Need help booting/installing Linux on Laptop, please help! More information inside!
 

Hey guys I'm trying Linux for the first time, but I'm no stranger to installing OS. I formatted my Laptop using WipeDrive, so I'm not sure if I deleted too much, going to the bios has been different than before.

So I created dvd image disk through PowerISO, I chose to burn an image file. When I try to let my laptop boot from CD, the screen is simply black, with the cursor blinking, then it just restarts or goes to Windows. I tried this with and without Windows 8 installed. I also created 2 DVDs, one using Ubuntu 64 bit, and one using Linux Mint 64 bit. I did choose boot from CD because it can still boot from my Windows 8 CD.

Note - With Ubuntu CD after waiting a minute or so on the black screen, a screen that's baby blue popped up that says something like this, I couldn't read it all: " :(( I'm sorry something is wrong "

Can anyone help me? I want to convert to Linux! I'm so frustrated I tried everything.

We couldn't read it either. Boot it again and try writing it down. Did this computer come with windows 8 installed? Did you install it your self? Do you have windows 8 or any other operating system installed. Do you have Secure Boot. Check the BIOS for that option and enable Legacy boot. I'm not sure if any of these things will help with your problem but, they won't hurt. I've not used windows 8 on anything other than Virtualbox and don't have the Secure boot thingy on any machines. Someone should come along with more info.

Sounds like you just copied the iso file to the CD and failed to put the iso image on the CD. You must create an iso disk not a data disk with an iso file. Ian.

Hey, if you bought a computer with windows 8 preinstalled on it, you can pretty much guarantee that it will come with secure boot up and running (not sure if the same holds true for installing windows 8 yourself on an older computer). You have to disable it first it you want to install linux.
I don't know if this is actually causing a problem for you because I didn't even try to install linux on my laptop until I had disabled secure boot, but it is worth looking into.

I found that this website helped me:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials...able-uefi.html

This is also a good site with basic info about secure boot:
http://www.howtogeek.com/149254/if-i...install-linux/

Good luck!

If you booted correctly it may work.

You may have to select the boot device from F key first. You may see some list like UEFI DVD and a DVD choice. Select the UEFI or some such termed.

We are not sure just yet if you have a good disk also.

The latest Ubuntu and Mint and Opensuse and Fedora may work with no bios changes.

Yes, you most likely removed too much.

Without the CD can you boot win8? If so most of your hard drive is okay. If not you have lost win8 and you may get it restored from Best Buy or Future Shop with luck.
From a reboot, reset or restart, enter bios by hitting F2 or Del depending on what it tells you. Using the keyboard arrow keys get into to boot menu and select boot order. Make the order USB, CD/DVD with Hard Drive last, save it (maybe F10) then boot and you should get the Distro screen and choose what you want to do usually live boot. Once booted you get the desktop, a blank screen or a garbage screen. The last two look bad and can be fixed by -: Reset -:
In the distro screen hit e for edit or tab or something to edit the boot options and edit the line that starts with linux and find flash or noflash or something and add nomodeset or vga=771, try both and hope. Nvidia fix and ATI fix respectively. good luck Ian.
Oh yes, once installed you need to do the nomodeset things every boot else
sudo gedit /etc/defaults/grub and add it there, then sudo update-grub

you need to have a visit to some suitable service center for immediate solutions

The OP most likely didn't get the drive wiped because it still goes to windows.