Hey Linux Questions. I am currently trying to install Fedora 17 XFCE for a 32-bit system via LiveUSB. The Fedora USB program worked without a hitch, and all is well until I attempt to boot the computer from said USB. I get the "Starting Fedora 17"countdown, and once it hits zero my screen turns all black and doesn't respond. I try to press my keyboard and the computer gives me the 'non-registering' beep. I do ctrl+alt+delete and it brings me back to the BIOS loading page and boots Windows as normal.

I am currently on Windows XP SP2 (I can't upgrade to SP3) with a Pentium 4 CPU 2.66 GHz and 1.5 GB of RAM.

Please help me.

Does anyone know what the possible issue could be? Anything would help..

Did you use an earlier version of Fedora to create your bootable flash drive? If not, how did you create it? If Fedora starts to boot from the USB and then fails it might be a problem with hardware. Post some info on your hardware, memory and graphics card.

No, I'm creating the bootable disk from my Windows XP computer. I'm using the LiveUSB program from he Fedora Project site. And okay I will edit this post once I get the chance.

I think it's worth noting that I tried the same thing with Linux Mint 13 (Maya) and the same exact problem occurred.

one thing i can think of
you are trying to put a VERY cutting /bleeding edge Operating system
on a VERY old computer
i gave up on trying to get fedora 10 installed on a box like that
there are way too many things that fedora no longer supports

on a old P4 box i would install CentOS6.2/3
or scientificLinux 6.2

I currently have ScientificLinux6.2 32 bit running just fine on a dell from 2001
1.99 ghz p4 with 1 gig RAM and a Gforce2 MX 400 card

with the current firefox and Libreoffice

Hi,
I am having the same problem.
HW - Lenovo Thinkpad T61, Intel T7300 processors.
I have successfully created the Fedora 17 Gnobe and LXDE LiveUSB.
No success with Xfce. Getting message ... "Operation system missing" (not sure quoting exactly word by word).

And it does not look like USB-key problem.

It seems that there is a problem with .iso image for live distribution.
I have got following message after booting from live cd

ISOLINUX 4.05 2011-12-09 ETCD Copyright (C) 1994-2011 H.Peter Anvin et al
No DEFAULT or UI configuration directive found!
Boot: _

and waiting for some boot instruction.

If you boot the wrong version (64bit instead of 32bit) you will get a black screen as well.