Compaq CQ60, win8 beta--can't install Freespire Linux

scidroe · 05-14-2012, 08:52 PM

My Compaq CQ60 was running Vista until the hard drive crashed. I installed Win8 beta and am not pleased (it IS a beta version) with its performance. I have an install disc of Linux Freespire which I had acquired for another abandoned project. I am experiencing difficulty in installing this os. Can anyone help?

TroN-0074 · 05-14-2012, 09:51 PM

Hi.
There are plenty of different Linux based distributions out there. Is there a reason on why you need to install Freespire?
Perhaps the installation is not working for you because the CD on which you have the software got damaged. Or because it is not compatible with the architecture of your computer.
Luckily there is a sea of options out there for you and your computer.
Look at the following links
http://www.linuxmint.com/
http://fedoraproject.org/en/get-fedora
http://www.ubuntu.com/download
http://www.opensuse.org/en/

You can freely download these burn them on a CD and run it on your computer or do a full installation in your hard drive. They are all really good and very easy to use.
Good luck to you

scidroe · 05-15-2012, 08:38 PM

I tried loading Ubuntu from one of the sights you listed, but it keeps hanging up "can't find medium containing files". What is that? I'm emailing using Win8 on the same computer. It obviously has readable files--when it boots! Should I format and try a clean install? I would like to keep this beta win8 as an alternative OS, but it isn't impressing me right now. What say you?

rokytnji · 05-15-2012, 10:02 PM

Quote:

What say you

http://www.linlap.com/wiki/hp-compaq+presario+cq60

http://www.linuxidx.com/linux.php?q=...esario+Laptops

http://www.linuxidx.com/linux.php?q=...q+cq60+Laptops

http://community.linuxmint.com/hardware/view/4820

Just to show what I boot on my IBM T23

Code:

harry@biker:~$ cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
timeout 10
color cyan/blue white/blue
foreground ffffff
background 0639a1

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message

title		Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.34-stevo
root		(hd0,5)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.34-stevo root=UUID=33d2cb14-08cc-4db8-80c6-771828e68200 ro 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.34-stevo

title Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional at hda1
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

title Puppy Linux 520 full install in sda7
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda7 pmedia=atahd pfix=noram acpi=force



### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=33d2cb14-08cc-4db8-80c6-771828e68200 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,5)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
##      alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
##      lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
##      lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
##      altoptions=(single-user) single
# altoptions=(single-user mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
##      howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
##      memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title		Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.34-stevo
root		(hd0,5)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.34-stevo root=UUID=33d2cb14-08cc-4db8-80c6-771828e68200 ro 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.34-stevo

title		Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.34-stevo (single-user mode)
root		(hd0,5)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.34-stevo root=UUID=33d2cb14-08cc-4db8-80c6-771828e68200 ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.34-stevo

title		Debian GNU/Linux, kernel memtest86+
root		(hd0,5)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

So any current Linux distro you prefer to use should dual boot OK with Windows 8 on that Compaq.

TroN-0074 · 05-15-2012, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scidroe

I tried loading Ubuntu from one of the sights you listed, but it keeps hanging up "can't find medium containing files". What is that? I'm emailing using Win8 on the same computer. It obviously has readable files--when it boots! Should I format and try a clean install? I would like to keep this beta win8 as an alternative OS, but it isn't impressing me right now. What say you?

Hi. Really there is no way to know what is going on here.
Perhaps you need to let us know what you did there with the downloaded ISO file. There are instructions on the site from which you downloaded.

Some of my questions will be how did you burn it to CD did you burn it as ISO image did you create a pen drive using Unibootin for windows.

I really want to help you with this and I am sure there are more members here that also want to help so please keep us posted.

Good luck to you!