installing yellowdog linux without macos

[kandqofc]

I was given a powerpc 6500 with out any installation discs and the macos installation is completely hosed. I am trying to get a yellow dog linux cd I downloaded to boot by pressing and holding C when it starts, but it won't boot and asks for a floppy instead. does anyone know how to get the cd to boot or at least where I can find a boot floppy for yellowdog linux?

[mangeli]

I'm not a mac user, so I don't know for certain, but are you sure the cd drive can read the cd? Did you burn the disc/get it from a friend, or is it an official distro?

I know my older PC had a problem with the cd I had used (it was a cdrw disc) and I had to hook the HD up to a different box to install it.

[kandqofc]

I'm not a mac user either. That's why I want to put linux on it. Anyways I burned the iso I downloaded straight from yellow dog onto a 74 minute CD-R. The file system is iso-9660, which I looked in the manual the mac came with and it said the mac could read iso-9660 CDs. I don't know of anyone who has a mac so I could test it out.
I can't do a hard drive copy because I have two PCs and that one mac. Macs require some goofy partion format that I tried to get my PC to read.

[GiGoPleX]

maybe the machine is screwy, but i suspect you need BootX or (if that machine has a G3 chip in there) Yaboot; the open firmware in the machine can read ISO even if the MacOS is hosed but without bootX, which basically bootstraps the linux kernel into RAM, a CD-ROM alone is not gonna fly. i may have it wrong but that's where I'd start looking. you can download bootx or yaboot (it's small) at yellowdoglinux.com, and they have instructions on how to use them. BootX is for oldies (i think your machine qualifies) while yaboot is for the New World machines like the iMac DV, new G4s, and cubes. . . . /peace out

[alfredo]

you will have to use BootX. The Mac uses HFS and HFS+ filesystem. You will have to get the bootx etention and control panel to install. If you can, you have a chance.

First, boot the machine with the option & apple key depressed. this will prompt rebuild the desktop. Also run disk first aid if you can. it is in the utility folder. I am sure you can find a home made boot disc from you local computer club. you might even find somone who can let you put a version of the OS on there so you can install Linux without the hassles. It never hurts to have a Mac partition for things like LinuxDisc. Let me know if you need a copy. It comes in handy.

YDL is very good.

[kandqofc]

where on yellowdoglinux.com is bootx because i looked and found only BootX_1.2fc1.sit and that's too big to be a floppy image.

oh, and alfredo, your are offering me a copy of what?

[alfredo]

LinuxDisks. It is a utility for the MacOS that allows you to access the Linux partitions. It works on YDL but not on LinuxPPC2000. If you need a file from Linux and you don't want to reboot, You open the directory containing the file and drag and drop it into the MacOS. You can do it in the other direction. I don't use it much, but if I want to put some graphics files into Linux, it is a quick way to do it.

It is not the preferred way to do the job, but I have not had any trouble with it. It is not being supported or updated anymore as far as I know. People just keep it and pass it on. But as always, use at your own risk.

[kandqofc]

but i don't have macos

[alfredo]

It's not that hard to find. I am sure some Mac fiend in your area will give you a hand.

[Moldy]

What type of mac do you have? that is a bit help to helping you.
(my job is to fix macs)

[kandqofc]

If you looked at my first post you would have read it is an apple powerpc 6500.

[Moldy]

might have some cd's around the house...
mac os 8 will boot it, then you can make a small partition to boot with...
or you can make a floppy with a small version of the system and finder with drive setup on it.

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