Installing Linux is easy, with care

IN PART TWO, I outlined the two most common ways to install Linux and mentioned a couple of other options along with minimal preparations. Before we go further and start the installation process, I should convey more input I've received plus additional information.

BIOS Configuration
Aside from several notebooks used in consulting work, I've built my own PCs. So I didn't know, but perhaps should have guessed, that some OEMs use keys other than "Delete" to enter BIOS configuration (and some hide the Power-On-Self-Test (POST) screen display at BIOS initialization).

Such OEMs use F3, or F10, or another key. Figuring out how to get into BIOS configuration might mean finding the manual that came with the PC, or failing that some experimentation, or a visit to a vendor website.

Even if your machine's boot sequence is already set up as Floppy, CDROM, then HD, you might want to take a look at your BIOS settings. The main reason to do this is to note whether or not you have a setting "PNP OS" or "Plug&Play OS" or something like that and whether it's set to YES.

If so, it means that Windows is initializing most devices, not the BIOS. On some systems with "Plug&Play" set to YES, Linux install routines can fail to properly detect and initialize some devices. Note this setting and remember it if Linux has trouble finding devices (e.g., modem, NIC, sound, etc.). You might then set "Plug&Play" to NO and resolve this.

Best practice is to write down all your BIOS settings at this time, but we will assume that you'll do that before you change settings, right?

One final thing about BIOS settings: if you've overclocked your hot box to the bleeding edge of instability, this would be the time back off.

Linux is more demanding of hardware than cooperative-tasking Windows, so overclocks that slide by with your legacy OS might choke under Linux. I suggest reverting to stock CPU multiplier, front-side bus speed, memory timings, etc. You can always tweak things back up later if you wish.

Linux Distro and Mirror Directories
I forgot to mention DistroWatch, which has information and links to more than 90 Linux variants including all the ones I mentioned in my previous article. Also, a helpful reader clued me in to a collection of mirror site links for many Linux distros at www.linuxiso.org.

Checking MD5SUMS Under Windows
Several readers kindly sent me links to "md5" checksum programs that run under Windows. These utilities are here and here. I haven't tested either of them, because I don't have any DOS or Windows systems.

After you've downloaded a Linux ISO file (or any other file that has an associated "md5" checksum), you really should run a "md5sum" against it. Neglecting this step leaves you trusting to luck that the file is right, no matter if the file size matches. Potentially, just one corrupted bit can leave you with a file that burns to a CD, but can't be installed.

Run your chosen "md5" checksum utility against your downloaded file then compare the calculated string against the matching MD5SUMS string value. Corrupted ISO files are a prime cause of many failing Linux installs.

More Installation Methods
I also received a couple of queries about installing Linux directly over the Internet, without a CDROM or CD-R/RW drive available. Additionally, I should mention the exotic installation methods which are available.

Network Installation
Installing Linux over a network (including the Internet) requires merely a floppy drive and a fast network link (LAN, DSL, cable, etc.). Locate a server or mirror site containing the Linux distro you want -- but you're not looking for ISO files -- you seek out the flat files in a directory, which will look something like this (this example is from Mandrake 9.0): autorun.inf fonts/ isolinux/ Mandrake/ tutorial/ Boot/ images/ Misc/ VERSION COPYING index.htm LICENSE.txt pkg-9.0-Dolphin-i586.idx doc/ install.htm live_update* README.txt dosutils/ INSTALL.txt RPM-GPG-KEYS

Write down the server or mirror site network address and internal path to the directory that contains the Linux distro you want to install.

In the / path/images directory, you'll find a network.img file. Download it.

In the / path/dosutils directory, you'll find a rawrite.exe file and a rawwrite.exe file. Download both files to the same location.

Launch the rawwrite.exe program.

Insert a blank diskette in the floppy drive.

In the rawwrite GUI, select the loaded floppy drive (either A: or B:), find and select the downloaded network.img file, then click on Write.

Close the rawwrite program and shut down Windows.

Boot from your floppy disk containing the network install boot image.

Enter the server or mirror site network address and internal path that you recorded earlier. The Linux installer will be downloaded and then the installation will proceed just like an install from CD except that all packages will be downloaded over the network.

Other Installation Methods
Here is a list of some other bootable floppy images. Each supports an unusual Linux installation method. Their names suggest their usage:

cdrom.img - Use with a CDROM, if for some reason it's not bootable.

hd.img - Use with a hard disk if the install can't read a CDROM.

pcmcia.img - Use with any device attached to a notebook PCMCIA card.

usb.img - Use with any device attached by a USB cable connection.

There are a few other esoteric boot images defined in a README file.

Precautions
Linux installation is normally a safe process. The installers probably get tested and debugged more than most individual software packages -- partly because Linux had a reputation as being difficult to install for many years. Even if an install fails for some reason (corrupted ISO CD, unsupported hardware, etc.), your system should not incur any damage.

However, if you have an NTFS partition, the Linux installation process won't be able to resize or move it to make room. If you're using NTFS, you'll need to employ a Windows based disk utility such as PartitionMagic to handle such partition(s) before starting to install Linux.

You should backup your data before changing your existing OS partitions or installing Linux. You can copy valued data to a second hard disk, a removable hard drive, a CD-R/RW, over the network to another machine.

I know many of you won't do a backup, but you should: don't blame me if you trash your collection of MP3s, dissertation, or novel manuscript.

Make sure you have a Rescue floppy that contains DOS fdisk, just in case you install LILO on the Master Boot Record (I'll explain this later) and for some anomalous reason find that your system's become unbootable. In case you can't find a copy of DOS fdisk, at least make certain that you have a boot floppy that will enable you to boot your existing system.

I don't mean to scare you -- such things almost never happen -- but you will be better off to take precautions you don't need than omit any that you do. I've rebuilt a system from floppies up -- you don't want to.

You should also read the Installation Guide for the Linux distro you'll be installing. At least, study the Quick Start Guide, browse around.

Next time... we will proceed to install Linux. This time I promise.µ

See Also:
Installing Linux is easy, really!
Installing Linux is easy, continued