Hi, all,

Recently, I am trying to install CentOS 6.4 to my laptop originally installed windows 7. However, there are several problems I have encountered that I would like to ask for help.

1. I have downloaded the CentOS 6.4 iso file from CentOS website, and confirmed that the download is successful. (The code generated by md5sum and sha1sum are correct). However, when I try to burn the iso file to a DVD, I always gets failure message when it finished burning and recheck the DVD. I failed in both the built-in Windows burner and Nero2014. I was wondering if I write the DVD too fast, or is there any other possibilities?

2. Though failed the test, one DVD couls still guide me to the installation page for CentOS. I tried to go first several steps to find if I get anything concerned. Then the second problem comes up.

Now my computer partition has: default Recovery disk for 15GB, booting of windows C for 160GB, my important data was in D with 260GB, and another H volume with 100GB with a few software. Finally, I left 30GB unallocated for my installation of CentOS. The all the volume somehow became simple volume after I made the partition.

Now when I tried to do partition for CentOS, instead of having 30GB space, the CentOS detected about 400GB free space, which was exactly the size for D + H + unallocated. I highly suspect that if I continue, I will really erase the data in D...

Therefore, I would like to know if there is any method that could let CentOS installation software recognize the data in D and only install the booting system in the unallocated 30GB space? Or I have to back up the data and erase from computer and do everything over again?

So the above were the problems I encountered up to now. It would be really appreciable if you could give me some suggestions and hint about these.

Thank you very much for your attention and help!
Jie

P.S. some info of my laptop
4GB DDR3 RAM, 640GB HDD, Intel i5 2.3GHz
64-bit system, Windows 7 Home Premium
Acer Aspire 5750G

First is there a MUST USE need for CentOS on a laptop
CentOS is a rebuild of RHEL , and redhat is a server class OS
It was NEVER designed for a laptop
Now it will install on most and will mostly run mostly well BUT
not all the laptop hardware might be supported

the cpu/gpu combo is not well supported
the built in 3d chips are not well supported
there might be sound problems
You might have a non working mouse pad
wireless might not work

nero should have no problem in burning a dvd IMAGE
Use " burn as a image" setting !!!!!!!
DO NOT !!! use " data dvd "
and burn on as SLOW a setting as you can " 2x " is good


you will NEED to decide on HOW you are going to dual boot
CentOS - being a server class os uses the older LEGACY grub 0.9
it likes to be on a primary partition ( there can only be 4 of these or 3 with an extended and logical partitions)

also that "recovery" partition the OEM's put on is known to cause problems for the anaconada installer in cent
the installer reads the partitions in the wrong order
and labels them wrong
you have to manually fix it because of that"recovery partition"

i would put the bootloader for Cent on the FIRST LINUX partition
let win7 have the MBR
then tell the computer to boot from the second /boot partition ( grub)
and set grub to "chainload" to the win7 bootloader on the MBR


there are a TON of tutorials on the web for setting up a dual boot with win 7

and some install grub to the MBR , but then windows might remove it and replace it .Preventing booting into the linux OS

others KEEP the MS bootloader ON the MBR and install grub on the first LINUX partition ( a small 200 to 500 meg partition)


PS.
as to downloading a dvd iso
it is RECOMMENDED to use a torrent client
that way every bit IS checked as it is DL'd
then there is no need to use the check sum .

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi, John,

Thank you very much for your advice. Actually, I intend to install only one software, Sentaurus TCAD, which is a device simulator in the CentOS because the software only supports Linux based system. Our group has CentOS as the operating system, so that's why I chose the same one. My final goal is to install the CentOS system to a desktop because it has more powerful calculating ability, but my laptop is a test subject to foresee as much problems as possible.

My initial Nero burning speed setting was "Maximum", I guess that was the reason why I got an corrupted version of iso. (I will try with the lowest speed and have a cup of coffee when it was burning.)

About the partition, do you mean that I have to manually do some setting so that the CentOS installer could read the partition in a right order? Could you give me some suggestions on how to do that? Also, now all my volume except the recovery part has become simple volume instead of primary partitions, do you think it possible to convert it back without removing anything in the computer? Or I have to reformat the chunk of material and start over?

Thank you very much for the help!
Best regards,
Jie

you will likely see hardware related issues
A Laptop uses VERY VERY different hardware than a Desktop dose


as to partitioning and a dual boot

CentOS uses the redhat documentation
and as such ASSUMES that you ARE a certified system admin.( or very experienced )
and do not need any help on basic things like preparing the hardware and installing a Operation system

( rhel is installed on servers mostly and then in the office (like a large office - 100+ installs )
https://access.redhat.com/site/docum...erprise_Linux/
-- the rhel6.4 / CentOS 6.4 / ScientificLinux 6.4 install guide
https://access.redhat.com/site/docum...ide/index.html



for basics , the ubuntu documentation is good
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DualBoot
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DualBoot/Partitions

setting up the computer is basically the same no matter the operating system
-- the "recovery cd " in the above pages will NEED to be the "install DVD for win7 - FOR YOUR specific install
home, home-premium, home-basic, win7-busniss , win-7-ultimate
Microsoft will sell you one , and mail it to you .


a youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egO7VVeEtHw


this is how i have a win7 and SL6 install set up on a drive
i use Gparted live cd to do partitioning
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/
i REMOVED the "win7 "recovery partition"
-- if win7 gets a virus this will ALSO be infected and reinstalling from an infected "recovery" partition is NOT a good idea
installed win7 to
installed win7 to the first partition

then installed SL6 ( same as CentOS 6.4 ) to the rest of the drive and installed grub to the FIRST linux partition
( in the above the two " * " represent a bootable partition )

nero will burn a dvd image
also so will this free tool
-- yes it's name DOSE sound like a fake tool and a would be virus .
but it is a REAL program and used a lot
http://cdburnerxp.se/en/home
and it will run on win7 premium 64 bit

use a slow speed and a DVD+-R
a dvd +-RW might not burn well , and will take a long time

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi, John,

Thank you very much for your suggestions. After fighting several rounds, I finally installed CentOS 6.4 on my desktop. The Sentaurus however has some strange behavior. The terminal does not show any error message somehow. I was wondering if there is any system log I could refer to to see what is really going wrong with the software.

Thanks again for the help!
Best regards,
Jie Min