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Home > Archive > Linux Debian support > November 2006 > My floppy drive just died
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My floppy drive just died
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| I wouldn't care but I boot into Debian from fd0, using Grub. Until such
time as I can be motivated enough to drive to the next town to buy another
A drive, is there any way I can change the boot to work off the /mbr
without reinstalling? Or maybe there is another option?
I could stay in Linux forever but occasionally a friend or relative wants to
use my computer and.. well, you know.. Windows is complicated enough.
*ahem* 
--
A Bitey Copyleft Production ;p~~~
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| Peter J Ross 2006-11-23, 7:15 am |
| On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 01:19:21 +0000, Bitey <Bitey@batcave.rafters>
wrote in alt.os.linux.debian:
> I wouldn't care but I boot into Debian from fd0, using Grub. Until such
> time as I can be motivated enough to drive to the next town to buy another
> A drive, is there any way I can change the boot to work off the /mbr
> without reinstalling? Or maybe there is another option?
You need a bootable CD, not necessarily a Debian one.
Mount the root partition.
Chroot into it.
Configure and install grub. This may be as easy as running
grub-install /dev/hda (or sda or whatever), but I suggest checking
/boot/grub/menu.lst to make sure it includes everything you need.
> I could stay in Linux forever but occasionally a friend or relative wants to
> use my computer and.. well, you know.. Windows is complicated enough.
> *ahem*
Why not configure Grub to make Windows the default? A puzzled user
will see an odd menu for a few seconds before being returned to
familiar territory.
PJR :-)
--
_ _(o)_(o)_ _ | The fool hath said in his heart, "There is no Cabal."
.._\`:_ F S M _:' \_, | FSM: <http://www.venganza.org/>
/ (`---'\ `-. | AUK: <http://www.netcabal.com/auk/>
,-` _) (_, F_P | PJR: <http://insurgent.org/~pjr/>
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| On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 01:19:21 +0000, Bitey wrote:
> I wouldn't care but I boot into Debian from fd0, using Grub. Until such
> time as I can be motivated enough to drive to the next town to buy another
> A drive, is there any way I can change the boot to work off the /mbr
> without reinstalling? Or maybe there is another option?
>
> I could stay in Linux forever but occasionally a friend or relative wants to
> use my computer and.. well, you know.. Windows is complicated enough.
> *ahem*
1) I have a usb floppy around for when I need one.
2) I have four running computers in the house. Only one of them has a
bootable MS installed - and I don't even tell folks. They come to my house
and want to use a computer - they are welcome - just use the Linux that is
booted. So far, I've had no problems or complaints. Linux with a
'mainline' GUI like KDE or Gnome is not that different - they'll figure
it out.
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| ray posted this gem. Seriously...:
> On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 01:19:21 +0000, Bitey wrote:
>
>
> 1) I have a usb floppy around for when I need one.
Hey now, that's something that would have never entered my mind. Great
idea, Ray, and one that I will look into.
>
> 2) I have four running computers in the house. Only one of them has a
> bootable MS installed - and I don't even tell folks. They come to my
> house and want to use a computer - they are welcome - just use the Linux
> that is booted. So far, I've had no problems or complaints. Linux with a
> 'mainline' GUI like KDE or Gnome is not that different - they'll figure
> it out.
My step-daughter will be moving in with us at the end of the month. She
wants to learn how to use a computer. I am thinking I will start teaching
her what I know about Debian, instead of starting her out on Windows. Or,
do you (or anyone) think maybe that might be a mistake? I've been
throwing the pros and cons around in my mind but still would like to hear
other's opinions.
--
-=Bitey=- *Da2fy1 ChiX0r* vV''Vv http://biteybits.com
"Debian is the vanguard of the free software movement and I would
not have it any other way." ---Geico Caveman, alt.os.linux.debian
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| On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 16:27:10 +0000, Bitey wrote:
> ray posted this gem. Seriously...:
>
>
> Hey now, that's something that would have never entered my mind. Great
> idea, Ray, and one that I will look into.
>
> My step-daughter will be moving in with us at the end of the month. She
> wants to learn how to use a computer. I am thinking I will start teaching
> her what I know about Debian, instead of starting her out on Windows. Or,
> do you (or anyone) think maybe that might be a mistake? I've been
> throwing the pros and cons around in my mind but still would like to hear
> other's opinions.
How old is she? In my opinion, if someone is computer naive (sounds better
than ignorant, don't you think) it should be just as easy for them to
start with Linux. As I've mentioned, I installed Linux on the internet
computers at our local library in January of 2005. The patrons adjusted
easily and quickly - with no instruction. They just sat down and started
using Mandrake with KDE (I've since installed Kubuntu) and we have added a
four seat Userful station which uses RHEL and Gnome - I've yet to hear a
complaint. Mostly I think they are impressed with the stability. IMHO - MS
is fine as long as you keep it off the internet - network to the outside
world, and you're asking for trouble just trying to keep it running.
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| ray posted this gem. Seriously...:
> On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 16:27:10 +0000, Bitey wrote:
>
>
> How old is she? In my opinion, if someone is computer naive (sounds
> better than ignorant, don't you think) it should be just as easy for
> them to start with Linux. As I've mentioned, I installed Linux on the
> internet computers at our local library in January of 2005. The patrons
> adjusted easily and quickly - with no instruction. They just sat down
> and started using Mandrake with KDE (I've since installed Kubuntu) and
> we have added a four seat Userful station which uses RHEL and Gnome -
> I've yet to hear a complaint. Mostly I think they are impressed with the
> stability. IMHO - MS is fine as long as you keep it off the internet -
> network to the outside world, and you're asking for trouble just trying
> to keep it running.
She is an adult. I agree with everything you've posted. After learning
how to use Linux all she would have to learn about Windows is how to use
an anti-virus program, install a firewall, use a malware program, a trojan
program and when to do a defrag. </me giggling> Oh yeah, she would also
have to learn about how Windows bleeds RAM and what program to use to
defrag the memory instead of having to reboot. Methinks that about covers
it but I can't see her wanting to use Windows after learning Linux, unless
a place of employment requires it which, sad to say, most employers do.
--
-=Bitey=- *Da2fy1 ChiX0r* vV''Vv http://biteybits.com
"Debian is the vanguard of the free software movement and I would
not have it any other way." ---Geico Caveman, alt.os.linux.debian
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| ken scharf 2006-11-26, 1:12 pm |
| ray wrote:
> 2) I have four running computers in the house. Only one of them has a
> bootable MS installed - and I don't even tell folks. They come to my house
> and want to use a computer - they are welcome - just use the Linux that is
> booted. So far, I've had no problems or complaints. Linux with a
> 'mainline' GUI like KDE or Gnome is not that different - they'll figure
> it out.
>
Not too long ago my wife's Compaq-HP computer died (motherboard got
zapped, thank you FPL!) I did find a motherboard that would fit and
then had to order an OEM copy of WinXP so I could restore the machine
(thankfully the hard disk was NOT destroyed so she didn't loose any data).
While the machine was waiting for parts my wife couldn't access her
email, ebay, etc.... So I installed Ubuntu on a spare machine (older,
slower, etc) and let her use it until her computer was repaired. It
didn't take my wife too long to figure it out, she even 'discovered'
some of the games. A few web sites didn't work well (flash or something
missing), but otherwise it kept our sanity in check until she got her
widows box back. I might have to look for a kvm so she can have BOTH
machines (some of the games on the Ubuntu box are not available on
windows....).
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