Ubuntu

Cannot Install Kubuntu on my desktop

Asked by megamegh

I am unable to run the CD of Kubuntu 7.04 on an older laptop.
I have a Toshiba Portege 660, and it will not start from the cd-drive. I checked and updated the latest Bios from toshiba, but incredible enough there is no option to boot the pc from the cd-drive, as the cd-drive is a sort of plug-inn that can be changed back and forward with the floopy drive (probably to save phisical space in the laptop). The only options to boot the pc are either the hard-drive or the floppy. Whatever I choose in the bios, it will never prompt the cd-drive first, and win98 starts.
The laptop runs on win98se. Is there any way of starting the Kubuntu install from a floppy right at the beginning and the proceed with the cd, or of turning around the bios limitation, and make the pc start the install from the kubuntu installation cd, without going to win98se first?
HELP!

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Jim Hutchinson
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Best Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#1

I'd say the chance of loosing data on your XP install is low but not zero and there is always the chance of operator error. How necessary is it to back up your data? How upset will you be if it's gone? A general formula might go like this: if time it takes to backup is less than time it will take to recreate lost data then backup. Of course it's up to you.

I've installed Ubuntu probably 30 or 40 times (maybe more) and never once did I have a problem with the install program damaging data. Be careful on step 4 where it asks about partitioning and just make sure you don't choose the option to "use entire disk". If you don't do that then I'd say you are unlikely to have problems. However, I'd still backup. Loosing your stuff really sucks.

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megamegh (megamegh593) said : 		#2

does it matter what type of computer i have and my computers specs? Do certain specs affect the installation?

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Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#3

To some extent, yes. However, Ubuntu has very good hardware support so chances are good you will have few problems if any. Of course, that is the beauty of the live CD. Just boot it up and you can see how well your system is supported without having to install anything. If your network, sound and screen seem good then you have the main ones covered. If something doesn't work, you can do a bit of research and see how hard it is to fix.

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megamegh (megamegh593) said : 		#4

Thanks Jim Hutchinson, that solved my question.

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Ruben Romero (huayra) said : 		#5

I had a similar problem with a rather old computer (from 1996) but it got
solved by SBM (Smart Boot Manager).

I have written an entry in my blog on that:

http://hubuntu.blogspot.com/2007/08/booting-from-cd-rom-with-no-cd-rom-boot.html

My entry is linux centric.

If you use windows now you shoudl do the following:

*On windows :
*
1. Download rawrite freely from http://www.chrysocome.net/rawwrite.
2. You can either retrive the smb.bin (the raw image for the floppy) from
the install CD under the "install" directory of the CD or download smb.binfrom
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=4185&package_id=4201&release_id=25481or
http://www.informinator.ca/smb.bin
3. Use rawrite to write smb.bin on a floppy.
4. Et voilà, you have a boot disk that will give you the possibility to
choose the cdrom as start disk.
*(thanks go to niu789 - http://www.informinator.ca/blog/?p=119)*

If you need (like I did) to change your station for booting either with a
floppy or a cd-rom you can just install SBM onto your harddisk.

Good luck!

On Nov 5, 2007 3:10 PM, Mayo <email address hidden> wrote:

> Question #11023 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/11023
>
> Description changed to:
> I am unable to run the CD of Kubuntu 7.04 on an older laptop.
> I have a Toshiba Portege 660, and it will not start from the cd-drive. I
> checked and updated the latest Bios from toshiba, but incredible enough
> there is no option to boot the pc from the cd-drive, as the cd-drive is a
> sort of plug-inn that can be changed back and forward with the floopy drive
> (probably to save phisical space in the laptop). The only options to boot
> the pc are either the hard-drive or the floppy. Whatever I choose in the
> bios, it will never prompt the cd-drive first, and win98 starts.
> The laptop runs on win98se. Is there any way of starting the Kubuntu
> install from a floppy right at the beginning and the proceed with the cd, or
> of turning around the bios limitation, and make the pc start the install
> from the kubuntu installation cd, without going to win98se first?
> HELP!
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you are an answer
> contact for Ubuntu.
>