[pocket-linux] Re: Copy Pocket Linux disks to floppy

[David Horton]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: James Maki [mailto:jwmaki at att.net]
> Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 07:14 PM
> To: 'Support for Pocket Linux Guide'
> Subject: RE: [pocket-linux] Re: Copy Pocket Linux disks to floppy
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: QU CHEN
> 
> >
> > Jim wrote:
> > >I copied the disk with dd if=ch3-rootdisk.image.gz of=/dev/fd0 bs=1k
> > >When I try to mount /dev/fd0 the disk, I get an error
> > >mount: you must specify the filesystem type.
> >
> > >BUT, the disk does work! I had made a mistake compiling the kernel >w/out
> > RAM disk support to confuse the issue.
> >
> > It is really good to hear that you get the stuff work. Also I was
> > encountering
> > this problem by a not well compiled kernel.
> >
> > But for the mount/umount, still I have to know which command you
> > have used.
> > Have you used "mount /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy", or "mount -t ext2
> > /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy"?
> > (assume /mnt/floppy exists)
> >
> > QU Chen
> >
> 
> To QU Chen, Dave and Dave,
> 
> Thanks for the responses, comments and help. To preface this reply, let me
> say again that I am a Linux newbie, neophyte and amateur. I am more skilled
> using application software than operating system software. That said, my
> desire is to become more proficent with Linux and I think that requires a
> more under the hood approach. I have downloaded and installed Fedora Core 1
> on a spare system to experiment and am working through the Pocket Linux
> setup.
> 
> I am not sure what system settings are important, so I may give more
> information that necessary to answer the questions and comments. Sorry if
> some of the information is a repeat of earlier posts.
> 
> I work in Gnome with a BASH console. Not the native command line interface.
> Today, after shutting down the system last night and re-booting this
> morning, I cannot duplicate the problems I had with mounting and unmounting
> the floppy. See the example below the next quoted section. Am I using the
> mount command incorrectly?
> 
> > James,
> >
> >     The reason you can not list the contents of the floppy that
> > you put the ch3-rootdisk.image.gz on is because it is compressed
> > with the gzip binary.  This is like ZIP files in the Windows world.
> > Second, dd command is like an image "burning" utility.  It creates
> > something like an ISO for CDRoms, but for floppies instead.  You
> > couldn't browse the contents of an ISO without special software.
> > Hope this answered your question.
> >
> > - Dave Henderson
> 
> With the chapter 3 root disk in the floppy--
> cd /
> mount /dev/fd0
> cd /mnt/floppy
> ls
> 
> gives the following output:
> bin
> dev
> floppytext.txt
> lost+found
> 
> so it does seem to be readable. I understand the concept Dave Henderson is
> discussing, but perhaps I misunderstood his comments.
> 
> I can then umount /dev/fd0 without a problem. Sometimes I get the message
> umount: /mnt/floppy: device is busy. I think I may have JUST tracked that
> down to NOT changing the directory (from /mnt/floppy)! I am not sure where
> my previous problems have been originating. I really appreciate this list.
> The questions and comments make me investigate what I am doing to justify
> the comments and results. I often come to a resolution with repeating the
> procedure but cannot always identify the source of the original problem.
> 
> I hope to be able to move on to the Architect Toolkit when I have "mastered"
> Pocket Linux. Thanks to all.
> 
> Jim
> 

I think you're right on about the "umount: device busy" error.  If you don't 'cd' out of the /mnt/floppy directory you'll be getting error messages.

If your intention is to mount the compressed floppy then Dave Henderson is right, it will not work because it's a gzip file not an actual filesystem.  But, if you skip ahead to Appendix A there is some discussion of mounting compressed floppies by uncompressing them into a ramdisk and then mounting the ramdisk device.

Dave Horton