bootable cd?

joc_06

i dl'ed gentoo universal cd iso and mounted it using daemon tools and then burned it to cd using the windows cd burning software.
my question is : is this cd bootable because it doesnt seem to be. what do i need to do to create a bootable cd? what software is needed?
i have a lovely 2gig fat32 partition created for gentoo to go on so id appreciate some help please. i dont have any blank cds so itd be great if i could use this 2 install gentoo. thanks

RobertFoster

You need to go into your BIOS when the computer is starting up and set the cd drive to be 1st.

joc_06

ya i know that but its the actual way i burnt the cd thats the problem i think. i need some specialist burning soft like nero and burn in iso mode to get it bootable dont i??
also need ext2 or 3 for linux but thats not the issue here

eggshapedfred

check the cd in windows explorer. is it a list of directories and files or is it just the .iso file on the cd. if its the former then it should boot, if its the latter you need to burn it as an iso. if you have a knoppix cd around you could boot up with that, mount the partition with the gentoo iso on it and use k3b to burn the iso to cd. this is a bit convoluted though. does nero still offer a demo version? maybe you could use that. or buy the cds from the gentoo website...

joc_06

its a list of directories and files so it should be ok shouldnt it?

nadir

you may need to make an el torito bottable cd

joc_06

any idea how i might do that or what an el torito is?

just found this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q167685/
ive never heard of el torito. it must be ancient protocol? is it still needed?

nadir

its a type of a bootable cd format, nero can do it, i never had to use it myself, cause I think they way most OS bootable cds are layed out u dont need it.
Not sure, I'm basically talking through my arse, but I know there is some wierd kinda thing there, never got stuck at it myself, so I never learnt about it, it's 'possible' its your problem.
Also possible its somthing much simpler, like setting your bios to boot the cd first.

Fenster

Here is a good, clean guide to burning a bootable CD.

joc_06

got it sorted lads. problem with burning software is all. thanks
now ive to try to get my centrino to work under linux.
this is all prob for naught now anyway as the design industry seems to be moving to windows and exceed now. worth a go anyway.

eggshapedfred

you might try ndiswrapper for the centrino bit... don't know if it'll work but no harm trying..

Capt'n Midnight

Bit late but..

You could make a boot floppy that used loadlin.exe to load linux. And then use it as the bootable disk for the CDrom - with Nero or what have you. Not elegant mind you.