[AbvAvgUser]

I have 40GB HD with Pentium IV 1500 MHz with 128 MB RAM.

My HD is divided into 4 partitions of 10GB each. Win98SE is on the primary partition and the rest are all logical partitions.

I want to install PCQ Linux 7.1 (provided by a reputed magazine in India called PC-Quest) which is based on Red Hat Linux 7.1.

I will have to install it on one of the logical drives (F:, which is kept empty for this). So, I will not be able to use LILO and I will have to use bootable floppies. Now floppies are known to get unusable in very few days. Can I make a bootable CD from the floppy?

I have a Plextor 16x10x40x CD-RW drive which I am using with Win98SE. Nero 5.5 is my burner software. Can I use any CD burner in Linux to do this?

[lynch]

I'd be prepared to wager,the 1st cd you have is bootable.
Most retail versions of the popular distros dont even ship boot disks anymore:the cd is bootable and has more functionality than a 1.44MB floppy could have.
lynch

[pvc9]

I second what lynch has posted! The PC Quest Linux Cds should be bootable.

BTW, I dont understand this -

So, I will not be able to use LILO

Why do you think so? There should be no problems installing either LILO or the other bootloader GRUB.

[lynch]

That had me wondering,too.You can always change the default OS in Lilo or grub after installation.If this is based on RH 7.1 then it should be Lilo.
It sounds like you're going to install Linux on a fat32 partition(lynch resists the urge to go out the door, screaming into the night )but I'd advise against it.You should just delete that empty partition and let Linux install on the empty space you've created.It will format as ext2,the native FS for Linux.
Also,Linux will install and boot quite well from a logical partition.Just tell it when prompted to install on available free space,preserving windows.But to answer your original question you can use the SysLinux program to make bootable CDs.(Actually,you'll find if you follow the link that there are 3 different programs to make bootable media,but you'll figure it out.)
Well,it's off to work in the Western hemisphere
HTH
lynch

[AbvAvgUser]

Okay here are the clarifications.

First, PCQ Linux CD is bootable, but on boot, it immediately starts with installation. It doesn't take me to my Linux Installation / Linux GUI.

Second, my HD is 40GB. Normally HD can have only two actual partitions. Rest all are logical partitions. I don't know how clear I am here in explaining this. But My HD has a primary partition of 10GB and the next partition of 30GB. This 30 GB is divided into 3 partitions of 10 GB each. So lynch is right here, I will be installing Linux on a FAT32 partition. This installation of Linux is compatible with FAT32 partition.

LILO is not possible because this is a logical parition and its a FAT32 partition. I cannot delete or reallign partitions because all the other partitions has some data/applications on them. Only this last partition is free and blank.

I want to try out Linux on my present setup only because there is no scope for any change there. This edition of Linux is FAT32 compatible and can be installed on that. Only problem then is that I will have to use bootable floppies that will take me to my Linux GUI because I cannot use LILO. Since floppies go bad within a blink of an eye at time, I want to make a bootable CD instead. But don't know how to make it.

Hope I have been clear about this.

[pvc9]

From your post,

Your 40 GB HDD is divided into 4 partitions. 1 of them is the Primary DOS Partition which is 10 GB, the rest 30 GB is the Extended DOS Partition which is further divided into 3 10 GB Logical DOS Drives. Now the 3rd 10 GB Logical DOS Drive is free/blank/empty!

You can safely delete the single partition, which will not effect the data in other partitions/drives. From your post, its clear that the Linux version you've is FAT32 compatible. I might be wrong, but its always better to install Linux on its own file system...which is ext2. Now you can install LILO or GRUB or use any 3rd party bootmanagers as well.

If I can suggest, delete the last 10 GB partition, then create 1 Logical DOS Drive which is of 5 GB, finally install Linux on the other 5 GB(can be ext2, FAT32 - as you wish). Frankly speaking, allocating 10 GB of HDD space only for Linux is probably wasting valuable amount of disk space. If you're only installing Linux to try it and have fun then 3 GB disk space is more than enough! I installed RH Linux 7.1 on a 2 GB HDD!!! It works great. Np at all!

Hope I'm clear, if you need more info, I'll be more than glad to help!

[AbvAvgUser]

Whatever partititions and set-up I have done is as per an article in the same magazine. So I don't think I will tinker around with it at present.

I know I will compromise on speed (and may be some things more) if I install Linux on FAT32 partition. But I don't seem to have any alternative at present. I really can't touch the partitions and I don't even have much experience doing that.

I know 10GB is quite a bit more than what a Linux installation needs. But the full installation itself is about 3 GB. On top of that I also want to try out many softwares on this. I also want to try out programming and everything else that I can think of. So I will live with some extra space and be comfortable. If possible, I am going to store MP3s as well here.

Anyway, ultimately I come back to my point. Without disturbing this present setup of partitions, I can install Linux but will need floppies to boot. Is there a way by which I can make a Linux bootable CD from this Linux bootable floppy?

Thank you for your time.

[pvc9]

I've never created/tried any. I used the original Redhat Linux 7.1 cds so had np at all.

Check this -

Create a Linux boot CD

[lynch]

Linux can be installed on a primary or logical partition,regardless of the filesystem type.The bootloader,be it Lilo or Grub,should be installed in the Master Boot Record,where it will also store the information needed to boot windows.You dont really need to make a bootable CD because the 1st CD in the set is bootable.If you made a boot floppy (and took proper care to store it in a safe place and re-create it on a regular basis)it would last a long time.
But you dont need to alter the partitions or use floppies to boot into Linux every time you want to use it.Let the installer put Lilo on the MBR and you can edit the configuration file for Lilo to boot into either OS by default.It's really not that hard
I read this at the PCQuest site and it more or less agrees with what pvc9 and I have been saying.Except it's not as hard to do as this fellow makes it out to be.
Both links provided will show you how(in slightly different ways)to make a bootable CD.
lynch

[AbvAvgUser]

I have been through both the links. The PCQ issue that carried Linux is still with me and so are the CDs.

Since you guys are so strong in your opinions, I (alias "this fellow"!! )will once again try to install Linux and try to install LILO as well. But as far as I remember, last time, the option to load LILO was disabled and it specifically told me to insert floppies in the drive which will be used for booting.

Anyway, I may be wrong. I will try again and come back with my experience.

Thanks.

[pvc9]

This is off-topic, are you using the cds from PC Quest December edition? Just curious...

[lynch]

I was referring to the "fellow" who wrote the PCQ article I posted a link for.Sorry for the confusion,LOL. It's just that he seemed to make Linux a bit frightful.
lynch

[AbvAvgUser]

pvc9:
No they are PCQ CDs July 2001. Its a set of 2 CDs. PCQ December 2002 CD has just come in my hands and it doesn't have any Linux installation in it. By the way, I have all the CDs of PCQ from October 98 onwards, chronologically boxed and stacked . I also have all Digit CDs of 2002 and a few from 2001. Since you are from India, you must be knowing about this two magazines.

lynch:
I have taken it in a lighter vein anyway. Its alright. . By the way, however simple a software/OS may be, for the one who doesn't know, its extremely difficult!! It becomes simple as soon as you know. So I am trying to make Linux simple for me with the help of you guys

[lynch]

Always glad to help
lynch

[pvc9]

WOW! Thats cool.

All the CDs from 98