Ubuntu

Can Ubuntu Installation change my Bios?

Asked by unckybob

I installed Ubuntu to my machine and I was absolutely delighted. It went without a hitch. But when I put in another hard drive and tried to install XP. I had all kinds of problems.

It hung during the install. I tried a number of things. During the process of events my BIOS got fried. It's okay, Dell said they would replace my motherboard, but I'd like to know what I did wrong, so I won't have this happen to me in the future.

Did Ubuntu indeed do something to my BIOS?

There was another person with a Bios problem that was similar here: https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/15124

Once I get my motherboard I plan to install Ubuntu again. But I'm scared of the following scenario: my Ubuntu disk fails and I want to install XP on the system with a separate hard disk. How can I do it without blowing my BIOS? And my motherboard? Please help.

Dell System 3000

Pentium 4, 2.8 Ghz
CPU Speed: Normal
Level 1 Cache: 1024 KB
Level 2 Cache: 1 MB Integrated
Bus Speed: 533 MHz
Processor 0 ID: F41

BIOS Version A02

512 MB DDR SDRAM, 333 MHz
System memory Channel Mode: Dual
AGP Aperture: 128 MB

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
unckybob
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Old_Soldier (charles.davis) said : 		#1

I can say with certainty that Ubuntu did not hurt your bios. The A02 bios is pretty old I would have upgraded it before trying to install ubuntu, but that shouldn't have been a problem.

As for your ohter concern:
You might want to consider installing XP and then Ubuntu as a dual boot system. Installing Ubuntu second will make reconfiguring grub a non-issue.

Revision history for this message
unckybob (robertcull1) said : 		#2

Thanks!