Hello all.
I'm totally new to linux and to be honest, clueless.
I have a Laptop that comes with an installation disk for Instant On from Intervideo.
Basically it’s a media player, linux based, that means media files can be played without having to boot into Windows. Nice if you've networked your laptop with a pc and your stereo/tv for example.
Only thing is....
the only paperwork i've got is a users manual, very good detail on how to use the software once installed but no info over the installation process. The support desk from the supplier is also of little help.
Apparently i need a partition (unformatted) of at least 550mb and then just put the cd rom in and boot. Problem is, i've already got Windows up and running.
3 partitions already set up,
1) 15GB Windows xp pro
2) 55GB working space
3) 5 GB Backup image
I've tried creating another partition with P magic and then tried to install the Instant On from boot, but the installation stops after a few seconds with an error.
from boot up i get the following:....

Isolinux 2.08 .............
The installation screen with "Please select a language"
I've tried English and Dutch (same result as follows)
"There are some errors occurred during installation.
probably due to Incorrect system ID or Insufficient HDD Space.
Please try again"

I made 5GB free using partition magic. First as a linux partition and then as unallocated space. Both giving the same result... that the linux install starts ( from boot ), asks for a language choice and then stops giving the same error.
(I'm very unsure as to the parameters needed in setting up the linux partition - also Partition Magic suggests that i need to create a Linux swap file at the same time???)
I think that it needs an active partition and thus that it needs to be installed before windows... I'm not using a boot manager and Windows complains about setting another active partition. Frustrating because i really don't want to loose my present set up, it works nicely and i've just spent a week getting my home network up and running!
Was wondering if it’s possible to make an image of my current system (using Acronis), wipe the C disk and then try installing first Instant On and then replacing the system image ( no idea if that’s possible L ).

I’m guessing, but I think this is probably a partition issue, I’m either setting it up wrong or the software requires unformatted space to function.

Any tips/advice/help will be very welcome!
Thanks in advance, Stoer.

hello
excuse my english am french
well i think that i can help you and maybe you too
in fact i have a GERICOM notebook comming normaly with instantON software on it (but nothing .... economique reasons i thing )
and this software is infoundable on the net so i think that if you visite this url

http://www.uniwill.com/UserDownload/259IA/259IA.php
and download
User's Manual and inside the zip you will find the InstantOn User Guide.pdf

i saw that the partition type after installation is a special one called 88 (inconne for linux or p magique )
i know that you most install the software before any OS (the easiest way)

and you can you help me to find the sofware you have ..... please

Hi skyhooper
Thanks for your reply.
I have since found the same installation pdf posted but like you can find little or no reference for software. The software that i have is an InstantOn installation cd that came with my Laptop and on the site from InterVideo is nothing further to find.
As for installing....
In this case, InterVideo InstantON installation CD will create a 350MB partition and install
InterVideo InstantON to that partition. After completing the fourth step, the user is able to enjoy the full functionality of InterVideo InstantON. Windows XP can also be installed now. Since InterVideo
InstantON already occupies the first partition on the HDD, Windows XP will be placed on the D
drive instead.
1. Make sure the HDD is completely empty. There are no partitions on the HDD.
2. In shutdown status, place the installation CD in the optical drive.
3. Power up the system. It will boot from the installation CD.
4. Follow the instructions on screen to finish the installation.

Installing on an HDD that Is not Empty
1. Install Windows XP. Please be sure to leave at least 350MB of free space (non-partitioned
space).
2. In shutdown status, place the InterVideo InstantOn installation CD in the optical drive.
3. Power up the system. It will boot from the installation CD.
4. Follow the instructions on screen to finish the installation.
InterVideo InstantON CD will create a 350MB partition in the free space and then install itself in
that partition.

So, it seems that the software can be installed after windows....its just that it is not the prefered method. I still cannot get it to install - i've created some free space before windows but i still get a "not enough diskspace error".
I've since been encouraged to try GeeBox, another media player sollution and also Linux based.

http://www.geexbox.org/en/index.html

it looks good but i don't know if it can be installed to your harddisk or not, certainly not in the same manner as InstantOn. My Laptop has a built in switch for turning on the InstantOn software without having to start windows - if i can get geeBox to do this - then i'd be happy.
as it is...i think that i can only get InstantOn up and running with a clean install, something i'm not yet willing to do, i like my present set up too much.
Finding the InstantOn software might be a problem - i know that it comes delivered with various systems but other than that ???? who knows.
Thanks again for your reply, if i can be of further help then let me know.
Stoer.

hello


thank you for your answer... well on my nootebook i have the ply botton like sayed in the notice but non software delivered with it

i know about geexbox it's great but it will not activate any fonctionnality of the InstantON . you know booting up in 10 secondes.....without any OS just by pressing the ""play"" botton .....

so having a great notebook without this fonctionnality is .....

and finding this software is impossible on the net .....

so can you help my ........

Hello guys!!!
I have the same problem... and i just asked about it a friend...
and the soluton is that you must use instantOn cd before windows setup...
No OS in the system.... have your partion completely as you want to but...
leave at least 1GB to unformated... (i left 2GB for sure...) use instantOn
ad installthe LinuxpOS.. when complete.. install your windows...and all
your programms....!!! BTW i use windowsXP SP3 with 2 partitions!!!

Thats all!!!

nearly all intervideo instanton software needs to be installed on a non partitioned hardrive as it makes its own partition I have not got that problem as when i first got the cube there was no instanton software
with it So my question is has anyone got a copy of the instanton installation disc please