How to install Linux onto an AT&T Globalyst 250P Laptop

This is a quick howto describing how to install Linux (DSL) onto an AT&T Globalyst 250P laptop.

Checklist

  • pcmcia nic (linux compatible, linksys pcmlm56 recommended)
  • 2 good 3.5 HD floppy disks
  • tomsrtbt floppy image
  • DSL frugal script
  • Internet connection

Install Steps

  • create a bootable floppy disk from tomsrtbt
  • boot tomsrtbt floppy
  • run fdisk and create linux swap and linux install partitions (e.g. fdisk /dev/hda)
    • swap /dev/hda1 (73MB)
    • dsl_install /dev/hda2 (64MB)
    • dsl_restore /dev/hda3 (MB = total disk capacity - (swap + dsl_install))
  • mkswap /dev/hda1
  • mke2fs /dev/hda2
  • mke2fs /dev/hda3
  • wget http://ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/distributions/damnsmall/current/frugal_lite.sh
  • run frugal script (e.g. sh ./frugal_lite.sh)
    • choose hda2 for iso
    • choose hda3 for poorman's install
  • insert blank floppy into drive
  • reboot with DSL floppy in drive and enter "install" at the prompt
  • choose frugal grub hard drive install
    • choose hda2 as target
    • choose live cd as source

Setup Backup/Restore Device

  • sudo mount /dev/hda2 /mnt/hda2
  • sudo vi /mnt/hda2/boot/grub/menu.lst
    • comment out every entry except for the one with line "DSL with mydsl ..."
    • remove "toram" from kernel line, since our ram is too small
  • sudo mount /dev/hda3 /mnt/hda3
  • sudo mkdir /mnt/hda3/optional
  • sudo chown dsl /mnt/hda3/optional

Hardware Configuration

LCD display:

  • make sure "vga=normal" is set in your grub entry
  • when prompted, select xvesa mode 640x480 24 bit

Pointer device:

  • when prompted, select ps2 two button (external ps2 mouse is strongly recommended, since the trackball is tacked on the front, lower side of this laptop)

Tips

myDSL:

  • don't bother installing .dsl extensions, they won't work if your ramdisk is too small.

  • install .uci extensions instead, because they install straight to your hard drive

  • use "/mnt/hda3/optional" instead of "/tmp" for extension downloads

  • load .uci extensions automatically

         /mnt/hda3/opt/bootlocal.sh:
     if [ -d /mnt/hda3/optional ]; then
   for mydsl_ext in /mnt/hda3/optional/.uci; do
    mydsl_app="${mydsl_ext##/}"
       EXT_LOADED=$(/bin/grep -c $mydsl_app /etc/mtab)
       if [ $EXT_LOADED -lt 1 ]; then
           /usr/bin/mydsl-load $mydsl_ext > /dev/null 2>&1
       fi
   done
     fi

DSL system:

  • Unmount file systems on reboot and shutdown 
      /mnt/hda3/opt/bootlocal.sh:
  /bin/ln -s /etc/init.d/mountfs /etc/rc0.d/S40umountfs
  /bin/ln -s /etc/init.d/mountfs /etc/rc6.d/S40umountfs
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