-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- On Mon, 27 Apr 1998, David Welton wrote:
> Ok, I have had enough.. I would like to do something! > > After hearing for the nth time that someone's computer wont work with > debian but will with redhat and slackware, I would like to try my hand > at making some boot disks. I read the BootDisk HOWTO in the past, and > I think I get the basic idea, but what I'd really like to know is > exactly how people have been doing this for the Debian boot disks - > ie, what sort of device, size, etc.. Basically whatever specs are > available about our disks. In my experience, debian's bootdisk problems are inherent to the entire "disk" method of installation. The way it is constructed (in hamm), it needs 9 brand-new disks, with no blemish. If even one disk has a few bad blocks on it (which rawrite doesn't tell you, and the inexperienced user won't notice until too late) it's too late to do anything. Additionally, the boot+root (single-disk) causes some problems. If one kernel refuses to boot on your computer, you are *required* to construct your own disks from a kernel and debian's rootdisk. This takes someone quite far along the larning curve, and should be avoided at a distribution's install level. I propose this: one disk with two or three kernels on it (one kernel completely bare, the other with support for some strange hardware such as proprietary mice, cdrom's, etc) and a modified ldlinux.sys that tells what to do for different kinds of machines... One rootdisk. This will increase the amount of room available for the base rootdisk, making the rescue floppy much more user-friendly (perhaps bash and joe could fit on it -- two VERY important tools for a rescue floppy). Anyway, just a few ideas.... - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aaron Van Couwenberghe -- [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] |---> Debian GNU/Linux: http://www.debian.org ftp://ftp.debian.org <-----\ |-> Proud competitor in the race for World Domination <-------------------| Illusion web designs - http://www.sonic.net/~vanco - To be launched by June PGP KeyID: 41119089 UserID: Aaron Van Couwenberghe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> - -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.6.3a mQCNAzU9DnIAAAEEAMPBOCQh5zzgJCh7hz7M20bL+gztIn1+ldPNq8AcN7s16XHa sgWQoK/Yz/15HnClqDATQhqItG4+4SZDW/VywLgDUxfa+WXPqOFGdUv8AODAnWiz doOI58TajZTV4gyvp2fCH2sjvOOpfZ1AFn1m3Z6kT3c0otbNSfoZ48BBEZCJAAUR tChBYXJvbiBWYW4gQ291d2VuYmVyZ2hlIDx2YW5jb0Bzb25pYy5uZXQ+iQCVAwUQ NT0OcvoZ48BBEZCJAQENBQP9G/3B3HHQOYaea6ep1Z+0ZR/BtK3o2bPPdhVFEksT vwlvDYM01RouZoWZ91ixJVTp5r+ovq/4eFnrVk1IxjK6lEeXtKixrWKuyv3xVBa5 1snIrslc4t6zahBJx6i9OESgK69BDi0MMA8Y5jzz6I38vCZS1cFjwGZvzyINJEaF +Fg= =56FS - -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.3a Charset: noconv iQCVAwUBNUTAUvoZ48BBEZCJAQG6XwP/X2bJ+Lbu0GF3uVjxiOkEtxRTWQfm/qoy vK10vms+0zXVtKM91o7rdkmYq/U87L0kexIesNereOZFYmRWLdbPoUbV0MM3U/b9 gDMkSHyg5qsLQFWx7UZiDcDYuFMuetfjJ3An4uONRW1s9p+zi7iHUepJd6BwjTdd 9i8hUPuV+OA= =Mqn7 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]