Red Hat Linux 7.2: The Official Red Hat Linux Alpha Installation Guide
Prev | Chapter 1. Getting Started | Next

# Step 4 - Can You Install Using the Red Hat Linux CD-ROM?

There are several methods that can be used to install Red Hat Linux. This manual focuses on installing from the CD-ROM. For instructions on alternative installation methods, refer to Chapter 4.

Installing from a CD-ROM requires that you have purchased a Red Hat Linux 7.2 boxed set, or you have a Red Hat Linux CD-ROM, and you have a CD-ROM drive. Most new computers will allow booting from the CD-ROM. If your system will support booting from the CD-ROM, it is an easy way to begin a local CD-ROM installation.

Your BIOS may need to be changed to allow booting from your CD-ROM drive. For more information about editing your BIOS, see the section called Booting the Installation Program in Chapter 3.

## Alternative Boot Methods

If you cannot boot from the CD-ROM drive, the following alternative boot methods are also available:

Local Boot Disk

  If you need a local boot disk, you must create it. The local boot disk image file, `boot.img`, is located in the `images` directory on your Red Hat Linux CD-ROM. Refer to the section called Making Installation Diskettes for more information on making a boot disk.

PCMCIA Boot Disks

  You may need PCMCIA boot disks if you are using a PCMCIA device to install Red Hat Linux. If you need PCMCIA boot disks, you must create them. Refer to the section called Making Installation Diskettes for those instructions.

  The following checklist can help you determine if you will need to create PCMCIA boot disks:

  - You will install Red Hat Linux from a CD-ROM, and your CD-ROM drive is attached to your computer through a PCMCIA card.

  - You will use a PCMCIA network adapter during the installation.

  The PCMCIA boot disks image files, `pcmcia.img` and `pcmicadd.img`, are located in the `images` directory on your Red Hat Linux/x86 CD-ROM. Refer to the section called Making Installation Diskettes for more information on making a boot disk.

| Note
| USB Floppies You can also boot the Red Hat Linux installation program using a USB floppy as a boot disk (if your system supports booting from a USB floppy).

| Note
| Although it is not required to boot your installation, you may occasionally find that a driver disk is needed to continue with the installation. Appendix F explains why a driver disk may be necessary for your installation, and how to obtain one if needed.

## Making Installation Diskettes

You may need to create a diskette from an image file; for example, you may need to use updated diskette images obtained from the Red Hat Linux errata page (http://www.redhat.com/apps/support/updates.html) or you may need to create a boot disk.

An image file contains an exact copy (or image) of a diskette's contents. Since a diskette contains filesystem information in addition to the data contained in files, the image file is not usable until it has been written to a diskette.

To start, you will need a blank, formatted, high-density (1.44MB), 3.5-inch diskette. You will need access to a computer with a 3.5-inch diskette drive. The computer must be able to run either an MS-DOS program or the `dd` utility found on most Linux-like operating systems.

The `images` directory on your Red Hat Linux CD-ROM contains the boot images for Red Hat Linux/x86 . Once you have selected the proper image, transfer the image file onto a diskette.

### Using the `rawrite` Utility

To make a diskette using MS-DOS, use the `rawrite` utility included on the Red Hat Linux CD-ROM in the `dosutils` directory. First, label a blank, formatted 3.5-inch diskette appropriately (such as "Boot Disk" or "Updates Disk"). Insert it into the diskette drive. Then, use the following commands (assuming your CD-ROM is drive `d:`):

    C:\> d:
    D:\> cd \dosutils
    D:\dosutils> rawrite
    Enter disk image source file name: ..\images\boot.img
    Enter target diskette drive: a:
    Please insert a formatted diskette into drive A: and
    press --ENTER-- : [Enter]
    D:\dosutils>

First, `rawrite` asks you for the filename of a diskette image; enter the directory and name of the image you wish to write (for example, `..\images\boot.img`). Then `rawrite` asks for a diskette drive to write the image to; enter `a:`. Finally, `rawrite` asks for confirmation that a formatted diskette is in the drive you have selected. After pressing [Enter] to confirm, `rawrite` copies the image file onto the diskette. If you need to make another diskette, label that diskette, and run `rawrite` again, specifying the appropriate image file.

### Using the `dd` Command

To make a diskette under Linux (or any other Linux-like operating system), you must have permission to write to the device representing a 3.5-inch diskette drive (known as `/dev/fd0` under Linux).

First, label a blank, formatted diskette appropriately (such as "Boot Disk" or "Updates Disk"). Insert it into the diskette drive (but do not issue a `mount` command). After mounting the Red Hat Linux CD-ROM, change directory to the directory containing the desired image file, and use the following command (changing the name of the image file and diskette device as appropriate):

    # dd if=boot.img of=/dev/fd0 bs=1440k

To make another diskette, label that diskette, and run `dd` again, specifying the appropriate image file.

Prev | Home | Next
Step 3 - Do You Have Enough Disk Space? | Up | Step 5 - Which Installation Class is Best For You?