Ozey

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I'm attempting to install linux on my mom's computer. It's an old laptop (Toshiba Satellite 1405-S151) that is currently running Windows Black.

I have searched around and have not been able to find any help. I've downloaded ubuntu, burned it onto a cd-r, restarted and told it to boot from cd. The computer clicks and reads the cd, but it still stars up with the "Windows XP Loading" screen.

This computer has booted up from cd before. I've had to reinstall the XP operating system on it more than once and haven't had a problem until now.

I'm currently downloading Mandriva to see if it will make a difference, but any help would be greatly appreciated!

I want to dual-boot it, because I am worried about having it as the main operating system, however it will be the one that is mostly used (all this computer is used for is checking e-mail and going on the internet.)

Please help! I've checked everywhere else and haven't had any luck. D:

GrapefruiTgirl

OK, assuming that the computer is indeed able to read the CD and boot from a CD or DVD, and the BIOS is set to try booting from that device first, then the first place I'd look, is "How did you burn the CD"?

Specifically:

1) did you verify the MD5SUM (a checksum) of the ISO image you downloaded, to make sure it is not corrupted? There's a tool for Windows, called "md5summer" as well as others, which can be used to verify the md5 checksum.

2) After burning the ISO image to CD, did you again check that the burn was OK, by using the checksumming process again? I'm not sure how you do this on Windows.

The above two options will rule out the CD being bad.

3) When you burned the CD, what tool or application did you use to create the CD? And, importantly: did you burn the CD the correct way? That is, a selection something like "Burn bootable ISO image to disc", as opposed to something more like "Burn data disc" or "Create compilation disc" or things like this.

Sasha

Ozey

Although I'm the most computer friendly out of my family, I'm really not computer friendly at all.

So I'm not sure how to check if the burn was okay. I used InfaRecorder and clicked "Write the contents of a disc image to a cd"

GrapefruiTgirl

Hmm.. Ok, I added a bit of info to my initial post; you may need to reload to see it.

I have used InfraRecorder in the past, a few years back was the last time I used Windows so it may be updated since that time. However, it was a great, easy to use tool.

I remember it being a two-click process to use it to make a Linux CD:

1) Click the menu button for "Burn ISO image to disc"

2) The file-locator window appears, where you point the tool at the .ISO file you have. Select the ISO, and click OK.

3) Press GO!

That should burn the disc. If you have the option, Select a very slow burn speed, like 2x or 4x, as this will help guarantee a good burn.

Now, the location where you downloaded the ISO image FROM, should have a file called "md5sums" or "checksums" or "sha1sums", or these checksum values will be displayed right there on the download screen, where you got the Ubuntu image (or Mandriva or whatever).

For Windows, Google for "md5summer" and get that tool and install it on Windows. Then, BEFORE BURNING THE DISC, use "md5summer" to verify that the ISO you downloaded has the same checksum value as that which is shown online on the download page, or in the checksums file or "md5sums" file.

If it matches, that's good. Your download was OK. Now burn the Image to Disc.

After the burn, it's recommended to verify that the disc burned correctly. On windows, I'm not sure how to do this. I've never used md5summer myself either, so another member will have to advise you how to verify the burned CD.

Good luck!
Sasha

Ozey

I've looked on the Mandriva page for the "md5sums" or "checksums" or "sha1sums" and don't see it.

I'm going to try to burn it again with Mandriva, once it finishes downloading, and I think my problem was picking 8x burn speed. It was the default and so I didn't think much of it.

GrapefruiTgirl

http://www.md5sums.com/mandrake.html

At the above link here, you can see all the checksums for various Mandrake & Mandriva ISO images. If you can locate yours in the list, that's good

If not, or in the case of another Linux distro that isn't listed at that page, just Google for "Ubuntu md5sum" or something like this.

Or look at the homepage of that site: http://www.md5sums.com/

Sasha

ajlewis2

Burn speed can make a difference, but I would think that 8x is slow enough.

chrisoreta

Maybe the ISO you downloaded, was corrupt. Since the laptop is able to boot from the CD drive, the other troubleshooting option is, maybe the Ubuntu image on the CD is bad or corrupt. (Or, maybe the CD drive is finally gone bad). Try the Mandriva image and see if it works.
Best of Luck.

Regards,
Chrisoreta.