How to Install Slackware Linux on a Laptop

Slackware is as easy to use on a laptop as Windows.

Slackware is a Linux distribution that was originally created in 1993 by Patrick Volkerding. It is the oldest surviving version of Linux and is known for its "keep it simple, stupid" approach to emulating Unix. It delivers nearly the same ease of use and functionality as is found in Windows. Slackware, because of its low resource requirements, runs well with older computers, including laptops. Installing Slackware on a new laptop, however, will make it run even faster than normal.

Instructions

Acquire the installation disc

1. Go to the Slackware website (see Resources) and click on the "Get Slack" link. Select whichever link corresponds to your country, and choose the website that appears to be closest to your location. Download the DVD installation image.

2. Use your favorite DVD burning software to burn the installation image to DVD. Use a DVD-RW if you want to re-use the DVD.

3. Label your DVD "Slackware Linux Installation" when the burning process is complete. Store the DVD in an appropriately labeled jewel case until you are ready to use the disc.

Install Slackware on your laptop

1. Insert the Slackware Linux installation into your laptop's DVD drive. Select the option to boot from CD/DVD when the laptop powers up. At the "Boot:" prompt, hit the Enter key on your keyboard. At the "Enter 1 to select a keyboard map" prompt, hit the Enter key.

2. Type "root" at the "slackware login:" prompt. Type "cfdisk" and hit Enter, then select "Delete" to remove any existing partitions and delete existing data on your laptop's hard drive. Select "New," then select "Primary" to create a new Linux partition. Write down the number that is presented in the next prompt and subtract 1,000 from that number. Type the resulting number in place of the one in the prompt and hit Enter. This will create your Linux operating system partition.

3. Select "Bootable" so that "Boot" appears under the "Flags" column near the top of the screen. Select "Write." Type "yes" and hit Enter to confirm. Click the Down arrow to select the entry under "FS Type" that is still marked "Free Space" and select "New." Select "Primary" and hit Enter twice. Select "Type" and hit Enter, then press any key. Type in "82" at the prompt and hit Enter again. This will create your Swap partition, which Linux needs. Select "Write" and hit Enter. Type "yes" and hit Enter to confirm. Select "Quit" to finish preparing your hard drive.

4. Type "setup" at the prompt and hit Enter. Select "Addswap" and hit Enter twice. Select "Yes" at the prompt and hit Enter twice. Select the first Linux partition at the "Select Linux installation partition" and hit Enter. Select "Format" and hit Enter at the next screen. Accept the default in the "Select filesystem" screen. At the "Source Media Selection" screen, select "Install from a Slackware CD or DVD" and hit Enter twice to skip the next screen.

5. Accept the defaults at the "Package Series Selection" screen. At the "Select Prompting Mode," choose "Full" or choose "Expert" if you wish to customize the packages you want to install. Choosing the "Full" mode will allow you to walk away and do other things while the process completes on its own. This will take at least an hour.

6. Choose "Skip" at the "Make USB Flash Boot" screen. Select "Simple" at the "Install LILO" screen. In the seven subsequent screens hit Enter to accept all defaults. In the "Enter Hostname" screen type in the single-word alphanumeric name you want to give your computer and hit Enter. In the next screen, type in your ISP's domain name and hit Enter four times to accept all default settings. In the "Confirm startup services..." select the services you want to run and hit Enter six times to accept default settings. Type in your root password and hit Enter twice. Pick "Exit" at the main menu.

7. Reboot your laptop by typing "reboot" at the prompt. When your laptop reboots, Slackware will be ready to run.

References

• Distrowatch: Slackware

Resources

• Slackware Linux