I cannot boot on my laptop from the 2007 live CD, the following s generated during the boot process.

configuring cpufreqACPI (exconfig-0455): Dynamic SSDT Load - OemId [ PmRef] OemTableId [ cpu0
Ist] [20060707]
ACPI (exconfig-0455): Dynamic SSDT Load - OemId [ PmRef] OemTableId [ cpu0Cst] [20060707]
ACPI (exconfig-0455): Dynamic SSDT Load - OemId [ PmRef] OemTableId [ cpu1Ist] [20060707]
ACPI (exconfig-0455): Dynamic SSDT Load - OemId [ PmRef] OemTableId [ cpu1Cst] [20060707]
ACPI Exception (acpi_processor-0681): AE_NOT_FOUND, Processor Device is not present [20060707
]
ACP: Getting cpuindex for acpid 0x2
ACPI Exception (acpi_processor-0681): AE_NOT_FOUND, Processor Device is not present [20060707
]
ACP: Getting cpuindex for acpid 0x3
ACPI Exception (acpi_processor-0681): AE_NOT_FOUND, Processor Device is not present [20060707
]
ACP: Getting cpuindex for acpid 0x4
ACPI Exception (acpi_processor-0681): AE_NOT_FOUND, Processor Device is not present [20060707
]
ACP: Getting cpuindex for acpid 0x5
ACPI Exception (acpi_processor-0681): AE_NOT_FOUND, Processor Device is not present [20060707
]
ACP: Getting cpuindex for acpid 0x6
ACPI Exception (acpi_processor-0681): AE_NOT_FOUND, Processor Device is not present [20060707
]
ACP: Getting cpuindex for acpid 0x7
[ OK ]
The boot process then stops
I have managed to get past the above hang up by selecting noacpi but the boot process now hangs up after loading the CUPS printer driver.

My laptop is an Advent 9115 (UK high street retailer own brand)
The installed OS is !cringe! windoze vista home premium
CPU Intel Pentum dual core T2310 @ 1.46GHz
Code name MERON
Socket P(478)
Chipset SIS 672
Southbridge SIS 968
2 Gig ram
120 Gig hard drive
DVD rewriter

I have tried the PClinuxOS disc that I used on my main comp and also one downloaded and burned,at slow speed on the laptop.

Any advice would be welcome.

PCLOS 2007? Mandriva 2007? What?

Have you tried any special boot options?

The standard set for a laptop are: noapic, nolapic, noacpi.
(You seem to be getting acpi errors related to dsdt.)

Linux distro is PCLOS 2007 and As stated I booted with the noapic option. Have also tried Mepis 7 live cd and this also hangs up.

Actually, you said:
But did you try the others?
Go for the set...

You could try going through your BIOS and turning any special power management functions off.
Also add "irqpoll" to the set.

Hmmm... which kernels do those live CDs come with? IIRC: SiS968 chipset needs 2.6.22.1 or better. The southbridge only handles SATA, which shouldn't stop a boot... but it could cause an insane hang-time.

Caveat Emptor: never buy anything you cannot research. At least - ask if you con try a live CD in the shop.

Simon

Thanks for your replies. I have tried booting with the full set of commands that you suggested. Unfortunately with the same result.
I certainly agree with your last point, however the machine was a rush buy when my old laptop died while I was away from home.
It looks like I may hae to be without Linux on my laptop until it is replaced.

Thanks - Jim

Or you could try a disk with a recent kernel? If you have a disk which will go right to an installer - try that.

Simon

Downloaded Fedora 8 install DVD and was unable to install. Tried default boot and modified boot, passing the parameters suggested.
Think I will just have to accept that I have a Linux unfriendly laptop.

Thanks for all your advice and patience.

Regards - Jim

Text only boot?
(The distro to try would be DSL.)

Boot parameters for fedora would be:
noapic nolapic irq=poll nommconf all-generic-ide

Look hard through bios... you want the sata controllers set to legacy ide or whatever the bios calls it. You want to turn off anything advertised as a special power saving "feature".

But, what we really want is to get the real HW info off a unix toolset. Try the ultimate rescue CD. If DSL and URCD won't boot, you not only have a linux-hostile laptop, but one that is a windows lemon as well.

Note: XP SP2 add a tab in the device properties dialog which allow you to get the PCI ID of the device that you get in lspci... if you find the HW specs for your laptop, in technical detail, then there may be a chance.

I was never keen on house-brands before, now I am totally put off. I would suggest this "house" is a cowboy operator. Write an HCL entry to warn people.

Of course, you can onsell and get a proper laptop.
Note: Acer NZ have started selling Ubuntu pre-installed... is this happening in other countries as well?

Hmmm... the stage after getting the cpuindex is getting interrupts (hence the irq=poll)
This is actually a likely place for a house-cowboy to mess up the job... check the BIOS IRQ table as well.
http://linux.about.com/od/pap_howto/a/hwtpap11t00.htm

What was the ISO burn speed? 4x for DVD!

The upshot is that there is nothing on the board that is unsupported... so something in the configuration is blocking the installer.