install with just disk 1.
2. Boot computer to mulinux with CD-ROM installed.
3. mount cdrom.  Copy the following from the cdrom to the 
mulinux /startup/boot folder:
	isolinux/initrd.img
	kernels/bare.i/bzImage
4. Configure LILO to boot the bzImage kernel with the initrd.img:
	image=/startup/boot/bzImage
		label="SlackCD"
		initrd=/startup/boot/initrd.img
		append="ramdisk_size=7000"	
5. run lilo to install kernel.
6. Put the CD in, reboot, select the Slack kernel.
7. System boots, install Slackware as Normal.

The minimum install is still pretty tight on the hard drive, but I have about 
100 MB left to play with -- which is manageable.

I'm going to install Fluxbox, Abiword, XPaint and give it to my daughter to 
play with.

(***) - You may ask yourself, why not use the RH9 LILO install?  Well, I 
mucked that up trying to do something else.

-- 
          <__g_a_b_r_i_e_l___m___b_e_d_d_i_n_g_f_i_e_l_d__>


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