14

Chapter 1. Steps to Get You Started

1.4. Can You Install Using the CD ROM?

There are several methods that can be used to install Red Hat Linux.

Installing from a CD ROM requires that you have purchased a Red Hat Linux 8.0 boxed set, or you

have a Red Hat Linux CD ROM, and you have a CD ROM drive. Most new computers will allow

booting from the CD ROM. If your system will support booting from the CD ROM, it is an easy way

to begin a local CD ROM installation.

Your BIOS may need to be changed to allow booting from your CD ROM drive. For more information

about editing your BIOS, see Section 3.3.1.

1.4.1. Alternative Boot Methods

If you cannot boot from the CD ROM drive, the following alternative boot methods are also available:

Local Boot Diskette

If you need a local boot diskette

2

, you must create it. The local boot disk image file,

boot.img

,

is located in the

images

directory on your Red Hat Linux CD ROM. Refer to Section 1.4.2, for

more information on making a boot diskette.

PCMCIA Boot Diskettes

You may need PCMCIA boot diskettes if you are using a PCMCIA device to install Red Hat

Linux. If you need PCMCIA boot diskettes, you must create them. Refer to Section 1.4.2 for

those instructions.

The following checklist can help you determine if you will need to create PCMCIA boot

diskettes:

You will install Red Hat Linux from a CD ROM, and your CD ROM drive is attached to your

computer through a PCMCIA card.

You will use a PCMCIA network adapter during the installation.

The PCMCIA boot diskette image files,

pcmcia.img

and

pcmciadd.img

, are located in the

images

directory on your Red Hat Linux/x86 CD ROM. Refer to Section 1.4.2 for more infor 

mation on making a boot diskette.

Note

USB Diskette Drive   You can also boot the Red Hat Linux installation program using a boot diskette

in a USB diskette drive (if your system supports booting from a USB diskette drive).

Note

Although it is not required to boot your installation, you may occasionally find that a driver diskette is

needed to continue with the installation. Appendix F explains why a driver diskette may be necessary

for your installation, and how to obtain one if needed.

2. A boot diskette can be a diskette you created to boot (or start) the installation program, or it can be a diskette

you create during the installation process that can later be used to boot the operating system. Normally, your

computer boots from a hard disk, but if the hard disk is damaged, you can boot the computer from a bootable

diskette.