Need some help with installing linux on a laptop...

EKmath · 09-18-2005, 08:57 PM

I got it from a linux book i bought. And yes, I booted it on my stationary computer so... I really have no idea at all what is wrong... It just seems that the laptop refuses to boot anything other than windows. And I find that hard to believe.

geese · 09-18-2005, 09:03 PM

ok, check your bios and ensure the CDrom is the first boot device.

EDIT - oh you did that all ready, ok not sure what else to do

EKmath · 09-18-2005, 09:20 PM

Yea, me too, no idea what is wrong... It just ignores the CD. Or it detects it, but then it says it's not a valid system disk.

djray77 · 09-19-2005, 03:03 PM

Is the Linux on a DVD or CD?? Reason I ask is because I had a similar problem when I burned a Linux DVD and try to install it on a computer with a CD-ROM.

Blue · 09-19-2005, 05:45 PM

Its possible that if you created the cd on your desktop that it might not work on your laptop. I've burned cds before and they worked fine on the machine used to burn but failed to work on another computer.

You might try burning it again or on another machine and try again.

Lordmord · 09-19-2005, 06:09 PM

I have encounted the same problem has you did. The problem could be that the cd isn't bootable. Make sure the linux you got is in the iso. format, or it could be that your cd has gone bad.

The solution to this is you may want to redownload the linux and burn it to the computer.

if the cd is working properly, another solution could be that you could first install windows and then parition the hard drive, and then install linux. After installing linux delete then parition drive that contains windows.

Hope this helps.

EKmath · 09-21-2005, 03:45 PM

The CD is a CD, not a DVD, and I did not burn it, it came with a book I bought about linux; "Readhat Linux 7.2 unleashed". So it's bootable, it boots on my stationary.
The problem is that I can't get into the install part of the process. Not with windows installed, and not on a wiped HDD. *Shrugs* I don't know...

geese · 09-21-2005, 06:29 PM

i found this site, maybe it might help. http://btmgr.sourceforge.net/about.html

if this does not work try - http://linux.simple.be/tools/sbm

09-18-2005, 09:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
geese Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: West Indies Posts: 68	ok, check your bios and ensure the CDrom is the first boot device. EDIT - oh you did that all ready, ok not sure what else to do Last edited by geese; 09-18-2005 at 09:06 PM.

09-19-2005, 05:45 PM	#15 (permalink)
Blue VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London Ontario Age: 35 Posts: 3,555	Its possible that if you created the cd on your desktop that it might not work on your laptop. I've burned cds before and they worked fine on the machine used to burn but failed to work on another computer. You might try burning it again or on another machine and try again. __________________ FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358

09-19-2005, 06:09 PM	#16 (permalink)
Lordmord Silver Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 174	I have encounted the same problem has you did. The problem could be that the cd isn't bootable. Make sure the linux you got is in the iso. format, or it could be that your cd has gone bad. The solution to this is you may want to redownload the linux and burn it to the computer. if the cd is working properly, another solution could be that you could first install windows and then parition the hard drive, and then install linux. After installing linux delete then parition drive that contains windows. Hope this helps. Last edited by Lordmord; 09-19-2005 at 06:12 PM.

09-21-2005, 06:29 PM	#18 (permalink)
geese Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: West Indies Posts: 68	i found this site, maybe it might help. http://btmgr.sourceforge.net/about.html if this does not work try - http://linux.simple.be/tools/sbm __________________ AMD 64 3200+ 939-pin * MSI K8N NEO4-F * 1GB RAM * 120GB HD * NEC 16X DVD+/-RW * GF6200 256M PCI-E * Thermaltake Venus 12 CPU fan OS - SuSE Pro 9.3 Registered Linux user # 395739 Last edited by geese; 09-21-2005 at 06:32 PM.

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09-18-2005, 08:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
EKmath New Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 13	I got it from a linux book i bought. And yes, I booted it on my stationary computer so... I really have no idea at all what is wrong... It just seems that the laptop refuses to boot anything other than windows. And I find that hard to believe.

09-18-2005, 09:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
EKmath New Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 13	Yea, me too, no idea what is wrong... It just ignores the CD. Or it detects it, but then it says it's not a valid system disk.

09-19-2005, 03:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
djray77 Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 30 Posts: 118	Is the Linux on a DVD or CD?? Reason I ask is because I had a similar problem when I burned a Linux DVD and try to install it on a computer with a CD-ROM.

09-21-2005, 03:45 PM	#17 (permalink)
EKmath New Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 13	The CD is a CD, not a DVD, and I did not burn it, it came with a book I bought about linux; "Readhat Linux 7.2 unleashed". So it's bootable, it boots on my stationary. The problem is that I can't get into the install part of the process. Not with windows installed, and not on a wiped HDD. Shrugs I don't know...