Linux Laptop w/ 3.5" Disk, USB, and No Hard Drive?

ryewell asks: "I have an IBM Thinkpad 390 Laptop, PII 266Mhz, 128 MB RAM, with USB 1.0 port and a 3.5 floppy drive being the most important stats I would assume for this question. So my hard drive died, and I've been using a DOS boot disk and a program called Mel to do my word processing.Would it be possible to boot the laptop in Linux using a 3.5 disk, then using drivers access the USB memory stick that had an adequate Linux system on it?" With USB thumb drives getting to be as large as 512 megs, memory sticks weighing in at 1 gig, and Compact Flash cards getting into the 2 gig range, this might not be such a bad idea. There's the Linux Mobile System that looks to implement something like this, but are there other distributions or similar projects that might be of interest? If you were going to put together a custom system for something like this, how would you do it?

"If Linux can be configured this way, I would need no hard drive, and the created docs/info could be saved on the USB drive memory stick. This way, no hard drive means no moving parts, which means better battery life, and I won't have to buy a hard drive which at the best deal I can find is about $130 US after taxes, shipping, etc. And how cool would it be to run a laptop off of a memory stick! Unfortunately, I know nothing about Linux, but this might be a cool problem to solve for those smart and knowledgeable enough to figure it out. Thanks for any help you can provide!"

Re:Why boot from floppy?

[vinit79]

If your BIOS will support it, why not remove the floppy from the equation and boot directly from the memory card/key/stick/whatever? A 1 GB key would allow for a Knoppix install and a good bit of data, and then you're word processing with Open Office.

Its a IBM Thinkpad 390 Laptop, PII 266Mhz, 128 MB RAM, with USB 1.0 port and a 3.5 floppy drive.
And u think the bios will support booting of a usb memory stick ????

Just think...

[kraksmokr]

Can you imagine a Beowulf cluster of these things?

Re:I would not use MemoryStick

[SquadBoy]

I hate to admit cause it makes me look like a dork but I've installed Debian off of my CoolPix. :)

Re:There is a more practical solution

[Anonymous Coward]

..and in other news today, prices on 4gb 2.4" drives skyrocket to unbelievable highs as 1000s make insane bids on ebays auction web site, it's not known what might of caused the sudden surge in interest.

A few new story ideas!

[brundlefly]

from the i-r-teh-cheapest-mutha-fucka-evah dept.

The power cord on my laptop just went fashizzle and I was wondering if anyone here could give me some advice how to run MacOS X on the digital clock on my Google shwag pen. I am hoping to spend no more than $.10 on parts for this. Oh, and I'd like to boot it remotely from my wireless MP3 server. Thanks in advance!

Digital Resistance ina babylon world

[solferino]

Thanks for the headsup on dyne:bolic. Enjoyed reading this part of their little intro -

dyne:bolic is RASTA software released free under the GNU General Public License.

This software is about Digital Resistance ina babylon world which tries to control and make a business out of the way we communicate, we share our interests, informations and knowledge.
The roots of the Rastafari movement are in resistance to slavery: this software is one step in the larger struggle for Redemption and Freedom from proprietary and closed-source software.
Much blessings in Jah luv to all those who resist. Selah.

RMS as a rastafarian prophet? Now it all makes sense.

Re:Why Bother?

[chegosaurus]

Whoah, for a moment there I thought you said you were in the bedroom, with your wife, and you wanted to *play with Python scripts*!