The setup installation script either asks you or lets you set several pieces of information. First, you need to specify the source of the software. You can usually accomplish this step by by selecting Source from the setup menu when setup starts its automatic installation process. If you have a CD-ROM, it should have been activated during the boot process if the drivers were correct for your hardware. Select the CD-ROM option. You may be asked to further narrow down the type of CD-ROM you have on your system. Choose the exact type(or the one closest to it) and hope for the best. If you are installing from another disk drive partition (such as another Linux partition or a DOS partition), provide the full device and path names. Figure 3.8 shows the Source option choices presented from the setup menu. From here, you can select CD-ROM. If Linux didn’t identify your CD-ROM drive when it booted, you may be presented with another screen and asked to choose the type of CD-ROM drive your system has.

Figure 3.8.
The Source option on the setup menu lets you select where the Linux software will be read from.

The installation program then asks for the target of the installation. The target is where you want the software to be installed. The newly created Linux partition is probably the location you want, so enter the partition’s name. You will probably be asked whether you want to format that partition; answer yes. (Running mkfs or its variants does not format the partition for you.)

Next, Linux displays a list of the disk sets you can install. You may get to this screen through the normal installation process, or you can select Disk Sets from the setup menu. Choose the ones you want. The list of disk sets is usually a scrolling window, as shown in Figure 3.9. Make sure you scroll through the entire list and mark the disk sets you want to install.

Figure 3.9.
The scrolling list holds the names of each major package Linux offers.

Some setup versions let you further refine the list of utilities when the disk set is installed. As a last step, verify the information, and then let Linux install itself. If this process doesn’t start automatically, choose the Install option from the setup menu. Linux may double-check with you that you want to install the disk sets you’ve selected. This screen message looks similar to the one shown in Figure 3.10. This is your last chance to change your mind before Linux starts copying files to your hard drive. After you tell Linux to go ahead and install the software, watch for messages and prompts, and follow any on-screen instructions. If you are installing from a floppy disk, you will be prompted at intervals to change to the next disk in the disk set.

Figure 3.10.
The Linux installation routine usually stops and prompts you before it starts installing software.

As Linux installs software, it displays status screens like the one shown in Figure 3.11 whenever the disk set is changed. As each piece of software in a disk set is installed, its name, size, and a brief description is often displayed, as shown in Figure 3.12. Occasionally, you will be asked to choose whether to install a particular component, as shown in Figure 3.13. Choosing yes installs the package described on the screen; choosing no (use the scroll key to display the no option) skips that package and moves to the next.

Figure 3.11.
As Linux installs each selected disk set, setup displays the letter of the set. The e set being installed here is the GNU Emacs editor.

Figure 3.12.
Each package in a disk set that is installed by default is displayed in a status message, along with the size and brief description of the package.

Figure 3.13.
Some disk sets contain optional components. When one is encountered, you are presented with a screen like this one that describes the package and asks whether you want to install it.

Creating a Boot Disk

At the end of the installation routine, you may be prompted whether you want to create a boot disk. Figure 3.14 shows this screen from the Linux CD-ROM included with this book. The boot disk enables you to access the system at any time, especially if the normal boot process fails. You should always make a boot disk for emergency purposes. This disk is not the same as the boot floppy disk you made to start the installation (which is only useful when you reinstall from scratch).

Figure 3.14.
During the installation process, setup may ask you whether you want to create a boot disk.

When you choose to create a boot disk, Linux prompts you for a floppy disk, as shown in Figure 3.15. Insert a floppy disk in the drive and choose Yes. (Choosing No abandons the creation of the boot disk.) Linux then proceeds to copy the the kernel image and some extra information to the floppy disk. While Linux is creating the boot disk, it shows you a message like the one in Figure 3.16.

Figure 3.15.
When you choose to create a boot disk, Linux prompts you to insert a floppy disk in the drive and choose Yes.

Figure 3.16.
This screen shows the progress of the creation of the boot disk.