Laptop boot problem

P

Paul Gr

New Member
Laptop is a Toshiba Satellite L-350.
I was given this laptop without a hard disk drive but with a 2 gig memory stick.
I had a hard disk drive which I put into it, and it must have had Windows on it because the laptop tried to read the disk drive but reported problems, no real surprise there.
I had the idea of installing Linux on it, and put a Linux CD in it, but it wouldn't read it (I changed the bios settings to read the DVD drive first.)
I even tried a diagnostic disk in it, but it still wouldn't read it.
I get a more or less continuous bleep when it hits a problem.
One thing I haven't tried is to put a USB with Linux on it, and see if it reads this.
I thought that the memory could be the problem, but I took it out and tried to start it without any memory, still no good.
Any tips appreciated.
 
That laptop is about 13 years old and not even worth fixing. A computer won't even boot without memory in it.
 
johnb35 said:
That laptop is about 13 years old and not even worth fixing. A computer won't even boot without memory in it.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks, maybe I'll put it on Ebay for spares or repairs, I see that some sellers are asking about $5 for a cover for the memory compartment.
 
How'd you create the boot CD, and which one? If you burned it as GPT/UEFI or something then it's not going to boot and you'd need MBR/BIOS instead.

Some laptops are old enough where they won't boot via USB, I have a Gateway from 2006 which is like that. You can always install Linux to a disk on another computer and then move it over to the laptop post-installation.
 
beers said:
How'd you create the boot CD, and which one? If you burned it as GPT/UEFI or something then it's not going to boot and you'd need MBR/BIOS instead.

Some laptops are old enough where they won't boot via USB, I have a Gateway from 2006 which is like that. You can always install Linux to a disk on another computer and then move it over to the laptop post-installation.
Click to expand...
Thanks for replying. The boot disk is the Hirens one, maybe version 15 or 15 point something, can't remember. Hirens should cover every possibility, I would have thought. On second thoughts there are other programs like it on the freeware sites, maybe I should try one of them. It is possible to boot from a USB stick, I've looked at the BIOS setup and it's an option. Just to clarify, this as far as I've got: it boots up and tries to start Windows, then when it fails, it tries to repair Windows, then fails at that. I'm not bothered about Windows, I would rather use Linux anyway. I tried to install Linux, using a bootable CD, but it wouldn't even read it.
 
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