linux install prob

MikeD · #1 August 23rd, 2006, 11:45 PM

I was given a Toshiba Satellite pro 440cdx laptop. I figured it would be fine for tunes at the lake and a speedy carputer. Plus it would let me try out Linux systems.
Now the prob, I cannot get it to boot past the first screen. I have no idea what the previous owner has done to it.
You turn it on and you get:
Toshiba video bios v2.80
copyright .......
memory initialize 32512kb
microsoft windows 98
copyright.....
c:\>_

thats as far as it goes.

I have downloaded, Damn Smalll Linux 3.0.1, also Tiny Linux (this one is on floppies, i may have copied them wrong) and then I am currently DL,ing Vector linux.
When trying the DSL as it a live cd it still would not load, I have a feeling the cd-rom is pooched, that is why i went to the tiny linux..still having no success...

Any thoughts or ideas??
Mike D

Roadrunner777 · #2 August 23rd, 2006, 11:59 PM

You need to get into your BIOS and see if the CD-ROM is at the top boot priority. I'm going to have to defer to someone else if you need help getting into BIOS setup, but generally, when you turn on the power, there is a message to press some key to enter setup. From there, find the boot options, and follow directions to make the CD-ROM a higher priority than the hard drive. I'll be back on later tonight if you still need help.

**kage** · #3 August 24th, 2006, 12:24 AM

It is possible the cdrom works fine, but the bios does not support booting a disk from the drive. (this is the case with many older computers) Does the laptop have a floppy drive? If it does, you might try something like SmartBootManager to trick the bios into booting from a cdrom.

MikeD · #4 August 24th, 2006, 12:55 AM

okay got into the bios, changed the boot sequence to , cd-rom, floppy,harddrive.
Tried loading the DSL again, installed the disk and re-booted. now it shows everything like before except instead of the Microsoft line I get:
ISOLINUX 2.04 (Debian, 2003-06-06) copyright (c) 1994-2003 H. Peter Anvin
isolinux: disk error 20, ax = 421D, drive 82
Boot failed: press a key to retry.....

possible that the disk is faulty..kind if like DSL....

MikeD · #5 August 24th, 2006, 01:27 AM

scratch faulty disk..put on the main computer and it booted right up.
Foound out that the original owner was getting rid of it and ran Dariks Boot and Nuke on it, but cannot remember if he let it run all the way thru....is it possible to wipe out the drive to do a fresh install? I do not have any of the disks for this machine.

Roadrunner777 · #6 August 24th, 2006, 02:25 AM

Ok, are you still trying to load Linux on it? If so, then get your own copy of Derick's Boot and Nuke, and wipe the drive. Then use the Linux CD to install.

MikeD · #7 August 24th, 2006, 06:21 AM

have DBN, can"t get it to run
will try again

when I install the DBN disc, and reboot..I get the line "insert system disk...press any key to start

put the DSL disc in and it got to the boot screen then stopped...cant get it back there now....this machine is puzzling me....

MikeD · #8 August 25th, 2006, 01:13 AM

okay...screwed around with the machine and a light suddenly came on at work....the lap now has win 98 on it....how hard would it be to put dsl or tiny linux on it? Also can I remove 98 later and just leave Linux?

Roadrunner777 · #9 August 25th, 2006, 01:23 AM

If it were me, I'd put Ubuntu linux on it because it handles installing with other operating systems very well. I'm sure other Linux distributions are as good or even better, but I know Ubuntu works well. If you don't need the 98 then I would run Derick's Boot and Nuke first, and then the Linux of your choice.

**kage** · #10 August 25th, 2006, 01:48 AM

You don't need to run an external partitioning tool (Boot and Nuke) when every linux distro comes with partitioning tools. It seems like an extra, uneeded step to me.

Roadrunner777 · #11 August 25th, 2006, 01:57 AM

Yes, that's true. I'm compulsive about things sometimes. Whatever Linux disto you choose should have clear instructions to deal with the old 98.

MikeD · #12 August 25th, 2006, 01:58 AM

okay tried to run the live-cd of DSL...put disk in, re-boot and ......it goes straight to windows! The bios is set to boot from cd-rom first so now I am puzzled...will look around inside to see if the cd-com is actually still working...when I want it to....

As the games continue... as to ubuntu.. will it run on a machine with this age to it?

Roadrunner777 · #13 August 25th, 2006, 02:08 AM

ah, not enough memory for Ubuntu, sorry. It looks like you are on track with DSL and the others. So, the CD question... Are you burning the file you downloaded straight or as a disk image? It needs to be a disk image... That is, if you look at the CD on another computer, is there just a .iso file or are there a bunch of files and folders?

MikeD · #14 August 25th, 2006, 02:18 AM

it was a .iso...burned with Nero.....thing is I just fluked a DSL start up..dont know how, and it got to the "press enter to boot" on the dsl page and I got a can't find knoppix files, then a thing about running a minimum shell...then re-boot and can't get back in. Might have burned the .iso to fast...will try another...whats a good place to get a "good" DL of DSL?

Roadrunner777 · #15 August 25th, 2006, 02:29 AM

Not sure, I would hope at the DSL homepage download section. Just try to choose a mirror on the same continent as you are. When you burn it, make sure you are burning a disk image. When it's done, look and make sure there are lots of files, and not just a .iso file.