Downloaded DSL4.4.10-SYSLINUX.ISO and DSL4.4.10.ISO and md5 hash checks out. Burned as image to dvd. Wish to install to hard drive. Both of them boot to the same screen:

Scanning for USB devices...done
Can't find KNOPPIX file system, sorry.
Dropping you to a (very limited) shell.
Press reset button to quit.

What next?

It is from 2008, right? Methinks it is too much to expect it will be able to initialize a future HDD controller. Is your hardware from 2008, too?

IIRC, you are correct, Emerson.

Whatcha trying to install it on, Skippy1729? Can you post your stats so I can give you more relevant info?

4.4.10 is new enough to handle a SATA drive and I got it to install on a Lenovo X60 (circa 2006) with limitations (no network, either wired or wireless, no sound, and .mydsl extensions are....well, wonky) but it was more of a parlour trick than a useful computer.

My suggestion as a heavy duty hard core dsl geek would be to look for a vintage computer from the late '90s-early '00s so you can run the earlier releases off of CD too. My Thinkpad T20 is perfect, but for 4.4.10 you shouldn't have any trouble with something as new as a T40. They show up on eBay: sometimes as "immaculately restored to factory condition with a reserve of $175" and other times as "XP is updated as much as XP can. Selling this for parts because it's so slow but you might be able to fix it if you like to tinker. Minimum bid is $5".

You can use your modern PC to grab the .mydsl extensions from the web and put them on a flash drive or usb stick.

If you want something dsl-like for your modern PC, depending on your abilities and interests, you could look into antiX, Puppy, ConnochaetOS, SliTaz or just grab a Debian or Ubuntu netinstall and sudo apt-get xorg fluxbox jwm dillo sylpheed (insert your favourite lightweight package that is still maintained here) and maybe add a few PPAs here, a few .debs there, compile a bit of sourcecode if you know what you're doing and it's worth it to you, etc.

HTH

My hardware is an Asrock N68-GS4/USB3 FX mainboard, quad core AMD Athlon, 80 GB IDE with Ububtu 16.04, 60 GB IDE no operating system at present and a 500 GB SATA with Ubuntu 14.04.

What I am looking for is a linux operating system that will allow me to use my floppy drive without a neverending life and death struggle. I was hoping that DSL would be it.

Is there a more recent version of DSL than the one I have. Where to get it?

Regardless of my hard drives, I am wondering why the live CD wont boot to anything more that a "very limited" shell.

This is not about hard drives, it is about HDD controller your CD drive is connected to. The kernel on that CD is unable to access the CD drive because it has no driver for controller.

OK, my CD drive is SATA. It sounds like there are no newer DSL versions that might work with my HDD controller. Am I likely to hit the same stonewall if I try to make a bootable usb stick?

If this all is about accessing floppy then wouldn't it be easier to use a contemporary distro? What exactly is your floppy problem?

Please tell me a contemporary distro that works well with floppy drives (real ones, not USB). I have made dozens of attempts. Experts say try this, try that, none of it works. Eliminated all potential hardware problems, mainboard, cable, drive itself. Ubuntu sucks.

Never heard of floppy issues with Linux, and you are not describing the problem either. What exactly is wrong with floppy access?

I see. I tossed my floppy drives long time ago, so I can't do any testing. Have you tried if SystemRescueCd can access your floppy drive?

Thanks, it is worth a try.