[tlinux-users:07803] Re: Installing SuSE 10.0: kernel loads but CD-ROM won't mount

Hi John,

I have a Satellite Pro 430CDS that was given to me earlier this year. It
is now running Debian 3.0 (Woody).

It has the CD-ROM installed & the FDD is in an external caddy that
connects on the left of the machine.

I think that you need to be able to make a boot floppy in order to
proceed or SUSE 10 is a bit too new for the machine.

Don't be afraid to use an earlier version of your chosen distro - I'm
not sure of the situation on the 440CDT, but my 430CDS can't understand
the compression format used with isolinux (used to make installation CDs
boot). In order to get anything happening I had to make a boot floppy on
my PC & select the "safe" image, which uses (on Debian Woody) the 2.2
kernel & "a safe, slow & stupid version of syslinux". 

It is also worth bearing in mind that these machines are quite old &
have limited disc space - I have a simple X installation running Ice
window manager & dfm file manager - this works a treat.

You could also try damnsmalllinux (www.damnsmalllinux.org), a 50MB
distro that runs from a CD with the option of a HDD installation. I
tried this too & it worked well - it uses a 2.4 kernel but my 430CDS had
no problem with it.

If your 440CDT can actually boot unaided from the CD-ROM (mine simply
cannot) then damnsmalllinux might just work (if not, you can download a
boot floppy image from their website).

I hope you have success in getting Linux onto your laptop. It took me a
little while, but it worked in the end & I now have a useable (& free
:-)) laptop & a nice, warm feeling inside.

Also, try a Google search for something like "Linux 440CDT" - I was
pleasantly surprised when I tried it for mine.

Best wishes,

Gavin.

On Wed, 26 Apr 2006 11:32:43 +0100
"John Richmond" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I am a total newbie to linux <http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/#> and
> i would appreciate any assistance. I am trying to install SuSE 10.0 on
> to a Toshiba Satellite 440CDT with a built in CD-ROM. I changed the
> BIOS to boot off the installation Disk 1 and proceeded with the first
> few steps successfully such as setting the keyboard. But then I got an
> error message saying "Unable to mount CD-ROM". The CD-ROM waas in the
> machine and running and the installer had just booted off it!
> Unfortunately I cannot make a bootable floppy and have no built in
> network support (PCMCIA card comes later).
> 
> TIA