1. Boot directly from CDThe Install CD is bootable. In most cases, just insert the CD into the drive and reboot the machine. Follow the instructions displayed on screen, you are done.
2. Launch install from MS-DOS
If you have MS-DOS installed on your computer, you can boot the installation system directly from the CD without using any diskettes.To do this (assuming your CD is drive D:), use the following commands:
C:\> D:
D:\> cd \dosutils\autoboot
D:\dosutils\autoboot> autoboot.bat
Note that this method will not work if run in a DOS window -- the autoboot.bat file must be executed with DOS as the only operating system. In other words, Windows cannot be running.
3. Make a boot floppy with windows
If your computer cannot boot from the CDROM and previous methods do not work, you must make a boot floppy under Windows as follows:- insert the CDROM, then open the icon "My Computer", right click on the CDROM drive icon and select "Open"
- go into the "dosutils" directory and double-click on the "rawwritewin" icon
- insert a blank floppy in the floppy drive
- select "D:\images\cdrom.img" in the "Image File" field (assuming that your CDROM drive is "D:", otherwise replace "D:" as needed)
- select "A:" in the "Floppy Drive" field then click on "Write".
To begin the installation, insert the CDROM in the drive, as well as the boot floppy if necessary, then restart the computer.
4. Other install methods
If for any reason the previous methods do not fit your needs (you can't stand graphic install or you want to perform a network install or ...), you will also need to make a boot floppy.Below are the main stages of installation:
i. Mandrake Bootdisk Install
- Under Windows, follow the method described in point 3, but using xxxxx.img (see below) instead of cdrom.img.
- Under Linux (or others modern unix) do :
$ dd if=xxxxx.img of=/dev/fd0
- Under MS-Windows do (under command MS-DOS) :
E:\>..\dosutils\rawrite.exe ../images/xxxxx.img
xxxxx.image is the boot image :
| DrakX (graphical) install | cdrom.img: hd.img: network.img: pcmcia.img: | install from CD-ROM install from hard-disk install from ftp/nfs/http install from pcmcia devices see http://www.linux-mandrake.com/drakx/README for more technical information |
| Text Install | txt_bootnet.img: | DrakX supports a text mode installation. To use it, type: text at prompt of syslinux. (it's on the boot just after the graphical logo). If you want to use the old text mode install use : install from FTP and HTTP |
| Rescue | rescue.img | You need 2 disks, one for an install image as explain above, and one you create with the image rescue Boot with the install image and at first prompt type "rescue". Wait to be prompted for the rescue image and insert it. |
