Linux Format forums

kevanf1 · LXF regular Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:34 pm Posts: 125

Has anybody had any success in running the smaller Linux distro's on stuff like Zip Disks? DSL should run on a 100mb Iomega (or clone) Zip Disk. While there are others that are a bit larger that should fit on a 250mb Zip Disk. But has anybody tried it? Does it work at an acceptable speed? Perhaps not for everyday use but as a tools disk?

How about an article on this subject form LXF? After all, Linux is excellent for keeping older technology/hardware up and running.

M-Saunders · Moderator Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:14 pm Posts: 2883

We did a roundup of mini-distros (suitable for old machines) in issue 68, if you have a copy!

Mike

kevanf1 · LXF regular Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:34 pm Posts: 125

Ah, of course...slaps head due to stupidity Wink

I do indeed have that copy...somewhere.... I'm actually in the middle of cataloguing all my Linux mag's and books but it's about somewhere.

How about a small piece on installing to a Zip disk though? There are probably a good few people who have Zip Drives but don't know how to get them to run on Linux. There is a quick HOW TO on the Ubuntu site for Ubuntu/Kubuntu (I wrote it Smile

my little contribution to the open source world) but it may vary for other distro's.

ladi · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 3:01 pm Post subject: RE: Small distro

kevanf1 · LXF regular Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:34 pm Posts: 125

Ah, is that internal drive or a parallel port one? Or possibly one of the USB drives? I have a couple of internal drives that I haven't fitted - brand new and got them very, very cheap. I should really have qualified my term when I mentioned the drive sorry about that.

ladi · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 7:40 pm Post subject: RE: Small distro

Mine's an internal drive that shares the IDE cable with my DVD writer. Of course. what I said won't be relevant if yours is not on an IDE interface.

kevanf1 · LXF regular Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:34 pm Posts: 125

No, I set it up using a parallel port Iomega Zip drive. In fact I've got two of those as well. One's a 100mb with the other being a 250mb. Here's a bit of history for you, the 250mb used to belong to a columnist here on LXF - good old Jono Bacon Smile

No doubt he'll be pleased to know it's still up and running and on a Linux tin.

The other two drives I have are both internal and I really must get around to installing them. I didn't realise that they went in without any other tweaking.