Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

mini-jaguar · Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 402

I got this pretty much anything I would try to boot with the CD. It also said something like "put in a system disc".

The computer is a Getac CA25 touchpad computer running a Pentium III mobile, I believe the model came out in 2001. It also has this weird Windows 98 version (for some reason with an XP splash screen) installed.

I figured out how to make it boot from CD from the BIOS, but nothing I would put in would boot. I tried several Puppies, DSL, ReactOS, etc.

musher0 · Posted: Fri 27 Apr 2012, 12:39 Post subject:

Hello.

Has the CD drive ever been cleaned? For a buck or so, you can buy a CD that has 2-3 little brushes on it. It cleans the heads.

Your CD drive could also be dead...

BFN.

Makoto · Posted: Sun 29 Apr 2012, 18:32 Post subject:

mini-jaguar: Did you create (burn) all of those CDs, yourself? If so, check the contents of any one of the CDs, and make sure it's not simply a single file (probably <filename>.iso) in the root folder/directory of the CD. If that's the case, the CD wasn't created correctly.

Flash · Posted: Sun 29 Apr 2012, 19:23 Post subject:

I'm with Makoto; it sounds to me like none of the Puppy CDs were correctly burned. Have you been able to boot any CD in the computer? (Any Windows installation CD, for instance. You don't have to follow through and install Windows -- heaven forbid; just, if you have a Windows installation CD, see if it will boot.)

mini-jaguar · Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 402

Yes Flash, you have a good point about trying the Windows install disc. It didn't work, so now I'm thinking the problem is with the cable linking the CD player to the PCMCIA card or the card itself, but the drivers seem to be in the computer.

I did clean the eye of the CD player, and the CDs all boot on other computers, in fact they were not even burned with the intent to use on that thing. It seems to be in really good condition anyways, except the cable looks a bit twisted.

I guess I'll try the CD player with another computer and see if the problem is there. It's kind of cool that it also works as an audio CD player with a headphone output, I'll have to try that function as well.

As for Windows, 98SE is indeed installed on that computer with a bunch of drivers (and an XP splash screen for some stupid reason). What's really annoying is that the USB stick driver is not installed.

ICPUG · Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 1277 Location: UK

RetroTechGuy · Joined: 15 Dec 2009 Posts: 2298 Location: USA

Flash · Posted: Thu 03 May 2012, 16:03 Post subject:

Wait a minute, this is an external, PCMCIA CD player? No wonder nothing will boot from it. Laughing

Is there a connection on the motherboard for a regular (ATA or SATA) internal CD, or better yet DVD, player? Can you get into the BIOS and see if booting from CD is an option?

I can't help wondering how Windows was installed. Confused

mini-jaguar · Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 402

Actually the CD player seems broken, I tried playing audio CDs with the output jack connected to my stereo and it didn't work, although it physically looks brand new or almost (not that it means a lot and I know it's been used). I am quite sure it worked before though, and Windows was probably installed with it.

Yeah, I got to the BIOS and can boot from CD, but it seems I didn't really have what to boot from. Even a USB CD player needs a driver and I knew about USB sticks before since it isn't my first Win98 machines.

I guess I will open it it up sometime maybe just to take out the battery (it's pretty useless, works for about 4 seconds on a full charge-24 hour charge or something, otherwise maybe less than a second).

It does seem to have some sort of expansion bay for an internal CD or something. Also has 128 MB RAM. Might try to take some stuff from my old broken Toshiba Pentium III laptop and see if I can install them in this thing, if I can't revive the Toshiba. Hmmm....

mini-jaguar · Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 402

This is getting more complicated. I opened it up, and there's not enough room in the expansion port for even a floppy, never mind a CD player. It looks pretty well built inside though, it was made for industrial purposes.

Connecting to the internet is going to be a pain, the only possibilities I see are a phone plug for the built-in modem and infrared. I might just find someone with an infrared device send me the driver for USB drives, although that'll just let me use Windows programs because I won't be able to boot from USB with the existing BIOS, and I don't know if the newer version allows this either.

Lazy JW · Joined: 21 Dec 2011 Posts: 70