Boot Floppy (Work Around Method)

Support knowledgebase (ke_bootdisk-slow)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Versions up to (including) 7.3

Symptom:

When you try to boot from the floppy disk or CD1 included in SuSE Linux, you obtain the error message:

Loading initdisk.gz....Boot failed

Cause:

Standard boot images are created in "compact" format to enable a smooth and quick boot process. Modern PCs can usually work with this format without difficulties.

However, old or certain hardware components (e.g. some notebooks) cannot work with this format because it involves a very intense access to the boot medium (floppy/CD-ROM).

Solution:

Use instead a boot image created without "compact", such as the file "boot" in the directory "/suse/images" on the first CD.

You can make a boot floppy from this file by means of rawrite under DOS (CD 1, directory /dosutils/rawrite) or with dd under Unix/Linux.

If you use a notebook and you need PCMCIA support, try Image for Thinkpads (CD1 /disks/thinkpad), which contains PCMCIA modules.
Keywords: BOOT FLOPPY, BOOT DISK, LILO, COMPACT_NO, SYSLINUX, BOOT, BOOTFAILED, NOTEBOOK, INITDISK

Categories: Installation , Kernel , Hardware

SDB-ke_bootdisk-slow, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 29. Sep 1998
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 01. Jul 2002 by ke (sdb_gen 1.40.0)