I am having problems installing Linux from a DVD on a Toshiba laptop. I have already used the disk successfully to install Linux on a friend's Dell laptop - he was amazed at the speed Firefox loaded - he thought the machine was BER - so I'm pretty sure the disk is not at fault. The installation process went rather quickly, and only 180 or so packages were installed. On being prompted for a root password, I entered one; but now when I boot up I can only log in as ROOT, not as a user. I cannot even get to the BIOS to reset the boot priorities - the machine boots straight from the Hard Disk, not the DVD/CD-ROM drive.

A similar problem has occurred on another laptop on which I have been happily running Linux for some time. I had hoped to upgrade from Fedora 11 to Fedora 13 (I'd already gone from Fedora 9 to 10 to 11 without major problems) but for some reason that machine decided to reinstall, not upgrade Fedora - fortunately I'd backed up all the data files. I presume it's me doing something wrong, but for the life of me, I can't think what!

Help, please!!

There might be a few things at work. The disc you installed from might be somewhat damaged, the DVD drive might be malfunctioning, or you could have incorrectly set up your BIOS settings preventing you from booting directly from the DVD. If the system is booting straight from the hard drive, the cause is unrelated to the previous Linux installation. You could try booting from an external DVD drive or hard disk, or from a thumb drive formatted with Fedora 13 (which you can download in your current system as root.)

Optionally, you could simply upgrade your current Fedora 11 system using Yum, by following the instructions here: http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/YumUpgradeFaq and then create a new regular user for youself from the root account.

Good luck!

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Thanks, Stephann, for your prompt reply! Unfortunately I'm obliged to use Window$ to surf the web, and I don't get that much opportunity to go on line.

To reply to your points in turn

1) I'm pretty certain the disk is undamaged - I've carried out a successful installation once, and I've run the disk checking routine since and not had any error message.

2) I do not think the DVD drive on either of the two laptops is faulty - the drive on the Toshiba seemed to run perfectly well while Window$ was installed, and the other - on the "cheapo" laptop did not seem to be giving any problems - but as that had previously had Fedora 11 loaded, I could not run DVDs.

3) I managed to set the BIOS of the Toshiba laptop to get it to boot from the DVD drive, but now am unable to access the BIOS at all! I've tried various combinations of <Ctrl> and <Fn> key at startup, but the machine goes straight to the Hard Disk and into the boot sequence. The "cheapo" laptop will load from the DVD drive, but will apparently only install the basic 188 or so packages of LINUX, and prompt me for a Root password.

4) The Toshiba Satellite 2450-201 was previously running Window$ XP, and had slowed down so much that I had stopped using it. I had already bought a very cheap laptop on which I'd successfully installed LINUX; Fedora 3, then versions 9, 10, 11. That too is booting from the hard disk, but only permitting me to log on as Root.

The only computer I have with internet access at present is the one I'm using for this posting - another Toshiba - and that is running Window$ Vi$ta Profe$$ional... so I'm a little chary of even trying to run YUM - I'd prefer to have a stable system up and running before I try to make this one a dual boot....

I'll experiment with the two laptops in the next few days and try to report back.

What happens immediately after starting the computer? Do you get a manufacturer's logo? If so, hit the ESC key to see output. If not, you might try googling "access Toshiba BIOS". When I did this, it indicated that the ESC key was to be used to access BIOS. I didn't do an exhaustive search so you might try it using the specific machine name.

You indicated that earlier you were able to access BIOS but can no longer do so?

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Thanks yancek; I followed your advice and held down the ESC key on starting up the computer (I'd had the usual message - In touch with tomorrow TOSHIBA). This gave me access to the BIOS (after inputting a password -which I had to guess, as I'd forgotten I'd ever set one on that computer) -or at least something of a 'setup' menu, and I was able to modify the order of the boot devices. However, it has not solved the other problem, in that I still have only a very basic LINUX installation - I can log on only as 'ROOT', and have no GUI.

I do not think it is a problem with the disk as
a) I have twice run the disk test routine with a satisfactory outcome, and
b) I have already used the disk to load a complete LINUX installation on an old Dell belonging to a friend.

I have 're-installed' LINUX on the Toshiba, but it's still the restricted installation - only 188 packages were installed - and no OpenOffice.

If it is of any assistance, in the course of the installation procedure, there was a message to the effect that there was insufficient RAM. I find this a little difficult to understand, as the computer happily ran Window$ XP until I tried to install Fedora 13, and I'd used it to play DVDs without problems. I mentioned that I had access to a SETUP menu - this did not, apparently, give me access to information as to the amount of RAM installed on the computer, but running a memory test on the disk reported no problems (I terminated it after about five minutes, as it seemed to be running quite happily)

I had a similar message about lack of memory with the 'cheapo' laptop, but since posting my last reply, I haven't tried to boot up that machine. I'm wondering whether the Installation disk is querying the amount of resources available and getting an incorrect reply - after all, I can't think manufacturers would supply a machine with a DVD drive without the resources (in terms of memory)to play DVDs...

You're apparently selecting a bare minimum install when you install Fedora. The defaults in Fedora are to install Gnome as a desktop. Fortunately, you can still do this. Log in as Root, and run the following:

yum -y groupinstall gnome

Once gnome loads, you'll have access to the usual system administration applets, where you can create a 'regular' user for yourself.

Thanks, Stephannn - I thought it must be something like that - though I should emphasise I'm not selecting anything - the system is doing it all on its own - the human element - me - has little or no input, other than to select language for installation, keyboard, and time zone....

I'll give it a go tonight, and report back.

I booted up and logged in as ROOT, but having no internet connection on that computer, the "yum" command does not work. I don't seem to be able to mount the DVD/CD-ROM drive either, so cannot get the computer to search for the packages on the DVD.

It appears that the installation program - anaconda - is testing for RAM and not getting a satisfactory result, though, as I said in my third post, I was happily using the computer to play DVDs when Window$ XP was the operating system.