install cd won't start

siriusb · 2011-03-30 08:12:40

Hi

I have a friend with a HP laptop. He tried to intall arch linux (it took a year to convince him), but the install cd doesn't start, it is just spinning and spinning and nothing happens. He did a bios upgrade recently, before he installed windows7. Last year he had Kubuntu on his laptop.
Next he tried opensuse, but the situation is the same.

He's never been able to boot from usb, so he is using optical disk.

I suggested to make a Load default in bios or downgrade bios, but method failed. Any idea?

icecoder · 2011-03-30 16:14:21

Did you boot from CD by enabling it from BIOS or using the boot-disk popup?

I cannot boot from USB too, because of HW compatibility, I have to set USB compatibility on my BIOS options to boot from USB sticks. Try that if his BIOS supports it.

siriusb · 2011-03-30 16:18:33

Do you think it is relevant whether he set up first boot device or used boot device menu?

I don't know whether he tried anything to be able to use usb boot or not.

Zemdreth · 2011-03-30 17:35:24

Options:
1- Boot order
2- Crappy disc
3- Corrupted .iso
4- Crappy disk drive
5- IDK

dmg · 2011-03-30 18:11:46

Go to the directory where the image is saved/downloaded and check the image with

sha1sum --check name_of_checksum_file.txt name_of_selected_iso_file.iso

and burn with low speed once again. Also consider downloading a net install version rather than the full one.

siriusb · 2011-03-30 18:17:23

Thank for all the suggestions. Unfortunately it's not only the arch linux image but opensuse install failed as well, however he managed to install windows 7. So it's probably not disk, odd or iso image problem.
The only thing I can think of the he tries to insert the disk upside down. Or similar

Inxsible · 2011-03-30 18:28:40

since both usb and cd are out, let me ask you if the system has a floppy drive.

If so, you can use plop to allow it to boot from usb.

siriusb · 2011-03-30 18:41:08

Inxsible,
Thanks for the idea, I've never heard of it before. Floppy drive or not, he should give it a try whether he can start it from cd.

I'll try plop linux myself, too. I use sysrescd for system backup etc, but I want to see it. Do you have (positive) exprerience with it?

One other thing I suggested this guy to burn the image on other computer.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-03-30 08:12:40

install cd won't start

#2 2011-03-30 16:14:21

Re: install cd won't start

#3 2011-03-30 16:18:33

Re: install cd won't start

#4 2011-03-30 17:35:24

Re: install cd won't start

#5 2011-03-30 18:11:46

Re: install cd won't start

#6 2011-03-30 18:17:23

Re: install cd won't start

#7 2011-03-30 18:28:40

Re: install cd won't start

#8 2011-03-30 18:41:08

Re: install cd won't start

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