How do I install redhat from the harddrive? (got cd)

[theplanb]

I'll write what I need in point form

0. I'm a total newbie in the linux/unix world. And I'm not familiar with any commands or file structure.

1. Got 2 CD for RedHat linux 7.1 install. (one bootable)

2. Tried about 50 times to install but failed everytime with numerous errors that are too many to list. (I had no problem installing old slackware 7.0 but I want this redhat one because slackware didn't have much driver support)

3. I want to copy all the files (1.3GB?) in CD to my Hard (3GB) and boot->install from hard.

4. I partitioned using FDISK in the linux CD but it is not yet formatted. (I don't know how to. I think it's mke2fs command.. but when I do that it takes about 10 seconds to complete.. isn't that bit too short for a hard format?)

5. Partition details are
/dev/hda1 300MB Linux kernel to be installed (to be booted from after install)
/dev/hda2 100MB Swap file
/dev/hda3 1.2GB to be mounted on /usr
/dev/hda4 1.4GB to copy all the files to and boot from (only when installing)

6. The readme file in the cd says I need to mount /mnt/cdrom (whatever that means) do the following..
cp -a /mnt/cdrom/RedHat /directory/name
then umount /mnt/cdrom
then do the same for second CD.

7. I don't knwo how to do that above..
(I don't even know what mounting means..)

8. How do I make the harddrive bootable when I just copy files to there?
I mean.. there is yet no file/directory structure in there.
I know I can copy files to just formatted hard if I was in dos..but in linux I don't know. And I don't know how to make it bootable.

9. I think I need a bootable floppy that will allow me to copy files in the cdrom to the hard drive. I tried booting from the CD, but I think the shell I get from the redhat CD doesn't allow me to whatever I need to do.
I didn't even get the chance to login as root. Or..did I..
I tried the cp command in the redhat cd shell, but it only returned as..->
/
a backslash.. or something like that.

10. Here is a summary form

Need to boot from linux floppy.
Need command/utility to mount cdrom and copy files in the cdrom to the partitioned hard drive.
Need to make the hard bootable
need to install redhat from the harddrive then.

Oh plz plz help me!!!

 

[Bellgoody]

My first time in this forum. I have exactly the same questions as you. I own a small store and figure it's time to put a linux box on the floor. My customers deserve better than the XP jihad. I look forward to seeing what information you glean.

Good luck.

 

[ugh]

First of all, does your system support booting from the CDROM drive?

 

[lucidguy]

Tell us the very first error that you received. You're probably getting a case of cascading errors, where the initial error is causing other unrelated things to go haywire.

 

[stratusfear]

Have you tried setting your bios to 'first boot device': hard drive ?

 

[theplanb]

I don't remember tha errors.. they were..very complecated..
Yes, I can boot from the CD, but I want to install from hard drive for some reason.

 

[ugh]

<< I don't remember tha errors.. they were..very complecated..
Yes, I can boot from the CD, but I want to install from hard drive for some reason. >>



Don't want the easy way eh? I don't really know whether you can install from a hard drive or not, but I guess you can do it by copying all the RPMs into a FAT partition and then boot from a boot disk and point the source to the FAT partition where the RPMs reside.

Not sure whether that'll work or not though.

 

[ugh]

Double decker..

 

[lucidguy]

<< I don't remember tha errors.. they were..very complecated.. >>



Try installing again. Get a smarter friend to accompany you, and make sure both of you stare at the monitor. This way, if you can't remember what the error messages said, maybe he can.

We can't magically guess what the error is without knowing what the error messages are.

Finally, you will already be repartitioning your HD and resizing your partitions and so on in the process of installing Linux. The last thing you want to do is to start the installation from the very same hard disk you will be screwing with.