I have several live DVD versions of linux which boot perfectly from the DVD drive on other computers, but even after checking the bios to make sure the boot sequence starts with the DVD drive (actually listed as CD/ROM in the bios), the compaq presario CQ56 I am trying this on still boots straight from windows without "seeing" the DVD.


I can not get the compaq presario CQ56 to boot into linux from the live DVD.

Any suggestions?

Try a usb. Some computers just won't boot from a dvd/cd.

Thanks for your response. In bios, it does not list the USB drive as a possible choice in the boot sequence. I wonder how I would re-install windows on this mahcine if it were to crash....

(SIDE NOTE: How do I get my curser to keep going when I hold down the backspace, delete, or aroow keys?)

The DVD drive has to be listed ahead of the HDD for it to try to boot from the DVD/CD. Is it listed first?

Right, the way I normally get a computer to run Linux is to get into bios and set up the sequence to boot form USB first (if available as a choice) then CD/DVD, then HDD. This computer is set up to boot from CD/DVD first, then HDD. I can hear the DVD spinn when it powers up, then it just ignores it and boots windows.

Is it a correct type of dvd for that drive? Not all disc's are fully supported in all drives.

Is the dvd made at slowest speed?

Does the dvd contain the correct cpu, is the cpu a 64 bit capable?

Does any bootable dvd work on this?

Does any cd boot in this system?

Is this your computer?
http://www.cnet.com/laptops/compaq-p...-34498057.html

jefro - yes, I am able to boot formthe Windows XP CD

Ztcorat - Yes, that is my computer.

I think I will look at the DVD and maybe burn another at a slow speed, something like that.

as soon as the BIOS splach screen comes up press the [F12] key untill it beeps at you
then select the DVD from the pop up menu

Make sure that you have the right linux iso file for your computers architecture: 32 or 64-bit.
I burn at 4 or 8 speeds. Burning at slow speeds is preferred.

I use a regular CD that is 700 MB or a DVD+R to burn a new Live DVD/CD.
What type of DVD/CD are you using?
I'm asking because jefro did mention that "Not all disc's are fully supported in all drives."

With Windows up and running place your new burn DVD/CD in the drive and shut down as soon as the DVD/CD is in place. Wait at least 30 seconds and than start up your compaq.
If it boots into your Windows OS again than the boot order is not set to DVD-CDROM

If you have a usb port on your laptop you should be able to set in your BIOS to boot first to usb.

Once your in your BIOS select the first boot order (optical drive/DVD-RAM or something similar) and make sure it's highlighted. Once that option is already set to boot from DVD/CD is highlighted press enter.
Upon pressing enter an additional window should open giving you all options to boot from.
Some BIOS you have to use the space bar to go through the boot order

Use the arrow keys to select "usb" save your changes and upon exiting your computer should reboot.
---Before you exit plug in your --usb memory stick--
At restart you should see the distro on your usb stick start up.

I looked here to try to find out what BIOS you have but it's not listed.
http://www.cnet.com/laptops/compaq-p...-34198806.html

Next time your in your BIOS let us know what kind you have. If need be I'll go look up screen pictures of your BIOS and help you that way.

With connections you have one usb port-
You may also want to shrink your Windows 7 partition first before installing Linux.
I did on my Sony Vaio before installing Fedora.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/m.../gg309169.aspx
http://www.ehow.com/how_6131028_change-boot-order.html
http://helpdeskgeek.com/how-to/chang...rder-xp-vista/

All of the CD/DVD info is useful, I am going to play aroudn with all of that.

The Bios does not list USB as an option for booting. It only lists floppy, CD/DVD, and HDD. Funny thing is, it does NOT have a floppy drive, and it DOES have a USB port....

Not that I would be offering anything enlightening with my next statement, but with all of the numerous laptops being designed and offered every month, it seems entirely possible that they took some random parts that they had sitting in a container somewhere and packaged them as a new model of laptop; thereby, we have this Bios left over from some previous release that is packaged with a shell that has ports and drives that don't match the bios....

Am I preaching to the choir?

Thanks very much for you response. I am going to tweak around a bit more with getting it to "see" the disc in the CD/DVD drive. I think that the slow burn might be my next step.

Cheers

I wonder if there is something proprietary that is causing this.

Something doesn't seem right in the BIOS since you do have a usb but doesn't show up in the BIOS.
Maybe jefro will know more as I am not sure why this is happening; sorry-

try cleaning the lens in the DVD drive
they can pick up dirt from the air

Usb tends to be a hard drive option in newer systems. The old usb boot choice was for usb floppies and zip drives and such.

From a modern linux view, usb's are hard drives.

1 members found this post helpful.

I will keep this in mind for the future.
Knowing that I could save another member from heartache with their new install-