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GaryRouth · 05-28-2003, 02:27 AM

Hi easy11

Try this link & see if it helps direct you to a Red Hat bootable floppy. It sounds like you've deleted the Windows/DOS partitions already, so now you just want to format some Linux partitions and start an install from the CD. I believe Red Hat's bootable floppy will let you do that.

http://www.linuxdocs.org/HOWTOs/Boot...O/premade.html
_______________
There is a possible complication, though: if the Compaq laptop's non-Dos partition is gone, you'll need to re-create it. It stores some of the Bios information and proprietary Compaq system information. I don't have a link handy for it, but on the Compaq support site, there should be a download for the "F10 Bios Setup and Diagnostics" (or something like that) for your model. And as the title suggests, on most Compaqs, it's F10 that allows you to bring up the Bios screens.

If you can get into the Bios, then Compaq's partition is OK, and you can set the laptop to boot from a bootable RedHat CD or floppy, either one.

Best of luck
. . .Gary

05-28-2003, 02:27 AM	#2
GaryRouth Member (12 bit) Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Woodland Hills, CA (suburb of Los Angeles) Posts: 4,014	Hi easy11 Try this link & see if it helps direct you to a Red Hat bootable floppy. It sounds like you've deleted the Windows/DOS partitions already, so now you just want to format some Linux partitions and start an install from the CD. I believe Red Hat's bootable floppy will let you do that. http://www.linuxdocs.org/HOWTOs/Boot...O/premade.html _______________ There is a possible complication, though: if the Compaq laptop's non-Dos partition is gone, you'll need to re-create it. It stores some of the Bios information and proprietary Compaq system information. I don't have a link handy for it, but on the Compaq support site, there should be a download for the "F10 Bios Setup and Diagnostics" (or something like that) for your model. And as the title suggests, on most Compaqs, it's F10 that allows you to bring up the Bios screens. If you can get into the Bios, then Compaq's partition is OK, and you can set the laptop to boot from a bootable RedHat CD or floppy, either one. Best of luck . . .Gary