 VectorLinux HOWTO install it.        2/27/00

 
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 # S E C T I O N  1.    Requires Repartitioning     #
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 Splitting your existing DOS/WIN for true Linux Native ext2 
 Partition.     <DOS/WIN TO LINUX NATIVE EXT2 INSTALL>

 NOTE: you can split the C:\  Partition without deleteing
 anything from your DOS/WIN Partition if you have lotsa extra 
 space:-follow everything below and PLEASE print it out
 before or hand rite it all down on paper.

 ALSO NOTE: Some people feel more comfortable using the
 program "Partition Magic" or similar for Win9x for creating 
 or splitting DOS Partitions. My method as illustrated below
 has been with using 'fips20.exe' for splitting Partitions.
 
 Here are my few steps, and I will run through them quickly to 
 give you an idea then I recommend you read the ".Doc" file 
 that comes with the ' fips ' utility that will be used to 
 split your existing Partition. What the FIPS utility does is 
 splits msdos fat-12 vfat-16/32 partitions without erasing 
 your games and/or current Win95/98  applications and software.
 BE SURE TO USE MY FIPS CAUSE OLDER ONES CANT DO FAT32.

  Pre 1.  Make a directory called: "C:\veclinux\".
  Pre 2.  You'll need three 1.44 floppy disks.
 
 (Step.1) run "chkdsk.exe" on your C:\ drive. <checks for errors>.
 (Step.2) run "scandisk.exe" on your C:\ drive <checks for errors>.

 (Step.3) run "defrag.exe" on your C:\ drive <it moves all data 
          to front of disk>  ***De-fragmenting**** the C:\ drive 
	  is most important so make sure  you do it.

 (Step.4) Format a MS-DOS floppy disk and make it bootable e.g 
          "SYS A:" press <ENTER>. OR use Win95/98 to create you 
	  a bootable floppy.

 (Step.5) Download the two files below from: 
          http://vectorlinux.50megs.com
	  and place them in a directory called
	  C:\veclinux. Unzip veclinux.zip ...

 
  (Step.6) UN-zip "fips20.zip" and copy those four files to your 
           newly created DOS/WIN floppy boot disk. 


           VecLinux will have to have at least 300mb for the EXT2 
	   Partition we are about to create 250mb for linux 50mb for swap
           So make sure you have enough hard disk space.
           So now you should have 
	   a DOS/WIN floppy boot-disk with these three files 
	   below copied onto it.
 
           A:\fips.exe        
           A:\restorrb.exe 
           A:\fips.doc
           A:\fips.faq     
 
 (Step.7) Now is a good time to browse through "fips.doc" file 
          and jot down some tips from it if you should need to.
	  (it's straight forward but recommended!.)
  ***TIP!  Don't forget to delete the new 'UNKNOWN' Partition 
           after using fips***).
 
 Some pointers, listen up!.  What DOS/WIN call drives e.g C:\ , 
 D:\ etc.. Linux calls them file systems  e.g /dev/hda1 , 
 /dev/hda2. So in theory "/dev/hda1" is actually the first 
 partition which usually is C:\ in DOS. We want to create 
 "/dev/hda2" which will contain the EXT2 partition. But before
 we can, we have to split the main partition C:\  which in 
 Linux is really /dev/hda1 into 2 partitions. (confusing 
 at first it may seem but you'll understand after a very 
 short time). Now were ready for the main step of splitting 
 the Partition (don't worry its fairly simple to do).
 
 (Step.8) Reboot now and insert the DOS/WIN floppy boot-disk 
          we created and type "fips.exe".  (It's pretty 
	  straight forward from here on in, just answer the 
	  questions fips asks you). The idea here is to split 
	  the C:\ Partition, so you'll end up with 2 
	  Partitions on your Hard Disk, the first will be your 
	  original C:\> Partition and the Second Partition
          will be the newly split PRI-DOS UNKNOWN Partition 
	  /dev/hda2 which in time will be the ext2 Partition.

 Exit fips now, and delete the new split 'UNKNOWN' Partition 
 with the DOS fdisk.exe  utility. Fdisk.exe will show an 'UNKNOWN' 
 delete that one okay. If you forget to or dont know how to use
 DOS fdisk.exe utility, follow [Step 10, 1-5 below using Linux to
 make sure the new empty partition is really deleted. Sounds dumb 
 but fips just splits the partition so were left with 2 MS-DOS V-
 Fat-16/32 partitions. We need to delete the NEW second one "PRI-
 DOS UNKNOWN" so we can procede to the next steps. Please do it, 
 then reboot. into DOS mode, the [F8] will bypass Windows9x

 (Step.9)  Now enter your C:\veclinux directory and type: 'ram.bat'
           Login as "root"  (Username is root).
 (Step.10) **Substitute /dev/hda2 with the true location of 
           your wanted EXT2** And type the commands below 
	   as I have them from 1-11, substituting '/dev/hda2' 
	   with the real location e.g /dev/hda1 , /dev/hda3 etc. 

1.     (login as "root")  <enter>.
2.fdisk   <enter>  Starts linux's fdisk.
3.     m  <enter>  Shows menu options.
4      d  <enter>  Deletes partition, doesn't effect till reboot.
5.     2  <enter>  Selects /dev/hda2 as the partition to delete.
6.     n  <enter>  Preparing to add ext2 partition on /dev/hda2.
7.     p  <enter>  Getting ready to make a ext2 primary partition.
8.     2  <enter>  Makes /dev/hda2 primary. (OR /hda1, /hdc1, etc)
9.        <enter>  Just hit enter -or you can change ext2 size mb.
10.       <enter>  Just hit enter again -or change again ext2 size.
11.   w   <enter>  ***Writes*** the partition table to disk.

 (Step.11) # mke2fs  /dev/hda2    <formats, syncs Disk(s) and 
           creates the ext2 filesystem> now 'reboot' back to DOS.

 (Step.12) cd C:\veclinux > ram.bat -and login as root (Username is 
          'root'). Now type these commands.

           # setup
           # mount -o user /dev/hda1  /DOS
           # linux -install

 After 'linux -install'  unzips the veclinux.bz2 file to your new 
 Linux Partition, you can 'CTRL+ALT+DEL' cd C:\veclinux > linux.bat 
 for your NEW High Quality Premium OS Vector-Linux.<Optionally 
 you can use Linux's 'lilo' for booting several OS's including 
 Window95-98.> To use LILO you'd type 'liloconfig' for easy setup
 for booting DOS/WIN9x, Linux, OS2 Partitions. More info on LInux 
 LOader type: # man liloconfig,  and/or # man lilo.

 
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 # S E C T I O N   2.   Linux to Linux Install       #
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 [I have no DOS or Windows, but i have Linux and want to
  replace it with VectorLinux] Okay you want to install 
  VectorLinux over your old bloated existing Linux OS :)

 (Step.1)
 Download all these files below to ~/veclinux directory e.g.

  veclinux.zip
  veclinux.bz2

 # mkdir /veclinux
 # mkdir /veclinux/old
 # mv filename(s) from the download to /veclinux
 # cd /veclinux
 # unzip veclinux.zip

 (Step.2)
 Now you'll need two 1.44 floppy disks which will be using for 
 the complete installation, so type:

 # cd /veclinux/images
 # fdformat /dev/fd0u1440
 # cat boot.img >/dev/fd0u1440
 # fdformat /dev/fd0u1440
 # cat root.img >/dev/fd0u1440

 (Step.3)
 Nows a good time to backup anything you may need or want from 
 the other distribution were going to replace it with 
 VectorLinux e.g. Glibc2  Applications, Multimedia etc ... Back 
 them all up to: '/veclinux/old' directory.
`
 (Step.4)
 Now delete everything, but DON'T delete the /veclinux directory. 
 Okay you should have an almost empty ext2 Linux Native 
 Partition with only /veclinux. If this is true, than you're 
 ready to insert the first floppy boot disk &  CTRL+ALT+DEL or 
 type 'reboot'now.
 
 (Step.5)
 If installing from floppies, type 'ramdisk', all others just
 hit [ENTER] or [RETURN]  Login as 'root' (Username is root). 
 Mount the Linux Native ext2 Partition that has /veclinux like 
 this:
 
 # setup
 # mount /dev/hda1 /DOS
 Substitute '/dev/hda1' for the true location of /veclinux e.g
 /hda2 /hdb1 /hdc1 /sda1 etc ...
 
 (Step.6)
 Type this below for the installation wiZaRd :o) which will do
 the rest of the install:)
 
 # ext2 -install
 Just answer the few Questions when asked & sit back and relax 
 for a bit & let the wizard do its work.
 
 (Step.7)
 Now that VectorLinux is fully installed, you can reboot once 
 more with the floppy boot disk, but this time don't type 
 'ramdisk', type this:
 
 # linux root=/dev/hda1 ro
 Again substitute '/dev/hda1' with your ext2 VectorLinux 
 Partition.
 
 (Step.8)
  LInux LOader is all NEW! and easily setup, for Linux & Win9x.
  Now, if you have many Partitions and want to configure them 
  all for use with LILO,so you can pick which one to boot once
  your computer has been turned on, type:
  
  #liloconfig
  # reboot   <---= This time remove the  boot floppy.  
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  thats all folks.........
 


