How to install linux on HP netbook dv4 1540us and remain sane
 

I would like to install Linux, preferably, dual boot, on HP white netbook model DV4 1540US. The netbook is pre installed with Windows 7 Home Premium.
In order to select CD/DVD drive as a bootable device, I need modify BIOS setting. It seems to me that this netbook does not have a BIOS or, at least, I could not figure it out HOW. Pressing F2 brings on the screen a list of diagnostic programs (memory test, HD test and few other things). No BIOS setting.

So, the question is: How to boot into any OS except the one, which is factory pre installed. Or, in other words: How to install LINUX on such a kind of machine ?

Try F10, or F12. You can download a manual from HP's site in all probability.
You will have to reduce the size of the NTFS partition. I tried that with gparted, which calls ntfsresize. But there was a bug there, each maintainer was looking at the other one, and it hosed the partition. I managed by reducing the size of the ntfs fuile system, then shrinking the partition calling the 2 tools separately.

:)

oops

@culaterout:

I've done that SO MANY TIMES. If you edit everuything out, it actually doesn't post (I think)

It worked like a charm. Thanks.

I've not (yet) installed physicality Linux on HP DV4 1540US netbook, but
I can say that UBUNTU 9.10 works out of the box 99 %, including the WiFi.
Only the built-in camera does NOT work.

Good job, UBUNTU folks !!

Glad to hear it worked.

For the record, I have a HP6715S and found ubuntu 8.x drastically slow. If that is your experience, I can vouch for Fedora or Slamd64 (=Slackware)

Firstly, you haven't a netbook, but a laptop.

I have a dv4-2045 and everything works out of the box, but I have no use for and never tried the web cam.

Easiest way to resize your partition - Windows 7 can resize partitions (as could vista for a matter of fact):

1 Administrative Tools (I think it was renamed in Windows 7 however)
2 Computer Management
3 Disk Management
4. Right click the NTFS partition you want to resize and a dialog box will pop up allowing you to change the size.

Note: You may also have to delete the recovery partition as last I knew you're only allowed 4 primary partitions in the MBR (this may have changed, but I've kept to the practice and therefore never followed up). Even using an extended partition I still think you cannot exceed three primary partitions.